Enrollment
787
Arkansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Bentonville, AR
Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy
Federal NCES profile for Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 050040901574Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Arkansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #15 of 16
- elementary schools in Bentonville · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.2:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 5.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy has class sizes larger than 92% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy ranks #15 of 16 elementary schools in Bentonville, AR.
School address
District: Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas · Arkansas
NCES ID 050040901574 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
41.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.2:1
vs 13.6:1 Arkansas avg
+41% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
5.2%
vs 59.2% Arkansas avg
-91% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy compares with Arkansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy
Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy is a lower-poverty, large charter elementary school in Bentonville, Arkansas, enrolling 787 students.
Class loads run heavy: 19.2:1 is larger than about 92% of Arkansas schools and 41% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 5.2% free-meal eligibility runs 91% below the Arkansas average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arkansas, bigger than 92% of state schools at 787 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 98% of the 1,066 Arkansas schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 39 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arkansas schools statewide, it ranks #37, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Asian (46%) and White (36%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 65/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas spends $8,970 per pupil, 27% below the Arkansas average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Bentonville's elementary schools, it stands alongside Hope Academy of Nwa Elementary (25 students): Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.2:1 vs 2.8:1).
Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas also operates Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas Rogers (521 students) and Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas High School Rogers (207 students) alongside Northwest Arkansas Classical 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 Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy compares
Northwest Arkansas Classical 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 | 19.2:1 | ▲ 41% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.2% | ▼ 91% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 787 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
787
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
5.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 91% below the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 92% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.7%
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
$8,970
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,251
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.7 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
Asian 45.7%
White 36.1%
Hispanic or Latino 7.5%
Two or More 5.2%
African American 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: Asian at 45.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.1, Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas, which includes Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy.
$8,970
Per student
-27%
vs Arkansas
Avg $12,251
-46%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 6.8%
State 84.4%
Federal 8.9%
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 Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas Rogers | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas High School Rogers | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas West Little Rock El | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas West Little Rock | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Founders Classical Academy High School Online | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 521
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 207
- Students per teacher
- 8.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 61
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 56
- Students per teacher
- 4.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 16
- Students per teacher
- 8:1
- Resource Index
- 68/100
Similar elementary schools in Bentonville
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary 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 (~787 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy's federal record.
- Compare Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas'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 Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy
How many students attend Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy?
Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy has 787 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Bentonville, AR.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy is 19.2:1, which is 41% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy?
5.2% of students at Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy?
The largest demographic group at Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy is Asian at 45.7% of enrollment, in Bentonville, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy?
Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy rank among elementary schools in Bentonville?
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy ranks #15 of 16 elementary schools in Bentonville, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Bentonville on the city page.
Is Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy a good school?
Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Arkansas schools. 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 Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas?
Besides Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy, Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas also operates Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas Rogers (521 students), Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas High School Rogers (207 students), and Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas West Little Rock El (61 students). See the Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Compare schools
Side-by-side comparison tool
Schools in Arkansas
All public schools in Arkansas
Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas
All schools in this district
Schools in Bentonville
All schools in this city
School districts
Ranked by enrollment & spending
Rankings
Best schools by state & type
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.