Total enrollment
62,302
+4,962 (+9%) vs SY 2020-21
Pulaski County
Arkansas · Public K-12
Pulaski County's public schools, 133 in all, serve approximately 64,124 K-12 students inside Arkansas, with Little Rock School District the largest district by enrollment. That works out to 74 elementary, 22 middle, and 30 high schools.
4-year change in Pulaski County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
123
+9 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Pulaski County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Arkansas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 26.1% | #55 of 66 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 64,124 | #1 of 68 | #166 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 129 | #1 of 68 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 8.4:1 | #3 of 65 | #8 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 70.6% | #42 of 68 | #723 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 64.7% | #5 of 66 | #335 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.
Pulaski County school rankings
Residents
399,818
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
133
23 districts
Enrollment
64,124
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$62,873
Above Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
70.6%
Below Arkansas avg
Elementary
74
31,204 students
Middle
22
11,950 students
High
30
20,205 students
Combined / other
7
765 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
22,320 students · 23 districts in Pulaski County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Pulaski 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+
37.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.7%
civilian labor
Median age
38
23.3% under 18
Test scores in Pulaski County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 107 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 34.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 72.9%
- BAKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 69.2%
- DON ROBERTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 63.4%
- FOREST PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 63.2%
- CHENAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 61.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Pulaski County
About Pulaski County
In Arkansas, Pulaski County is a population-heavy county of about 399,818 residents. 133 public schools across the county hosts about 64,124 students between them.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $62,873, 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 13%. That income level is 20% higher than the Arkansas median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Pulaski County consists of 74 elementary schools (31,204 students), 22 middle schools (11,950), 30 high schools (20,205), and 7 combined or other schools.
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 22,320 students across Pulaski County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 62,302 students, rose 9% from the 57,340 reported in SY 2020-21. Pulaski County now counts 123 public schools, up from 114 in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Pulaski County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data