Enrollment
803
Arkansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hot Springs, AR
Hot Springs Junior Academy
Federal NCES profile for Hot Springs Junior Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050789000514Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hot Springs Junior Academy earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #4 of 9
- schools in Hot Springs · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Hot Springs Junior Academy has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hot Springs Junior Academy ranks #4 of 9 schools in Hot Springs, AR.
School address
District: Hot Springs School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050789000514 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
60.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.4:1
vs 13.6:1 Arkansas avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 59.2% Arkansas avg
+69% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hot Springs Junior Academy compares with Arkansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hot Springs Junior Academy
Hot Springs Junior Academy is a high-poverty, large charter combined-grade school in Hot Springs, Arkansas, enrolling 803 students.
At 13.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Arkansas median, within a few percentage points of the 13.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arkansas, bigger than 93% of state schools at 803 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,066 scored Arkansas schools.
Against 60 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #32.
Its student body is led by African American (35%) and White (30%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 535 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 23.3% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Hot Springs School District spends $14,922 per pupil, 22% above the Arkansas average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 28.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 282 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 803 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Hot Springs School District also operates Hot Springs World Class High School (759 students) and Main Street Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School (647 students) alongside Hot Springs Junior Academy.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Hot Springs Junior Academy compares
Hot Springs Junior Academy on the metrics families compare, against Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 1% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 69% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 803 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
803
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 46% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,922
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arkansas avg of $12,251
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 535 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
149
in-school suspensions + 133 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 34.6%
White 30.0%
Hispanic or Latino 24.0%
Two or More 10.6%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 34.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.1, Hot Springs Junior Academy is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Hot Springs School District, which includes Hot Springs Junior Academy.
$14,922
Per student
+22%
vs Arkansas
Avg $12,251
-10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 44.3%
State 27.5%
Federal 28.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Hot Springs Junior Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs World Class High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Main Street Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Langston Elementary Leadership Academy Magnet School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oaklawn Stem Magnet School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Park Magnet an Ib Pyp World Class School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hot Springs Junior Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 759
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 647
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 504
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 452
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 411
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arkansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~803 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hot Springs Junior Academy's federal record.
- Compare Hot Springs Junior Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Hot Springs School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Hot Springs Junior Academy
How many students attend Hot Springs Junior Academy?
Hot Springs Junior Academy has 803 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hot Springs, AR.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hot Springs Junior Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Hot Springs Junior Academy is 13.4:1, which is 1% lower than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hot Springs Junior Academy?
100.0% of students at Hot Springs Junior Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hot Springs Junior Academy?
The largest demographic group at Hot Springs Junior Academy is African American at 34.6% of enrollment, in Hot Springs, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hot Springs Junior Academy?
Hot Springs Junior Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Hot Springs Junior Academy rank among schools in Hot Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Hot Springs Junior Academy ranks #4 of 9 schools in Hot Springs, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Hot Springs on the city page.
Is Hot Springs Junior Academy a good school?
Hot Springs Junior Academy earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Hot Springs School District?
Besides Hot Springs Junior Academy, Hot Springs School District also operates Hot Springs World Class High School (759 students), Main Street Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School (647 students), and Langston Elementary Leadership Academy Magnet School (504 students). See the Hot Springs School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.