- Enrollment
- 630
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Walnut Ridge, AR
Walnut Ridge High School
Federal NCES profile for Walnut Ridge High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050008201216
👥 S:T ratio 67
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walnut Ridge High School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Arkansas schools.
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.2:1
- small classes for Arkansas
- 35.5%
- free-lunch eligible
- 437
- students enrolled
Walnut Ridge High School has class sizes smaller than 85% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Lawrence County School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050008201216 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Walnut Ridge High School held near 463 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 54.0 → 59.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 050008201216 · Walnut Ridge, AR Other · SMALL · TRAD
437 enr · 8.2:1 · 35.5% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Walnut Ridge Elementary School (630 students)
Walnut Ridge High School held near 463 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 54.0 → 59.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
How Walnut Ridge High School compares
Walnut Ridge High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.2:1 | ▼ 40% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.5% | ▼ 40% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 437 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.2:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
437
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% below the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
8.2:1
students per teacher
- 40% below state mean
Top 15% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
27.2%
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
$11,012
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,818
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 175 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
87
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 19.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 83.8%
Two or More 7.1%
Hispanic or Latino 5.9%
African American 1.8%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 83.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.9, Walnut Ridge High School is less mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lawrence County School District reports $11,012 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Walnut Ridge High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Ridge Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walnut Ridge High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~437 students)
Frequently asked questions about Walnut Ridge High School
How many students attend Walnut Ridge High School?
Walnut Ridge High School has 437 students enrolled. It is a public school in Walnut Ridge, AR. CCD year-over-year: 462 (2022-23) → 463 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walnut Ridge High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walnut Ridge High School is 8.2:1, which is 40% lower than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 48% 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 Walnut Ridge High School?
35.5% of students at Walnut Ridge High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walnut Ridge High School?
The largest demographic group at Walnut Ridge High School is White at 83.8% of enrollment, in Walnut Ridge, AR.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walnut Ridge High School?
Walnut Ridge High School has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Lawrence County School District?
Besides Walnut Ridge High School, Lawrence County School District also operates Walnut Ridge Elementary School (630 students). See the Lawrence County School District district page for the complete list.