Total enrollment
8,520
+202 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Jefferson County
Arkansas · Public K-12
Public-school families in Jefferson County pick from 28 schools serving the county's roughly 8,520 K-12 students, with a mix of 13 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high.
4-year change in Jefferson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
21
+3 (+17%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Jefferson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Arkansas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 20.6% | #64 of 66 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 8,520 | #14 of 68 | #909 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 21 | #13 of 68 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.9:1 | #50 of 65 | #867 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 77.1% | #27 of 68 | #541 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 46.8% | #29 of 66 | #1,237 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.
Jefferson County school rankings
Residents
64,802
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
28
6 districts
Enrollment
8,520
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$51,096
Below Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
77.2%
Above Arkansas avg
Elementary
13
4,308 students
Middle
4
1,901 students
High
5
2,311 students
Combined / other
6
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT
3,046 students · 6 districts in Jefferson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Jefferson 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+
20.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
14.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.1%
civilian labor
Median age
40
21.5% under 18
Test scores in Jefferson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 19 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 34.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 45.0%
- HARDIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 41.4%
- FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMY DOWNTOWN PINE BLUFF· 39.1%
- GANDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 39.1%
- MOODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 29.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Jefferson County
About Jefferson County
Jefferson County is a mid-sized county of about 64,802 residents in Arkansas. Its public-school system serves approximately 8,520 students across 28 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $51,096 a year, about 20% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 15%.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Jefferson County is built around 13 elementary schools (4,308 students), 4 middle schools (1,901), 5 high schools (2,311), and 6 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Jefferson County is WHITE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 3,046 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Jefferson County has stayed largely flat since SY 2020-21, moving from about 8,318 students to 8,520. Over that span, Jefferson County opened 3 schools, going from 18 to 21.
On this page, the community for Jefferson County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data