Enrollment
491
Arkansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Jonesboro, AR
University Heights School of Medical Arts
Federal NCES profile for University Heights School of Medical Arts, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 051044000060
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 2
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
University Heights School of Medical Arts earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Arkansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #6 of 11
- elementary schools in Jonesboro · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
University Heights School of Medical Arts has class sizes larger than 80% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, University Heights School of Medical Arts ranks #6 of 11 elementary schools in Jonesboro, AR.
School address
District: Nettleton School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 051044000060 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.9:1
vs 13.6:1 Arkansas avg
+24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 59.2% Arkansas avg
+69% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How University Heights School of Medical Arts compares with Arkansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at University Heights School of Medical Arts
University Heights School of Medical Arts is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Jonesboro, Arkansas, enrolling 491 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.9:1 puts it in the larger third of Arkansas schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 100.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 491 puts it in the larger third of Arkansas schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,066 scored Arkansas schools.
Against 138 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #82.
Its student body is led by African American (49%) and White (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 491 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 19.3% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 17.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 191 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 491 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Nettleton School District also operates Nettleton High School (1,054 students) and Nettleton Junior High School (566 students) alongside University Heights School of Medical Arts.
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 University Heights School of Medical Arts compares
University Heights School of Medical Arts on the metrics families compare, against Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.9:1 | ▲ 24% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 69% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 491 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
491
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
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
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 80% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
19.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,339
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 491 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
112
in-school suspensions + 79 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 22.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 38.9 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 49.3%
White 24.8%
Hispanic or Latino 16.5%
Two or More 9.0%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 49.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.0, University Heights School of Medical Arts is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Nettleton School District, which includes University Heights School of Medical Arts.
$11,339
Per student
-7%
vs Arkansas
Avg $12,251
-32%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 52.3%
State 30.8%
Federal 17.0%
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 University Heights School of Medical Arts Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nettleton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Nettleton Junior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| University Hgts. Elem. School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fox Meadow School of Creative Media | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fox Meadow Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to University Heights School of Medical Arts's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,054
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 566
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 446
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 394
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
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 (~491 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on University Heights School of Medical Arts's federal record.
- Compare University Heights School of Medical Arts against another school. Compare schools
- Nettleton 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 University Heights School of Medical Arts
How many students attend University Heights School of Medical Arts?
University Heights School of Medical Arts has 491 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Jonesboro, AR.
What is the student-teacher ratio at University Heights School of Medical Arts?
The student-teacher ratio at University Heights School of Medical Arts is 16.9:1, which is 24% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at University Heights School of Medical Arts?
100.0% of students at University Heights School of Medical Arts are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of University Heights School of Medical Arts?
The largest demographic group at University Heights School of Medical Arts is African American at 49.3% of enrollment, in Jonesboro, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for University Heights School of Medical Arts?
University Heights School of Medical Arts has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 University Heights School of Medical Arts rank among elementary schools in Jonesboro?
By Resource Investment Index, University Heights School of Medical Arts ranks #6 of 11 elementary schools in Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro on the city page.
Is University Heights School of Medical Arts a good school?
University Heights School of Medical Arts earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% 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 Nettleton School District?
Besides University Heights School of Medical Arts, Nettleton School District also operates Nettleton High School (1,054 students), Nettleton Junior High School (566 students), and University Hgts. Elem. School (446 students). See the Nettleton 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.