PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.

PALESTINE, Arkansas — 2 schools

775
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$14,778
Per-Pupil Spending
Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. operates 2 public schools serving 775 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Arkansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 826 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in St. Francis County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,778 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, 65.7% state, and 14.3% 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 $48,494 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 76/100, ranked #22 of 250 in Arkansas against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 318.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 26.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 84.7% White, 10.3% African American, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Palestine-Wheatley Elem. Sch. accounts for 54.2% of all PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.-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

PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 99.2% 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 — including this one — 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

PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. student-counselor ratio is 319:1 — 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 PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. is typically wider than the PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.-aggregate figure suggests.

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

PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. chronic absenteeism rate is 26.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. is typically wider than the PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

14.3%
Federal
65.7%
State
19.9%
Local

Funding Equity

76
Equity Score
22 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

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

$661
Studio/mo
$703
1 BR/mo
$923
2 BR/mo
$1,161
3 BR/mo
$1,310
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$48,494
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 2 schools in PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST..

White 84.7%
Hispanic or Latino 2.9%
African American 10.3%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

318.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
26.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.

School Enrollment
Palestine-Wheatley Elem. Sch.
448
Palestine-Wheatley Senior High
378

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
Compare vs PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. →
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
21,456 students · 40 schools · $15,987/pupil
Compare vs PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. →
BENTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
18,674 students · 24 schools · $13,522/pupil
Compare vs PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. →
ROGERS SCHOOL DISTRICT
15,964 students · 23 schools · $12,254/pupil
Compare vs PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. →
FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT
14,291 students · 27 schools · $15,628/pupil
Compare vs PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. →

Compare PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs SPRINGDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.?

PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. has 2 schools, including 2 other. Total enrollment is 775 students.

How much does PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. spend per student?

PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. spends $14,778 per student. The district has an equity score of 76/100, ranking #22 in Arkansas.

What is the average teacher salary in PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.?

The average teacher salary in PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. is $48,494 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.?

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

What is the demographic composition of PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.?

PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. students are 84.7% White, 10.3% African American, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST.?

PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SCH. DIST. has an equity score of 76/100, ranking #22 out of 250 districts in Arkansas. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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