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, Education-data publisher · August 26, 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): $19,830
per-pupil spending in the top district: 51
districts scoring 70 or higher: 42
districts below 30

#	District	Enrollment	$/Pupil	Free Lunch	Local Rev %	Score
1	Earle School District	435	$19,830	99.8%	22.6%	93
2	Future School of Fort Smith	241	$14,519	100.0%	18.5%	89
3	Dermott School District	337	$17,961	100.0%	27.2%	87
4	Western Yell Co. School Dist.	322	$15,966	73.3%	23.0%	87
5	Ozark Mountain School District	571	$14,995	98.4%	24.3%	86
6	Arkansas Lighthouse Academies	962	$15,386	99.9%	8.7%	85
7	Lafayette County School District	516	$17,107	86.3%	28.7%	83
8	Marvell School District	331	$19,631	100.0%	32.4%	83
9	Kipp Delta Public Schools	1,224	$16,176	100.0%	4.3%	80
10	Jasper School District	888	$15,016	58.9%	24.2%	80
11	Exalt Academy of Southwest Little Rock	638	$14,605	84.2%	1.4%	80
12	Deer/Mt. Judea School District	356	$15,242	98.3%	30.3%	80
13	Horatio School District	694	$13,638	64.2%	20.8%	79
14	Mountain Pine School District	641	$15,075	100.0%	24.9%	79
15	Bearden School District	476	$14,611	54.7%	23.6%	79
16	Hillcrest School District	434	$14,991	53.7%	24.5%	79
17	Augusta School District	371	$18,989	100.0%	38.5%	79
18	Strong-Huttig School District	316	$17,782	100.0%	32.8%	79
19	Hope School District	2,263	$14,216	100.0%	21.7%	78
20	Lakeside School District (Chicot County)	889	$16,395	100.0%	32.2%	78
21	Magazine School District	493	$14,815	57.4%	20.9%	78
22	Blevins School District	450	$14,200	69.0%	20.8%	78
23	Watson Chapel School District	1,796	$14,737	100.0%	14.8%	77
24	Cossatot River School District	861	$16,377	98.2%	25.0%	77
25	Danville School District	787	$13,177	59.0%	15.8%	77
26	Lee County School District	631	$20,742	100.0%	37.7%	77
27	Scholarmade Achievement Place	394	$16,426	100.0%	0.7%	77
28	Searcy County School District	841	$14,455	98.9%	22.1%	76
29	Fordyce School District	732	$16,770	27.3%	18.6%	76
30	Mammoth Spring School District	508	$13,492	100.0%	26.3%	76
31	Mountain View School District	1,613	$13,562	98.1%	25.6%	75
32	Two Rivers School District	783	$13,635	100.0%	26.5%	75
33	Hector School District	626	$13,144	100.0%	25.6%	75
34	Mineral Springs School Dist.	375	$22,413	100.0%	63.1%	75
35	Cedarville School District	721	$14,782	98.8%	21.5%	74
36	Midland School District	511	$15,372	49.0%	28.2%	74
37	Clarendon School District	472	$15,400	100.0%	36.4%	74
38	Lead Hill School District	377	$14,077	98.4%	27.8%	74
39	Foreman School District	490	$13,471	53.8%	17.3%	73
40	Brinkley School District	469	$15,420	100.0%	38.9%	73
41	Nevada School District	414	$13,019	100.0%	24.1%	73
42	Dumas School District	1,001	$16,612	99.7%	29.6%	72
43	Helena/ W.Helena School Dist.	1,012	$14,610	100.0%	26.8%	71
44	Friendship Aspire Academy Pine Bluff	913	$16,817	63.2%	0.4%	71
45	Caddo Hills School District	589	$13,221	59.5%	19.6%	71
46	Mulberry School District	431	$14,898	100.0%	33.7%	71
47	Omaha School District	400	$14,208	53.6%	26.1%	71
48	Concord School District	373	$16,504	45.4%	38.9%	71
49	Blytheville School District	1,581	$14,526	99.3%	28.5%	70
50	Barton-Lexa School District	674	$13,148	100.0%	19.5%	70
51	Viola School District	387	$14,610	51.8%	33.2%	70
52	Camden Fairview School Dist.	2,222	$13,812	88.5%	23.5%	69
53	England School District	648	$14,270	100.0%	30.2%	69
54	Calico Rock School District	385	$14,130	53.5%	29.0%	69
55	Shirley School District	319	$16,013	100.0%	50.3%	69
56	Pine Bluff School District	3,261	$17,959	99.8%	35.3%	68
57	Cotter School District	728	$12,023	100.0%	24.7%	68
58	Izard Co. Cons. School Dist.	648	$14,037	54.9%	24.9%	68
59	Cedar Ridge School District	641	$17,231	57.1%	56.0%	68
60	Cave City School District	1,235	$12,840	56.2%	21.5%	67
61	Paris School District	1,083	$12,879	100.0%	25.7%	67
62	Osceola School District	983	$18,389	98.7%	45.6%	67
63	Flippin School District	915	$13,884	100.0%	37.9%	67
64	Westside School District	629	$13,181	99.0%	20.2%	67
65	West Memphis School District	4,954	$13,096	99.8%	17.5%	66
66	Forrest City School District	2,159	$14,410	99.7%	17.8%	66
67	Rivercrest School District #57	1,116	$15,429	100.0%	35.9%	66
68	Prescott School District	938	$11,770	100.0%	16.2%	66
69	Palestine-Wheatley Sch. Dist.	775	$12,311	99.2%	19.9%	66
70	Cutter-Morning Star Sch. Dist.	690	$13,667	56.9%	27.8%	66
71	Mountainburg School District	660	$12,486	99.6%	25.9%	66
72	West Side School District	506	$15,557	100.0%	68.6%	66
73	Highland School District	1,612	$12,860	100.0%	25.9%	65
74	Warren School District	1,424	$15,238	100.0%	30.0%	64
75	Ouachita River School District	799	$11,567	57.2%	19.9%	64
76	Guy-Perkins School District	350	$13,603	100.0%	40.8%	64
77	Hoxie School District	868	$12,158	99.7%	21.3%	63
78	Decatur School District	619	$12,528	100.0%	32.5%	62
79	Marked Tree School District	530	$13,304	55.5%	24.9%	62
80	South Pike County School District	655	$13,275	58.9%	31.9%	61
81	Hermitage School District	442	$14,217	100.0%	36.9%	61
82	Bald Knob School District	1,106	$13,408	46.0%	31.6%	60
83	Centerpoint School District	974	$14,239	52.0%	24.4%	60
84	Maynard School District	583	$11,154	98.9%	23.4%	60
85	Mount Ida School District	447	$14,624	45.8%	39.4%	60
86	Dequeen School District	2,320	$12,490	60.2%	17.6%	59
87	Yellville-Summit School Dist.	1,000	$12,115	97.7%	22.1%	59
88	Perryville School District	904	$12,122	44.3%	21.8%	59
89	Cleveland County School Dist.	739	$12,406	46.3%	23.0%	59
90	East Poinsett Co. School Dist.	621	$12,823	60.1%	20.9%	59
91	Dierks School District	523	$12,952	72.2%	35.0%	59
92	Bradford School District	473	$11,465	100.0%	22.6%	59
93	Alpena School District	470	$11,596	45.5%	23.2%	59
94	Kirby School District	448	$10,929	100.0%	25.4%	59
95	Texarkana School District	3,888	$15,529	99.4%	32.5%	58
96	Lamar School District	1,284	$12,438	43.7%	23.2%	57
97	Green Forest School District	1,467	$12,234	54.7%	22.4%	56
98	Mcgehee School District	1,098	$13,341	100.0%	38.2%	56
99	Harmony Grove School District	915	$11,801	31.5%	22.6%	56
100	Pangburn School District	753	$12,842	48.6%	30.6%	56
101	Responsive Ed Solutions Premier High School of Little Rock	307	$14,381	51.1%	21.5%	56
102	Estem High Charter	2,890	$11,992	50.4%	4.0%	54
103	Eureka Springs School District	661	$15,415	42.0%	71.0%	54
104	South Side School District	542	$15,446	18.8%	51.3%	54
105	Monticello School District	1,671	$13,025	49.1%	26.2%	53
106	Atkins School District	989	$11,804	44.8%	27.1%	53
107	Hackett School District	820	$11,129	100.0%	27.1%	53
108	Hazen School District	556	$13,138	49.3%	36.9%	53
109	Norfork School District	470	$14,336	48.7%	46.1%	53
110	Hot Springs School District	3,690	$14,750	100.0%	44.3%	52
111	Nashville School District	1,931	$11,591	56.4%	22.8%	52
112	Newport School District	1,268	$13,298	46.0%	36.7%	52
113	Lincoln School District	1,122	$13,694	50.9%	30.2%	52
114	Salem School District	876	$10,982	47.8%	19.3%	52
115	Magnolia School District	2,662	$13,374	59.8%	32.3%	51
116	Riverview School District	1,144	$12,484	64.8%	28.1%	51
117	Marmaduke School District	717	$11,619	38.2%	25.7%	51
118	Jonesboro School District	6,709	$12,604	99.9%	25.3%	50
119	Dardanelle School District	2,064	$11,855	50.8%	19.2%	50
120	Malvern School District	1,831	$13,806	60.1%	37.1%	50
121	Clinton School District	1,338	$12,478	100.0%	36.2%	50
122	Nemo Vista School District	538	$12,738	42.2%	47.1%	50
123	Poyen School District	508	$10,648	39.6%	12.6%	50
124	Mena School District	1,745	$13,089	47.7%	28.4%	49
125	Waldron School District	1,576	$11,634	62.0%	18.2%	49
126	Fountain Lake School District	1,349	$14,258	33.9%	75.1%	49
127	Booneville School District	1,344	$10,908	100.0%	24.1%	49
128	Gosnell School District	1,173	$11,295	56.1%	15.4%	49
129	Melbourne School District	871	$12,078	30.7%	31.6%	49
130	Mansfield School District	775	$12,195	47.6%	31.2%	49
131	Greenland School District	767	$13,379	54.7%	40.2%	49
132	Star City School District	1,432	$11,987	52.1%	22.7%	48
133	Drew Central School District	1,262	$11,666	100.0%	25.1%	48
134	Harrisburg School District	1,074	$14,379	23.6%	34.9%	48
135	West Fork School District	872	$11,904	32.6%	32.1%	48
136	Jessieville School District	846	$12,634	98.9%	41.0%	48
137	Buffalo is. Central Sch. Dist.	731	$12,594	48.9%	35.7%	48
138	Carlisle School District	677	$12,900	52.3%	39.7%	48
139	Rose Bud School District	752	$12,330	36.5%	34.5%	47
140	Scranton School District	437	$11,922	35.0%	27.8%	47
141	Armorel School District	416	$13,623	26.1%	83.1%	47
142	Little Rock School District	21,456	$15,959	62.3%	52.7%	46
143	Paragould School District	3,217	$11,979	100.0%	27.3%	46
144	Dover School District	1,254	$11,773	38.3%	28.9%	46
145	Benton County School of Arts	1,090	$11,292	21.8%	3.3%	46
146	Jackson Co. School District	937	$11,605	50.4%	26.4%	46
147	Magnet Cove School Dist.	725	$12,617	29.0%	36.3%	46
148	East End School District	667	$11,570	46.7%	22.5%	46
149	Gurdon School District	645	$14,426	58.5%	46.1%	46
150	Hampton School District	543	$13,659	58.2%	46.3%	46
151	N. Little Rock School District	8,200	$12,919	99.9%	33.8%	45
152	Dewitt School District	1,151	$12,864	48.9%	43.6%	45
153	Sloan-Hendrix School Dist.	805	$10,845	51.0%	22.5%	45
154	Lisa Academy Charter	3,769	$11,869	43.7%	8.6%	44
155	Clarksville School District	2,525	$12,127	56.3%	23.9%	44
156	Wynne School District	2,484	$11,785	50.3%	26.1%	44
157	So. Conway Co. School District	2,459	$12,020	100.0%	33.6%	44
158	Berryville School District	1,863	$12,525	53.4%	34.3%	44
159	Rector School District	616	$13,037	48.5%	29.4%	44
160	Pulaski Co. Spec. School Dist.	12,244	$13,934	62.8%	63.0%	43
161	El Dorado School District	4,051	$12,820	99.9%	40.9%	43
162	Huntsville School District	2,339	$11,577	56.4%	28.0%	43
163	Ashdown School District	1,308	$12,661	57.1%	48.0%	43
164	Valley Springs School District	852	$11,271	34.4%	28.4%	43
165	Spring Hill School District	621	$10,446	37.3%	15.0%	43
166	Nettleton School District	3,633	$12,746	93.2%	52.3%	42
167	Trumann School District	1,573	$10,507	99.2%	20.5%	42
168	Corning School District	832	$12,224	55.0%	38.8%	42
169	Mccrory School District	574	$12,017	44.0%	35.5%	42
170	Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas	1,551	$10,122	15.9%	6.8%	41
171	Bergman School District	1,124	$10,364	42.1%	19.1%	41
172	Bismarck School District	1,020	$10,540	53.8%	25.8%	41
173	Bay School District	562	$11,726	41.0%	28.9%	41
174	Glen Rose School District	985	$11,857	35.3%	23.3%	40
175	Genoa Central School District	1,183	$11,174	31.5%	18.1%	39
176	Piggott School District	849	$10,899	40.3%	29.2%	39
177	Lavaca School District	837	$11,391	34.9%	32.7%	39
178	Wonderview School District	482	$11,386	43.1%	45.0%	39
179	Stuttgart School District	1,593	$11,556	70.5%	39.4%	37
180	Fouke School District	1,155	$10,769	46.6%	29.3%	37
181	Charleston School District	889	$10,417	33.0%	25.4%	37
182	Riverside School District	774	$11,289	41.7%	27.9%	37
183	Junction City School District	702	$11,302	61.0%	46.5%	37
184	Springdale School District	22,745	$12,146	55.8%	29.0%	36
185	Jacksonville North Pulaski School District	4,517	$11,264	99.7%	32.5%	36
186	Southside School District	2,234	$10,049	37.1%	16.2%	35
187	White Co. Central School Dist.	899	$10,311	48.7%	23.7%	35
188	Cross County School District	697	$11,062	100.0%	34.2%	35
189	Woodlawn School District	573	$10,759	35.6%	22.0%	35
190	Fort Smith School District	14,291	$12,459	63.4%	35.4%	34
191	Hamburg School District	1,691	$11,386	50.4%	26.4%	34
192	Gentry School District	1,617	$12,477	41.5%	53.6%	34
193	County Line School District	565	$10,874	53.0%	28.0%	34
194	Mt. Vernon/Enola School Dist.	558	$11,486	53.4%	32.5%	34
195	Haas Hall Academy	1,248	$9,697	7.5%	1.2%	33
196	Smackover School District	1,161	$11,892	32.2%	37.0%	33
197	Manila School District	1,076	$11,139	43.6%	27.1%	33
198	Russellville School District	5,602	$13,246	42.0%	54.6%	32
199	Marion School District	3,902	$11,956	59.9%	39.0%	32
200	Harrison School District	2,774	$12,466	39.7%	41.5%	32
201	Pocahontas School District	2,004	$10,423	46.6%	26.6%	32
202	Pottsville School District	1,856	$10,324	24.4%	24.7%	32
203	Harmony Grove School District	1,244	$10,605	25.6%	24.0%	32
204	Lake Hamilton School District	4,131	$12,273	48.8%	36.5%	31
205	Alma School District	3,143	$11,279	35.0%	25.5%	31
206	Ozark School District	1,777	$11,777	44.7%	34.7%	30
207	Lawrence County School District	1,042	$11,012	39.4%	34.5%	30
208	Ouachita School District	550	$9,707	36.5%	23.4%	30
209	Van Buren School District	5,911	$11,315	44.6%	28.9%	29
210	Academics Plus Charter School	1,825	$10,462	23.5%	4.0%	29
211	Lonoke School District	1,603	$11,547	48.9%	35.7%	29
212	Fayetteville School District	10,560	$13,085	31.3%	61.9%	28
213	Arkansas Virtual Academy	3,733	$8,980	56.4%	0.0%	28
214	Bauxite School District	1,659	$9,975	27.0%	24.1%	28
215	Parkers Chapel School Dist.	846	$10,405	25.6%	33.9%	28
216	Greene Co. Tech School Dist.	3,652	$11,247	32.1%	30.5%	27
217	Emerson-Taylor School District	1,171	$11,503	33.3%	42.2%	27
218	Des Arc School District	636	$11,189	51.3%	29.9%	27
219	Arkansas Connections Academy	3,231	$8,729	29.1%	0.0%	26
220	Vilonia School District	3,053	$10,431	30.0%	27.4%	26
221	Westside Cons. School District	1,824	$10,800	38.2%	29.0%	26
222	Crossett School District	1,654	$11,417	51.1%	42.0%	26
223	Conway School District	10,251	$11,689	49.0%	38.6%	25
224	Graduate Arkansas School	381	$4,785	98.7%	0.3%	25
225	Cabot School District	10,696	$10,792	31.7%	27.8%	24
226	Siloam Springs School District	4,612	$11,504	45.3%	33.6%	24
227	Beebe School District	3,394	$10,124	37.1%	27.5%	24
228	Mountain Home School District	3,914	$12,093	39.0%	45.9%	23
229	Rogers School District	15,964	$11,519	41.4%	48.5%	22
230	Elkins School District	1,404	$10,168	31.7%	28.4%	21
231	Mayflower School District	1,045	$9,849	48.5%	30.9%	21
232	Sheridan School District	4,325	$10,080	32.9%	26.8%	20
233	Pea Ridge School District	2,494	$10,296	21.6%	25.4%	20
234	Gravette School District	2,076	$11,608	27.6%	55.2%	19
235	Greenbrier School District	3,862	$10,075	27.7%	27.3%	18
236	Lakeside School District	3,466	$11,458	37.1%	49.0%	18
237	Bentonville School District	18,674	$12,377	15.3%	53.7%	17
238	Brookland School District	3,060	$10,055	21.3%	29.5%	17
239	Searcy School District	4,003	$10,718	39.0%	42.4%	16
240	Batesville School District	3,469	$10,000	43.1%	30.8%	16
241	Greenwood School District	3,956	$11,216	22.2%	38.8%	15
242	Heber Springs School District	1,620	$10,613	38.6%	51.8%	15
243	Benton School District	5,904	$9,367	29.2%	34.2%	14
244	White Hall School District	3,028	$10,377	43.2%	39.8%	14
245	Valley View School District	2,994	$10,395	18.9%	38.0%	13
246	Prairie Grove School District	2,207	$9,989	20.0%	33.7%	13
247	Bryant School District	9,766	$10,006	39.5%	35.7%	12
248	Farmington School District	2,685	$9,670	18.5%	32.9%	12
249	Quitman School District	882	$10,511	35.5%	46.4%	12
250	Arkadelphia School District	1,913	$10,265	44.5%	45.2%	9

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 2022-23), 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.