SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT

BEE BRANCH, Arkansas — 2 schools

542
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$15,730
Per-Pupil Spending
Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT operates 2 public schools serving 542 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 518 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Van Buren County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,730 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 51.3% local, 27.2% state, and 21.5% 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 $75,761 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 48/100, ranked #132 of 250 in Arkansas against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (6 AP courses district-wide), a 345.4:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 17.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 90.2% White, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% African American across the district's schools.

South Side Elementary School accounts for 51.9% of all SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means SOUTH SIDE 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

SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT student-counselor ratio is 345:1 — 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 SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT is typically wider than the SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT-aggregate figure suggests.

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

SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT chronic absenteeism rate is 17.3% — 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 SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT is typically wider than the SOUTH SIDE 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?

21.5%
Federal
27.2%
State
51.3%
Local

Funding Equity

48
Equity Score
132 / 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 Van Buren County county, where this district is located.

$630
Studio/mo
$671
1 BR/mo
$880
2 BR/mo
$1,186
3 BR/mo
$1,240
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$75,761
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 SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

White 90.2%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%
African American 1.5%
Multiracial 5.0%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
6 AP courses total
345.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Enrollment
South Side Elementary School
269
South Side High School
249

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

Compare SOUTH SIDE 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 SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT?

SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT has 2 schools, including 2 other. Total enrollment is 542 students.

How much does SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?

SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $15,730 per student. The district has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #132 in Arkansas.

What is the average teacher salary in SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The average teacher salary in SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT is $75,761 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT?

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

What is the demographic composition of SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT?

SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT students are 90.2% White, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT?

SOUTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #132 out of 250 districts in Arkansas. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

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