Enrollment
446
Arkansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Jonesboro, AR
University Hgts. Elem. School
Federal NCES profile for University Hgts. Elem. School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 051044000764
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
University Hgts. Elem. School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #9 of 9
- schools in Jonesboro · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
University Hgts. Elem. School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, University Hgts. Elem. School ranks #9 of 9 schools in Jonesboro, AR.
School address
District: Nettleton School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 051044000764 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.9:1
vs 13.6:1 Arkansas avg
+2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 59.2% Arkansas avg
+69% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How University Hgts. Elem. School compares with Arkansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at University Hgts. Elem. School
University Hgts. Elem. School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Jonesboro, Arkansas, enrolling 446 students.
At 13.9:1, 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.
With 446 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arkansas median campus size.
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 154 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arkansas schools statewide, it ranks #152, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (49%) and White (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 446 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 35.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data 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.
Nettleton School District also operates Nettleton High School (1,054 students) and Nettleton Junior High School (566 students) alongside University Hgts. Elem. School.
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 Hgts. Elem. School compares
University Hgts. Elem. School on the metrics families compare, against Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.9:1 | ▲ 2% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 69% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 446 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
446
Bigger than 54% 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
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 51% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
35.0%
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
$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 446 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.2 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 49.1%
White 25.8%
Hispanic or Latino 12.3%
Two or More 11.2%
Asian 1.6%
Largest group: African American at 49.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.4, University Hgts. Elem. School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Nettleton School District, which includes University Hgts. Elem. School.
$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 Hgts. Elem. School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nettleton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Nettleton Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| University Heights School of Medical Arts | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher 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 Hgts. Elem. School'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
- 491
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- 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 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 (~446 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on University Hgts. Elem. School's federal record.
- Compare University Hgts. Elem. School 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 Hgts. Elem. School
How many students attend University Hgts. Elem. School?
University Hgts. Elem. School has 446 students enrolled. It is a public school in Jonesboro, AR.
What is the student-teacher ratio at University Hgts. Elem. School?
The student-teacher ratio at University Hgts. Elem. School is 13.9:1, which is 2% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at University Hgts. Elem. School?
100.0% of students at University Hgts. Elem. School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of University Hgts. Elem. School?
The largest demographic group at University Hgts. Elem. School is African American at 49.1% of enrollment, in Jonesboro, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for University Hgts. Elem. School?
University Hgts. Elem. School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 Hgts. Elem. School rank among schools in Jonesboro?
By Resource Investment Index, University Hgts. Elem. School ranks #9 of 9 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 schools in Jonesboro on the city page.
Is University Hgts. Elem. School a good school?
University Hgts. Elem. School earns 24/100 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 Nettleton School District?
Besides University Hgts. Elem. School, Nettleton School District also operates Nettleton High School (1,054 students), Nettleton Junior High School (566 students), and University Heights School of Medical Arts (491 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.