The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

Craighead County

Arkansas · Public K-12

Public K-12 enrollment in Craighead County totals about 20,332 students across 37 schools, an average of 550 per campus. Jonesboro School District is the largest district. By level, that breaks down as 21 elementary, 7 middle, and 9 high schools.

7-year change in Craighead County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
20,332
+1,254 (+7%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
36
+1 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
56%
was 63%
% Hispanic
10%
was 9%
% Black
28%
was 25%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
113,249
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
37
8 districts
Enrollment
20,332
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$59,548
Above Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
66.8%
Below Arkansas avg
Elementary
21
10,314 students
Middle
7
4,601 students
High
9
5,417 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
JONESBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT
6,762 students · 8 districts in Craighead County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Craighead 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
White
72%
Hispanic
6%
Black
17%
Asian
1%
Two or more
7%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
56%
Hispanic
10%
Black
28%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
29.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
14.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.6%
civilian labor
Median age
35
25.2% under 18

Test scores in Craighead County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 29 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 33.9%.

See all 29 schools in Craighead County ranked by score →

All schools (37)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
THE ACADEMIES AT JONESBORO HIGH SCHOOLJonesboroHigh07-121,505·
NETTLETON HIGH SCHOOLJonesboroHigh09-121,054·
VALLEY VIEW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLJonesboroElementary03-06933·
DOUGLAS MACARTHUR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLJonesboroMiddle07-09765·
WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLJonesboroElementaryPK-04756·
BROOKLAND MIDDLE SCHOOLBrooklandMiddle04-06755·
VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS MAGNETJonesboroElementary01-06731·
BROOKLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLBrooklandElementary01-03728·
ANNIE CAMP JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLJonesboroMiddle07-09701·
BROOKLAND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLBrooklandMiddle07-09701·
VALLEY VIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLJonesboroMiddle07-09699·
VALLEY VIEW HIGH SCHOOLJonesboroHigh09-12675·
VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLJonesboroElementaryPK-02668·
WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOLJonesboroHigh08-12647·
BROOKLAND HIGH SCHOOLBrooklandHigh10-12645·
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES MAGNETJonesboroElementary01-06636·
HEALTH WELLNESS & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAGNETJonesboroElementary01-06633·
NETTLETON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLJonesboroMiddle07-08566·
MATH & SCIENCE MAGNET SCHOOLJonesboroElementary01-06499·
LEADERSHIP MAGNET SCHOOLJonesboroElementary01-06492·
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS SCHOOL OF MEDICAL ARTSJonesboroElementary03-06491·
KINDERGARTEN CENTERJonesboroElementaryKG-KG485·
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLJonesboroElementaryPK-02446·
FOX MEADOW SCHOOL OF CREATIVE MEDIAJonesboroElementary03-06440·
WESTSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOLJonesboroMiddle05-07414·
FOX MEADOW ELEMENTARYJonesboroElementaryPK-02394·
BROOKLAND PRIMARY SCHOOLBrooklandElementaryPK-KG384·
RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOLLake CityHigh07-12342·
BAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLBayElementaryKG-06317·
BUFFALO ISLAND CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOLMonetteHigh07-12316·
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTERJonesboroElementaryPK-PK315·
NETTLETON STEAM INTERMEDIATEJonesboroElementary03-06313·
RIVERSIDE WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLLake CityElementaryPK-06300·
BAY HIGH SCHOOLBayHigh07-12233·
NETTLETON STEAM ELEMENTARYJonesboroElementaryPK-02206·
RIVERSIDE EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCarawayElementaryPK-06147·
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTERJonesboroHigh09-120·

Cities in Craighead County

Jonesboro26 schoolsBrookland5 schoolsBay2 schoolsLake City2 schoolsCaraway1 schoolMonette1 school

About Craighead County

Craighead County is a medium-population Arkansas county of about 113,249 residents, home to 37 public schools and roughly 20,332 students.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $59,548, roughly 30% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 15%. That income level is 14% higher than the Arkansas median.

On the school-mix side, Craighead County covers 21 elementary schools (10,314 students), 7 middle schools (4,601), and 9 high schools (5,417).

JONESBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 6,762 students on its own.

Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Craighead County has grew 7% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 19,078 students to 20,332. Over that span, Craighead County gained 1 school, going from 35 to 36. Demographically, the White share of enrollment declined from 63% to 56%.

On this page, the community for Craighead County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Craighead County?
Craighead County, Arkansas has 37 public K-12 schools serving approximately 20,332 students.
How many high schools are in Craighead County?
Craighead County, Arkansas has 9 public high schools, serving approximately 5,417 students.
How many middle schools are in Craighead County?
Craighead County, Arkansas has 7 public middle schools, serving approximately 4,601 students.
How many elementary schools are in Craighead County?
Craighead County, Arkansas has 21 public elementary schools, serving approximately 10,314 students.
What is the largest school district in Craighead County?
JONESBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Craighead County, serving approximately 6,762 students. The county contains 8 school districts overall.
What is the population of Craighead County?
Craighead County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 113,249, with a median age of 35. About 25.2% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Craighead County?
Median household income in Craighead County is $59,548, above the Arkansas average of $52,446. About 14.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Craighead County?
Approximately 29.7% of adults 25 and older in Craighead County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Craighead County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 66.8% of students in Craighead County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Arkansas county average of 76.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Craighead County schools?
Across Craighead County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.7 to 1.

Craighead County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data