Total enrollment
56,973
+5,966 (+12%) vs SY 2020-21
Benton County
Arkansas · Public K-12
Public-school families in Benton County pick from 88 schools serving the county's roughly 57,071 K-12 students, with a mix of 48 elementary, 22 middle, and 17 high.
4-year change in Benton County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
85
+7 (+9%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Benton County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Arkansas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 50.6% | #1 of 66 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 57,071 | #2 of 68 | #198 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 87 | #2 of 68 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.8:1 | #61 of 65 | #1,684 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 37.1% | #68 of 68 | #2,206 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 59.6% | #11 of 66 | #585 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Benton County school rankings
Residents
303,632
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
88
17 districts
Enrollment
57,071
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$93,506
Above Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
37.1%
Below Arkansas avg
Elementary
48
23,086 students
Middle
22
13,251 students
High
17
16,159 students
Combined / other
1
4,575 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
BENTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
19,575 students · 17 districts in Benton County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Benton County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
37.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.4%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.1%
civilian labor
Median age
36
25.4% under 18
Test scores in Benton County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 76 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 34.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- HAAS HALL BENTONVILLE· 87.3%
- HAAS HALL ACADEMY ROGERS· 78.5%
- BRIGHT FIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL· 76.8%
- JANIE DARR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 73.6%
- SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES-NW ARK· 73.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- DECATUR MIDDLE SCHOOL· 21.6%
- ARKANSAS CONNECTIONS ACADEMY HIGH· 22.4%
- GENTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL· 28.5%
- SILOAM SPRINGS INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL· 30.0%
- DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL· 30.1%
Cities in Benton County
About Benton County
Across the high-population Arkansas county of Benton County of about 303,632 residents, the public-school footprint covers 88 schools and about 57,071 students.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $93,506 a year, about 38% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%. That income level is 78% meaningfully above the Arkansas median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Benton County is built around 48 elementary schools (23,086 students), 22 middle schools (13,251), 17 high schools (16,159), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Benton County is BENTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 19,575 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment climbed 12%: 51,007 students in SY 2020-21 versus 56,973 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Benton County gained 7 schools, going from 78 to 85.
On this page, the community for Benton County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data