Total enrollment
2,669
-773 (-22%) vs SY 2017-18
Phillips County
Arkansas · Public K-12
Within Phillips County, Arkansas, families have 9 public-school options to consider, collectively serving 2,669 K-12 students. Helena West Helena School District is the heaviest district by enrollment. By grade band, the county runs 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Phillips County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
17%
was 18%
% Hispanic
2%
was 1%
% Black
79%
was 79%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
15,450
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
4 districts
Enrollment
2,669
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$40,134
Below Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.1%
Above Arkansas avg
Elementary
4
1,465 students
Middle
1
163 students
High
4
1,041 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
HELENA WEST HELENA SCHOOL DISTRICT
978 students · 4 districts in Phillips County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Phillips 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+
15.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
24.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
14.5%
civilian labor
Median age
41
26.2% under 18
Test scores in Phillips County
Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 33.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- BARTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 24.4%
- KIPP:DELTA COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL· 23.1%
- BARTON HIGH SCHOOL· 20.2%
- KIPP DELTA ELEMENTARY LITERACY ACADEMY· 16.8%
- J.F. WAHL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 14.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.F. WAHL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Helena | Elementary | PK-06 | 539 | · |
| KIPP DELTA ELEMENTARY LITERACY ACADEMY | West Helena | Elementary | PK-05 | 463 | · |
| CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | West Helena | High | 07-12 | 439 | · |
| BARTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Lexa | Elementary | PK-06 | 342 | · |
| BARTON HIGH SCHOOL | Lexa | High | 07-12 | 322 | · |
| KIPP:DELTA COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL | Helena | High | 09-12 | 181 | · |
| KIPP:DELTA COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL | Helena | Middle | 06-08 | 163 | · |
| MARVELL-ELAINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Marvell | Elementary | PK-06 | 121 | · |
| MARVELL-ELAINE HIGH SCHOOL | Marvell | High | 07-12 | 99 | · |
Cities in Phillips County
About Phillips County
In Arkansas, Phillips County is a small county of about 15,450 residents. 9 public schools across the county hosts about 2,669 students between them.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $40,134 a year, 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 25%. That income level is 23% meaningfully below the Arkansas median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Phillips County consists of 4 elementary schools (1,465 students), 1 middle school (163), and 4 high schools (1,041).
The largest single district in Phillips County is HELENA WEST HELENA SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 978 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,669 students, contracted 22% from the 3,442 reported in SY 2017-18.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Phillips County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Phillips County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data