Total enrollment
14,391
-638 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Garland County
Arkansas · Public K-12
Garland County's school count of 28 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 14,391 students inside Arkansas, around 14% of the county population. That works out to 13 elementary, 6 middle, and 9 high schools.
4-year change in Garland County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
27
+1 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Garland County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Arkansas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 36.3% | #25 of 66 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 14,391 | #8 of 68 | #621 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 27 | #8 of 68 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.4:1 | #54 of 65 | #1,077 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 72.1% | #39 of 68 | #692 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 55.7% | #19 of 66 | #811 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.
Garland County school rankings
Residents
100,035
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
28
8 districts
Enrollment
14,391
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$57,181
Above Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
72.1%
Below Arkansas avg
Elementary
13
6,580 students
Middle
6
3,134 students
High
9
4,677 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
LAKE HAMILTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
3,945 students · 8 districts in Garland County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Garland 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+
25.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.7%
civilian labor
Median age
46
19.8% under 18
Test scores in Garland County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 24 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 34.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Garland County
About Garland County
In Arkansas, Garland County is a mid-sized county of about 100,035 residents. 28 public schools across the county serves about 14,391 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $57,181 a year, roughly 25% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 9% noticeably above the Arkansas median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Garland County is made up of 13 elementary schools (6,580 students), 6 middle schools (3,134), and 9 high schools (4,677).
LAKE HAMILTON SCHOOL DISTRICT dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,945 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Garland County has fell 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 15,029 students to 14,391. The school count climbed from 26 to 27 across the same 4-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Garland County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data