Total enrollment
56,973
+9,314 (+20%) vs SY 2017-18
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.
7-year change in Benton County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
85
+11 (+15%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
57%
was 63%
% Hispanic
26%
was 25%
% Black
3%
was 2%
% Asian
6%
was 4%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
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 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 76 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 33.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- HAAS HALL BENTONVILLE· 88.6%
- BRIGHT FIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL· 72.3%
- EVENING STAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 71.8%
- HAAS HALL ACADEMY ROGERS· 71.5%
- JANIE DARR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 67.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL· 16.8%
- DECATUR MIDDLE SCHOOL· 17.7%
- DECATUR NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY· 22.5%
- ARKANSAS CONNECTIONS ACADEMY HIGH· 23.5%
- GENTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL· 28.6%
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 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment climbed 20%: 47,659 students in SY 2017-18 versus 56,973 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Benton County gained 11 schools, going from 74 to 85. The White share of public-school enrollment decreased from 63% to 57%.
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
Benton County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data