West Memphis 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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

West Memphis, Arkansas - 10 schools

An equity score of 66/100 ranks West Memphis School District #65 of 250 districts in Arkansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,096 per pupil, West Memphis School District ranks #96 of 255 Arkansas districts by per-pupil spending (Arkansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

4,954
Total Enrollment
10
Schools
$13,096
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

West Memphis School District operates 10 public schools serving 4,954 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Arkansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 combined, 4 elementary, 1 high schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Crittenden County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,096 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 17.5% local, 55.9% state, and 26.6% 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 66/100, ranked #65 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 10 schools offering Advanced Placement (9 AP courses district-wide), a 368.4:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 40.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.1% African American, 15.1% White, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Bragg Elementary School, with a diversity index of 52.5/100.

Its largest campus is The Academies of West Memphis Charter School, enrolling 897 students (19% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Weaver Elementary School, at 228 students, a 4x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

The Academies of West Memphis Charter School accounts for 18.1% of all West Memphis School District student enrollment

That concentration means West Memphis School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

West Memphis School District school enrollment varies 3.9× across entities

West Memphis School District school enrollment ranges from 228 students (lowest) to 897 students (highest), a spread of 669 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

West Memphis School District reports 99.8% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is above 87.5%, so economic need is widespread across the measured student population. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

West Memphis School District student-counselor ratio is 368:1 — 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

West Memphis School District chronic absenteeism rate is 40.3% — 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

Where does the funding come from?

26.6%
Federal
55.9%
State
17.5%
Local

Funding Equity

66
Equity Score
65 / 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 10 schools in West Memphis School District.

White 15.1%
Hispanic or Latino 2.0%
African American 81.1%
Multiracial 1.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 23.3/100

Average Simpson diversity index across West Memphis School District's schools, below the Arkansas average of 40.4.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Bragg Elementary School 52.5
  2. 2 Richland Elementary School 52.5
  3. 3 West Junior High School 44.1
  4. 4 The Academies of West Memphis Charter School 28.0
  5. 5 Faulk Elementary School 7.8

Programs & Resources

1 / 10
Schools with AP
9 AP courses total
368.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
40.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in West Memphis School District

School Enrollment
The Academies of West Memphis Charter School
Charter
897
Jackson/Wonder Elementary School
554
Faulk Elementary School
523
Wonder Junior High School
511
Bragg Elementary School
473
Richland Elementary School
462
West Junior High School
461
Maddux Elementary School
402
East Junior High School
263
Weaver Elementary School
228

How West Memphis School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Arkansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Siloam Springs School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Jacksonville North Pulaski School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Sheridan School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Russellville School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Lake Hamilton School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to West Memphis 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 · $12,146/pupil
Compare vs West Memphis School District →
Little Rock School District
21,456 students · 40 schools · $15,959/pupil
Compare vs West Memphis School District →
Bentonville School District
18,674 students · 24 schools · $12,377/pupil
Compare vs West Memphis School District →
Rogers School District
15,964 students · 23 schools · $11,519/pupil
Compare vs West Memphis School District →
Fort Smith School District
14,291 students · 27 schools · $12,459/pupil
Compare vs West Memphis School District →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare West Memphis 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 West Memphis School District?

West Memphis School District has 10 schools, including 1 high, 5 combined, 4 elementary. Total enrollment is 4,954 students.

How much does West Memphis School District spend per student?

West Memphis School District spends $13,096 per student. The district has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #65 in Arkansas.

What is the demographic composition of West Memphis School District?

West Memphis School District students are 81.1% African American, 15.1% White, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 10 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for West Memphis School District?

West Memphis School District has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #65 out of 250 districts in Arkansas.