Pocahontas School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Pocahontas, Arkansas - 4 schools

An equity score of 29/100 ranks Pocahontas School District #212 of 250 districts in Arkansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,392 per pupil, Pocahontas School District ranks #246 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending (Arkansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,004
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$9,392
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Pocahontas School District operates 4 public schools serving 2,004 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Arkansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Randolph County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,392 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 26 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Arkansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 26.6% local, 57.1% state, and 16.3% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 29/100, ranked #212 of 250 in Arkansas against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (4 AP courses district-wide), a 370:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 29.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 74.4% White, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Pocahontas Junior High School, with a diversity index of 46.7/100.

Its largest campus is Alma Spikes Elementary School, enrolling 703 students (36% of the district's total enrollment).

Alma Spikes Elementary School accounts for 35.1% of all Pocahontas School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Pocahontas School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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

Pocahontas School District student-counselor ratio is 370:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Pocahontas School District chronic absenteeism rate is 29.8% — 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 Pocahontas School District is typically wider than the Pocahontas School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

16.3%
Federal
57.1%
State
26.6%
Local

Funding Equity

29
Equity Score
212 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in Pocahontas School District.

White 74.4%
Hispanic or Latino 3.7%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 4.4%
Other 15.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 42.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Pocahontas School District's schools, about the same as the Arkansas average of 40.4.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Pocahontas Junior High School 46.7
  2. 2 M.D. Williams Intermediate School 43.9
  3. 3 Pocahontas High School 39.5
  4. 4 Alma Spikes Elementary School 38.0

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
4 AP courses total
370:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Pocahontas School District

School Enrollment
Alma Spikes Elementary School
703
Pocahontas Junior High School
456
Pocahontas High School
410
M.D. Williams Intermediate School
402

How Pocahontas School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arkansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Dardanelle School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Gravette School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Nashville School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Arkadelphia School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Berryville School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Pocahontas School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

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 · $11,376/pupil
Compare vs Pocahontas School District →
Little Rock School District
21,456 students · 40 schools · $14,597/pupil
Compare vs Pocahontas School District →
Bentonville School District
18,674 students · 24 schools · $11,698/pupil
Compare vs Pocahontas School District →
Rogers School District
15,964 students · 23 schools · $10,977/pupil
Compare vs Pocahontas School District →
Fort Smith School District
14,291 students · 27 schools · $12,206/pupil
Compare vs Pocahontas School District →

Compare Pocahontas School District

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 Pocahontas School District?

Pocahontas School District has 4 schools, including 2 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,004 students.

How much does Pocahontas School District spend per student?

Pocahontas School District spends $9,392 per student. The district has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #212 in Arkansas.

What is the demographic composition of Pocahontas School District?

Pocahontas School District students are 74.4% White, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% African American, 0.7% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Pocahontas School District?

Pocahontas School District has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #212 out of 250 districts in Arkansas.