OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

MENA, Arkansas — 3 schools

799
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$12,351
Per-Pupil Spending
Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT operates 3 public schools serving 799 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Arkansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 735 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Polk County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,351 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 19.9% local, 56.7% state, and 23.5% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $53,129 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 62/100, ranked #76 of 250 in Arkansas against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (8 AP courses district-wide), a 277.9:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 33.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 87.6% White, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% Asian across the district's schools.

Acorn Elementary School accounts for 43.7% of all OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment varies 2.4× across entities

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment ranges from 133 students (lowest) to 321 students (highest), a spread of 188 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 57.2% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT student-counselor ratio is 278:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT is typically wider than the OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT chronic absenteeism rate is 33.0% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

23.5%
Federal
56.7%
State
19.9%
Local

Funding Equity

62
Equity Score
76 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Polk County county, where this district is located.

$642
Studio/mo
$703
1 BR/mo
$897
2 BR/mo
$1,076
3 BR/mo
$1,188
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$53,129
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT.

White 87.6%
Hispanic or Latino 4.4%
Asian 1.7%
Multiracial 4.3%
Other 1.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

2 / 3
Schools with AP
8 AP courses total
277.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
33.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Enrollment
Acorn Elementary School
321
Acorn High School
281
Oden Schools
133

Nearby Districts in Arkansas

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

SPRINGDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT
22,745 students · 29 schools · $12,773/pupil
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LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
21,456 students · 40 schools · $15,987/pupil
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BENTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
18,674 students · 24 schools · $13,522/pupil
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ROGERS SCHOOL DISTRICT
15,964 students · 23 schools · $12,254/pupil
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FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT
14,291 students · 27 schools · $15,628/pupil
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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT?

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT has 3 schools, including 3 other. Total enrollment is 799 students.

How much does OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $12,351 per student. The district has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #76 in Arkansas.

What is the average teacher salary in OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The average teacher salary in OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT is $53,129 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Polk County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT?

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT students are 87.6% White, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT?

OUACHITA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #76 out of 250 districts in Arkansas. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

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