Total enrollment
3,063
-137 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
Polk County
Arkansas · Public K-12
Inside Polk County, Arkansas, public K-12 schools number 11 and serve about 3,063 students out of a population of 19,361. The level mix is 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Polk County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
+1 (+11%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
81%
was 83%
% Hispanic
11%
was 12%
% Black
0%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
11
4 districts
Enrollment
3,063
NCES CCD
Median income
$49,191
Below Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
73.9%
Below Arkansas avg
Elementary
5
1,486 students
Middle
1
393 students
High
4
1,172 students
Combined / other
1
12 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,703 students · 4 districts in Polk County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Polk 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+
17.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.3%
civilian labor
Median age
44
22.5% under 18
Test scores in Polk County
Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 33.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- COSSATOT RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 47.0%
- ACORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 41.7%
- MENA HIGH SCHOOL· 37.0%
- ACORN HIGH SCHOOL· 36.7%
- HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 33.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- COSSATOT RIVER HIGH SCHOOL· 26.5%
- MENA MIDDLE SCHOOL· 32.4%
- HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 33.1%
- ACORN HIGH SCHOOL· 36.7%
- MENA HIGH SCHOOL· 37.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MENA HIGH SCHOOL | Mena | High | 09-12 | 503 | · |
| HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Mena | Elementary | 03-05 | 438 | · |
| MENA MIDDLE SCHOOL | Mena | Middle | 06-08 | 393 | · |
| COSSATOT RIVER HIGH SCHOOL | Cove | High | 07-12 | 388 | · |
| LOUISE DURHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Mena | Elementary | KG-02 | 357 | · |
| ACORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Mena | Elementary | KG-06 | 321 | · |
| ACORN HIGH SCHOOL | Mena | High | 07-12 | 281 | · |
| COSSATOT RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Wickes | Elementary | 03-06 | 200 | · |
| COSSATOT RIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL | Vandervoort | Elementary | KG-02 | 170 | · |
| POLK COUNTY VIRTUAL ACADEMY | Mena | Combined | 01-12 | 12 | · |
| UA RICH MOUNTAIN TECHNICAL CENTER | Mena | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Polk County
About Polk County
Polk County is a compact Arkansas county of about 19,361 residents, home to 11 public schools and roughly 3,063 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $49,191, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 12%. That income level is 6% below the Arkansas median.
In terms of grade levels, Polk County covers 5 elementary schools (1,486 students), 1 middle school (393), 4 high schools (1,172), and 1 combined or other schools.
MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,703 students across Polk County.
Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Polk County has decreased 4% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 3,200 students to 3,063. Over that span, Polk County gained 1 school, going from 9 to 10.
On allk12, the community for Polk County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Polk County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data