South Pike County 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.

Murfreesboro, Arkansas - 2 schools

An equity score of 63/100 ranks South Pike County School District #75 of 250 districts in Arkansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,734 per pupil, South Pike County School District ranks #78 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending (Arkansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

655
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$12,734
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

South Pike County School District operates 2 public schools serving 655 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Arkansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 1 combined 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 Pike County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,734 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Arkansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 31.9% local, 49.2% state, and 18.9% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 63/100, ranked #75 of 250 in Arkansas against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 348:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 23.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 84.5% White, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 3.5% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Murfreesboro Elementary School, enrolling 383 students (55% of the district's total enrollment).

Murfreesboro Elementary School accounts for 55.0% of all South Pike County School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of South Pike County School District a distant remainder — means South Pike County School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. 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

South Pike County School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 58.9% 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

South Pike County School District student-counselor ratio is 348:1 — 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 South Pike County School District is typically wider than the South Pike County School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

South Pike County School District chronic absenteeism rate is 23.6% — 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 South Pike County School District is typically wider than the South Pike County 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?

18.9%
Federal
49.2%
State
31.9%
Local

Funding Equity

63
Equity Score
75 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in South Pike County School District.

White 84.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.8%
African American 3.5%
Multiracial 5.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

348:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in South Pike County School District

School Enrollment
Murfreesboro Elementary School
383
Murfreesboro High School
313

How South Pike County School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arkansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Mountainburg School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Eureka Springs School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Izard Co. Cons. School Dist. Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
England School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Gurdon School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

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

Compare South Pike County 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 South Pike County School District?

South Pike County School District has 2 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 655 students.

How much does South Pike County School District spend per student?

South Pike County School District spends $12,734 per student. The district has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #75 in Arkansas.

What is the demographic composition of South Pike County School District?

South Pike County School District students are 84.5% White, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 3.5% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for South Pike County School District?

South Pike County School District has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #75 out of 250 districts in Arkansas.