How equitable is school funding in Arkansas?

The average funding equity score for Arkansas school districts is 50 out of 100, compared to the national average of 49. This score considers per-pupil spending, need-adjusted spending, funding source diversity, and student-teacher ratios.

What does the equity score measure?

The equity score (0-100) measures four dimensions: per-pupil spending level, need-adjusted spending (rewarding districts that spend more where poverty is higher), funding diversity (less reliance on local property taxes), and resource access (lower student-teacher ratios).

Arkansas · NCES F-33 finance data

School Funding Equity in Arkansas

250 districts ranked by how equitably school funding is distributed, scored from NCES F-33 school finance data covering districts in all 50 states.

Compiled by PlainSchools Editorial, Independent education-data publisher · June 10, 2026

The equity picture in one line

Earle School District ranks first in Arkansas for funding equity at 93/100, in a state whose districts average 50 against a national average of 49.

93/100
top score (Earle School District): $18,555
per-pupil spending in the top district: 51
districts scoring 70 or higher: 40
districts below 30

#	District	Enrollment	$/Pupil	Free Lunch	Local Rev %	Score
1	Earle School District	435	$18,555	99.8%	22.6%	93
2	Arkansas Lighthouse Academies	962	$17,702	99.9%	8.7%	89
3	Dermott School District	337	$17,482	100.0%	27.2%	87
4	Ozark Mountain School District	571	$13,707	98.4%	24.3%	85
5	Western Yell Co. School Dist.	322	$13,933	73.3%	23.0%	84
6	Lafayette County School District	516	$16,454	86.3%	28.7%	83
7	Marvell School District	331	$18,549	100.0%	32.4%	83
8	Jasper School District	888	$14,555	58.9%	24.2%	81
9	Hillcrest School District	434	$15,071	53.7%	24.5%	81
10	Searcy County School District	841	$14,792	98.9%	22.1%	80
11	Danville School District	787	$12,864	59.0%	15.8%	80
12	Mountain Pine School District	641	$14,808	100.0%	24.9%	80
13	Kipp Delta Public Schools	1,224	$15,266	100.0%	4.3%	79
14	Horatio School District	694	$12,895	64.2%	20.8%	79
15	Foreman School District	490	$13,854	53.8%	17.3%	79
16	Nevada School District	414	$13,310	100.0%	24.1%	79
17	Strong-Huttig School District	316	$16,705	100.0%	32.8%	79
18	Augusta School District	371	$16,689	100.0%	38.5%	78
19	Lakeside School District (Chicot County)	889	$15,282	100.0%	32.2%	77
20	Watson Chapel School District	1,796	$13,476	100.0%	14.8%	76
21	Fordyce School District	732	$15,868	27.3%	18.6%	76
22	Mountainburg School District	660	$13,425	99.6%	25.9%	76
23	Clarendon School District	472	$16,077	100.0%	36.4%	76
24	Lead Hill School District	377	$13,218	98.4%	27.8%	75
25	Mineral Springs School Dist.	375	$22,014	100.0%	63.1%	75
26	Hope School District	2,263	$12,337	100.0%	21.7%	74
27	Blytheville School District	1,581	$15,124	99.3%	28.5%	74
28	Lee County School District	631	$15,792	100.0%	37.7%	74
29	Mammoth Spring School District	508	$12,307	100.0%	26.3%	74
30	Cedarville School District	721	$13,507	98.8%	21.5%	73
31	Midland School District	511	$14,344	49.0%	28.2%	73
32	Bearden School District	476	$12,585	54.7%	23.6%	73
33	Scholarmade Achievement Place	394	$14,067	100.0%	0.7%	73
34	Future School of Fort Smith	241	$11,171	100.0%	18.5%	73
35	Camden Fairview School Dist.	2,222	$13,642	88.5%	23.5%	72
36	Helena/ W.Helena School Dist.	1,012	$14,123	100.0%	26.8%	72
37	Brinkley School District	469	$14,477	100.0%	38.9%	72
38	Guy-Perkins School District	350	$15,317	100.0%	40.8%	72
39	Mountain View School District	1,613	$12,063	98.1%	25.6%	71
40	Paris School District	1,083	$12,764	100.0%	25.7%	71
41	Dumas School District	1,001	$15,637	99.7%	29.6%	71
42	Cossatot River School District	861	$13,287	98.2%	25.0%	71
43	Two Rivers School District	783	$12,089	100.0%	26.5%	71
44	Blevins School District	450	$12,055	69.0%	20.8%	71
45	Viola School District	387	$14,270	51.8%	33.2%	71
46	Calico Rock School District	385	$13,360	53.5%	29.0%	71
47	Concord School District	373	$15,792	45.4%	38.9%	71
48	Deer/Mt. Judea School District	356	$12,193	98.3%	30.3%	71
49	Highland School District	1,612	$12,909	100.0%	25.9%	70
50	Cedar Ridge School District	641	$17,183	57.1%	56.0%	70
51	Hermitage School District	442	$18,695	100.0%	36.9%	70
52	Exalt Academy of Southwest Little Rock	638	$11,879	84.2%	1.4%	69
53	Hector School District	626	$11,602	100.0%	25.6%	69
54	Omaha School District	400	$12,791	53.6%	26.1%	69
55	Prescott School District	938	$11,482	100.0%	16.2%	68
56	Barton-Lexa School District	674	$12,004	100.0%	19.5%	68
57	Decatur School District	619	$12,713	100.0%	32.5%	68
58	Mount Ida School District	447	$16,464	45.8%	39.4%	68
59	Mulberry School District	431	$13,169	100.0%	33.7%	68
60	Pine Bluff School District	3,261	$15,873	99.8%	35.3%	67
61	Forrest City School District	2,159	$13,992	99.7%	17.8%	67
62	Osceola School District	983	$16,952	98.7%	45.6%	67
63	England School District	648	$12,917	100.0%	30.2%	67
64	Izard Co. Cons. School Dist.	648	$12,896	54.9%	24.9%	67
65	Shirley School District	319	$14,610	100.0%	50.3%	67
66	Cleveland County School Dist.	739	$12,659	46.3%	23.0%	66
67	Dequeen School District	2,320	$12,539	60.2%	17.6%	65
68	Cutter-Morning Star Sch. Dist.	690	$12,695	56.9%	27.8%	65
69	Caddo Hills School District	589	$11,757	59.5%	19.6%	65
70	Magazine School District	493	$11,928	57.4%	20.9%	65
71	Kirby School District	448	$11,236	100.0%	25.4%	65
72	Westside School District	629	$11,964	99.0%	20.2%	64
73	West Side School District	506	$14,426	100.0%	68.6%	64
74	Alpena School District	470	$11,666	45.5%	23.2%	64
75	South Pike County School District	655	$12,734	58.9%	31.9%	63
76	East Poinsett Co. School Dist.	621	$12,661	60.1%	20.9%	63
77	West Memphis School District	4,954	$11,814	99.8%	17.5%	62
78	Ouachita River School District	799	$10,894	57.2%	19.9%	62
79	Marked Tree School District	530	$12,421	55.5%	24.9%	62
80	Bradford School District	473	$11,252	100.0%	22.6%	62
81	Cave City School District	1,235	$11,432	56.2%	21.5%	61
82	Rivercrest School District #57	1,116	$13,239	100.0%	35.9%	61
83	Pangburn School District	753	$12,891	48.6%	30.6%	61
84	Dierks School District	523	$12,488	72.2%	35.0%	61
85	Cotter School District	728	$10,605	100.0%	24.7%	60
86	Responsive Ed Solutions Premier High School of Little Rock	307	$14,472	51.1%	21.5%	60
87	Trumann School District	1,573	$12,036	99.2%	20.5%	58
88	Star City School District	1,432	$12,820	52.1%	22.7%	58
89	Mcgehee School District	1,098	$12,956	100.0%	38.2%	58
90	Hazen School District	556	$13,293	49.3%	36.9%	58
91	Newport School District	1,268	$13,423	46.0%	36.7%	57
92	Atkins School District	989	$11,827	44.8%	27.1%	57
93	Harmony Grove School District	915	$11,467	31.5%	22.6%	57
94	Eureka Springs School District	661	$15,831	42.0%	71.0%	57
95	Bismarck School District	1,020	$11,762	53.8%	25.8%	56
96	Hoxie School District	868	$10,703	99.7%	21.3%	56
97	Gurdon School District	645	$17,563	58.5%	46.1%	56
98	Hot Springs School District	3,690	$14,922	100.0%	44.3%	55
99	Warren School District	1,424	$12,237	100.0%	30.0%	55
100	Mansfield School District	775	$12,365	47.6%	31.2%	55
101	Greenland School District	767	$13,747	54.7%	40.2%	55
102	Texarkana School District	3,888	$13,423	99.4%	32.5%	54
103	Waldron School District	1,576	$11,617	62.0%	18.2%	54
104	Poyen School District	508	$10,876	39.6%	12.6%	54
105	Armorel School District	416	$14,148	26.1%	83.1%	54
106	Estem High Charter	2,890	$11,403	50.4%	4.0%	53
107	Dardanelle School District	2,064	$11,626	50.8%	19.2%	53
108	Green Forest School District	1,467	$11,302	54.7%	22.4%	53
109	Riverview School District	1,144	$12,046	64.8%	28.1%	53
110	Friendship Aspire Academy Pine Bluff	913	$11,879	63.2%	0.4%	53
111	Salem School District	876	$10,671	47.8%	19.3%	53
112	Maynard School District	583	$9,709	98.9%	23.4%	53
113	Jonesboro School District	6,709	$12,107	99.9%	25.3%	52
114	Yellville-Summit School Dist.	1,000	$10,674	97.7%	22.1%	52
115	Flippin School District	915	$11,073	100.0%	37.9%	52
116	South Side School District	542	$14,592	18.8%	51.3%	52
117	Huntsville School District	2,339	$11,953	56.4%	28.0%	51
118	Monticello School District	1,671	$12,082	49.1%	26.2%	51
119	Booneville School District	1,344	$10,659	100.0%	24.1%	51
120	Gosnell School District	1,173	$11,154	56.1%	15.4%	51
121	Rose Bud School District	752	$12,124	36.5%	34.5%	51
122	East End School District	667	$11,584	46.7%	22.5%	51
123	Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist.	12,244	$14,894	62.8%	63.0%	50
124	Clarksville School District	2,525	$12,387	56.3%	23.9%	50
125	Malvern School District	1,831	$13,071	60.1%	37.1%	50
126	Clinton School District	1,338	$11,885	100.0%	36.2%	50
127	Harrisburg School District	1,074	$14,095	23.6%	34.9%	50
128	Jessieville School District	846	$12,139	98.9%	41.0%	50
129	Drew Central School District	1,262	$11,308	100.0%	25.1%	49
130	Hackett School District	820	$10,087	100.0%	27.1%	49
131	Carlisle School District	677	$12,413	52.3%	39.7%	49
132	Mccrory School District	574	$12,288	44.0%	35.5%	49
133	Graduate Arkansas School	381	$10,957	98.7%	0.3%	49
134	N. Little Rock School District	8,200	$12,584	99.9%	33.8%	48
135	El Dorado School District	4,051	$12,616	99.9%	40.9%	48
136	Nashville School District	1,931	$10,730	56.4%	22.8%	48
137	Palestine-Wheatley Sch. Dist.	775	$9,177	99.2%	19.9%	48
138	Hampton School District	543	$12,994	58.2%	46.3%	48
139	Nemo Vista School District	538	$11,897	42.2%	47.1%	48
140	Lamar School District	1,284	$10,780	43.7%	23.2%	47
141	Dover School District	1,254	$11,317	38.3%	28.9%	47
142	Dewitt School District	1,151	$12,325	48.9%	43.6%	47
143	Jackson Co. School District	937	$11,258	50.4%	26.4%	47
144	Perryville School District	904	$10,276	44.3%	21.8%	47
145	Magnolia School District	2,662	$11,984	59.8%	32.3%	46
146	Mena School District	1,745	$11,976	47.7%	28.4%	46
147	Fountain Lake School District	1,349	$12,931	33.9%	75.1%	46
148	Ashdown School District	1,308	$12,404	57.1%	48.0%	46
149	Bald Knob School District	1,106	$11,177	46.0%	31.6%	46
150	Centerpoint School District	974	$11,423	52.0%	24.4%	46
151	Buffalo is. Central Sch. Dist.	731	$11,707	48.9%	35.7%	46
152	Magnet Cove School Dist.	725	$11,980	29.0%	36.3%	46
153	Cross County School District	697	$11,891	100.0%	34.2%	46
154	Wonderview School District	482	$11,657	43.1%	45.0%	46
155	Melbourne School District	871	$11,152	30.7%	31.6%	45
156	Spring Hill School District	621	$10,355	37.3%	15.0%	45
157	Little Rock School District	21,456	$14,597	62.3%	52.7%	44
158	So. Conway Co. School District	2,459	$11,530	100.0%	33.6%	44
159	Berryville School District	1,863	$11,932	53.4%	34.3%	44
160	Junction City School District	702	$11,607	61.0%	46.5%	44
161	Bay School District	562	$11,630	41.0%	28.9%	44
162	Scranton School District	437	$11,105	35.0%	27.8%	44
163	Lavaca School District	837	$11,382	34.9%	32.7%	43
164	Norfork School District	470	$11,841	48.7%	46.1%	43
165	Jacksonville North Pulaski School District	4,517	$11,447	99.7%	32.5%	42
166	Piggott School District	849	$10,904	40.3%	29.2%	42
167	Lisa Academy Charter	3,769	$11,015	43.7%	8.6%	41
168	Paragould School District	3,217	$10,878	100.0%	27.3%	41
169	Wynne School District	2,484	$11,056	50.3%	26.1%	41
170	Bergman School District	1,124	$9,936	42.1%	19.1%	41
171	Lincoln School District	1,122	$11,426	50.9%	30.2%	41
172	Sloan-Hendrix School Dist.	805	$9,877	51.0%	22.5%	41
173	Benton County School of Arts	1,090	$9,601	21.8%	3.3%	40
174	Charleston School District	889	$10,406	33.0%	25.4%	40
175	West Fork School District	872	$10,485	32.6%	32.1%	40
176	Marmaduke School District	717	$9,603	38.2%	25.7%	40
177	Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas	1,551	$8,970	15.9%	6.8%	39
178	Smackover School District	1,161	$12,011	32.2%	37.0%	39
179	Glen Rose School District	985	$11,284	35.3%	23.3%	39
180	Valley Springs School District	852	$10,249	34.4%	28.4%	39
181	Riverside School District	774	$11,027	41.7%	27.9%	39
182	Fort Smith School District	14,291	$12,206	63.4%	35.4%	38
183	Manila School District	1,076	$11,287	43.6%	27.1%	38
184	Russellville School District	5,602	$13,203	42.0%	54.6%	37
185	Marion School District	3,902	$12,008	59.9%	39.0%	37
186	Fouke School District	1,155	$10,453	46.6%	29.3%	37
187	Corning School District	832	$11,172	55.0%	38.8%	37
188	Nettleton School District	3,633	$11,339	93.2%	52.3%	36
189	Woodlawn School District	573	$10,385	35.6%	22.0%	36
190	Springdale School District	22,745	$11,376	55.8%	29.0%	35
191	Southside School District	2,234	$9,405	37.1%	16.2%	35
192	County Line School District	565	$10,653	53.0%	28.0%	35
193	Hamburg School District	1,691	$10,954	50.4%	26.4%	34
194	White Co. Central School Dist.	899	$9,757	48.7%	23.7%	34
195	Des Arc School District	636	$11,372	51.3%	29.9%	34
196	Rector School District	616	$11,291	48.5%	29.4%	34
197	Ouachita School District	550	$10,085	36.5%	23.4%	34
198	Pottsville School District	1,856	$10,127	24.4%	24.7%	33
199	Stuttgart School District	1,593	$10,676	70.5%	39.4%	33
200	Genoa Central School District	1,183	$9,674	31.5%	18.1%	33
201	Van Buren School District	5,911	$11,226	44.6%	28.9%	32
202	Siloam Springs School District	4,612	$11,814	45.3%	33.6%	32
203	Alma School District	3,143	$10,790	35.0%	25.5%	32
204	Haas Hall Academy	1,248	$8,050	7.5%	1.2%	32
205	Academics Plus Charter School	1,825	$10,361	23.5%	4.0%	31
206	Harmony Grove School District	1,244	$9,998	25.6%	24.0%	31
207	Emerson-Taylor School District	1,171	$11,414	33.3%	42.2%	31
208	Mayflower School District	1,045	$10,905	48.5%	30.9%	31
209	Conway School District	10,251	$11,673	49.0%	38.6%	30
210	Gentry School District	1,617	$11,487	41.5%	53.6%	30
211	Harrison School District	2,774	$11,496	39.7%	41.5%	29
212	Pocahontas School District	2,004	$9,392	46.6%	26.6%	29
213	Lonoke School District	1,603	$11,080	48.9%	35.7%	29
214	Parkers Chapel School Dist.	846	$10,176	25.6%	33.9%	29
215	Fayetteville School District	10,560	$12,415	31.3%	61.9%	28
216	Bauxite School District	1,659	$9,437	27.0%	24.1%	28
217	Mt. Vernon/Enola School Dist.	558	$10,304	53.4%	32.5%	28
218	Arkansas Virtual Academy	3,733	$8,119	56.4%	0.0%	27
219	Greene Co. Tech School Dist.	3,652	$10,836	32.1%	30.5%	27
220	Crossett School District	1,654	$11,056	51.1%	42.0%	27
221	Lawrence County School District	1,042	$9,980	39.4%	34.5%	26
222	Beebe School District	3,394	$9,832	37.1%	27.5%	25
223	Arkansas Connections Academy	3,231	$7,514	29.1%	0.0%	25
224	Vilonia School District	3,053	$9,864	30.0%	27.4%	25
225	Westside Cons. School District	1,824	$10,330	38.2%	29.0%	25
226	Ozark School District	1,777	$10,704	44.7%	34.7%	25
227	Lake Hamilton School District	4,131	$11,149	48.8%	36.5%	24
228	Elkins School District	1,404	$10,151	31.7%	28.4%	23
229	Cabot School District	10,696	$9,980	31.7%	27.8%	22
230	Sheridan School District	4,325	$10,026	32.9%	26.8%	22
231	Pea Ridge School District	2,494	$10,241	21.6%	25.4%	22
232	Rogers School District	15,964	$10,977	41.4%	48.5%	21
233	Greenbrier School District	3,862	$10,190	27.7%	27.3%	20
234	Lakeside School District	3,466	$11,269	37.1%	49.0%	20
235	Gravette School District	2,076	$11,251	27.6%	55.2%	20
236	Searcy School District	4,003	$10,738	39.0%	42.4%	19
237	White Hall School District	3,028	$10,513	43.2%	39.8%	18
238	Bentonville School District	18,674	$11,698	15.3%	53.7%	17
239	Batesville School District	3,469	$9,624	43.1%	30.8%	17
240	Brookland School District	3,060	$9,120	21.3%	29.5%	16
241	Mountain Home School District	3,914	$10,521	39.0%	45.9%	15
242	Benton School District	5,904	$8,851	29.2%	34.2%	14
243	Valley View School District	2,994	$10,098	18.9%	38.0%	14
244	Heber Springs School District	1,620	$10,159	38.6%	51.8%	14
245	Quitman School District	882	$10,355	35.5%	46.4%	14
246	Bryant School District	9,766	$9,843	39.5%	35.7%	13
247	Greenwood School District	3,956	$10,430	22.2%	38.8%	13
248	Farmington School District	2,685	$9,451	18.5%	32.9%	12
249	Prairie Grove School District	2,207	$9,390	20.0%	33.7%	12
250	Arkadelphia School District	1,913	$9,535	44.5%	45.2%	8

How the Equity Score Works

The equity score (0-100) evaluates four dimensions of school funding fairness. According to the National Center for Education Statistics F-33 Finance Survey (FY 2021-22, released in 2024), which covers more than 17,000 districts nationwide, local property wealth drives most of the spending differences the score captures; our methodology documents each weight:

Per-Pupil Spending (0-25)

Higher spending relative to peers

Need-Adjusted Spending (0-25)

Spending weighted by poverty level, rewards districts that spend more where need is greatest

Funding Diversity (0-25)

Less reliance on local property taxes, more state/federal support

Resource Access (0-25)

Lower student-teacher ratios = more individualized attention

National Equity Rankings → ← Back to Arkansas

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.