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Sharp County

Arkansas · Public K-12

Sharp County, Arkansas reports 6 public K-12 schools to NCES, set against a county population of about 17,773, with a mix of 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high.

7-year change in Sharp County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,738
-135 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 94%
% Hispanic
3%
was 3%
% Black
2%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
2,738
NCES CCD
Median income
$44,637
Below Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
76.0%
Below Arkansas avg
Elementary
2
1,186 students
Middle
2
701 students
High
2
851 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
1,499 students · 2 districts in Sharp County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Sharp 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
White
92%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
6%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
93%
Hispanic
3%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
13.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.1%
civilian labor
Median age
47
20.4% under 18

Test scores in Sharp County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 33.9%.

See all 6 schools in Sharp County ranked by score →

All schools (6)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
CAVE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCave CityElementaryPK-05605·
CHEROKEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLHardyElementaryPK-04581·
HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOLHardyHigh09-12476·
HIGHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOLHardyMiddle05-08442·
CAVE CITY HIGH CAREER & COLLEGIATE PREPARATORY SCHOOLCave CityHigh09-12375·
CAVE CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREER AND COLLEGIATE PREPARATORYCave CityMiddle06-08259·

Cities in Sharp County

Cave City3 schoolsHardy3 schools

About Sharp County

Sharp County is a rural-scale county of about 17,773 residents in Arkansas. Its public-school system hosts approximately 2,738 students across 6 schools.

Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $44,637, about 14% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 12%. That income level is 15% noticeably below the Arkansas median.

On the school-mix side, Sharp County consists of 2 elementary schools (1,186 students), 2 middle schools (701), and 2 high schools (851).

The largest single district in Sharp County is HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 1,499 students.

Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Sharp County has decreased 5% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 2,873 students to 2,738.

On allk12, the community for Sharp 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

How many public schools are in Sharp County?
Sharp County, Arkansas has 6 public K-12 schools serving approximately 2,738 students.
How many high schools are in Sharp County?
Sharp County, Arkansas has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 851 students.
How many middle schools are in Sharp County?
Sharp County, Arkansas has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 701 students.
How many elementary schools are in Sharp County?
Sharp County, Arkansas has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,186 students.
What is the largest school district in Sharp County?
HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Sharp County, serving approximately 1,499 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
How many people live in Sharp County?
Sharp County has roughly 17,773 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Sharp County?
Median household income in Sharp County is $44,637, below the Arkansas average of $52,446. About 12.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Sharp County?
Approximately 13.9% of adults 25 and older in Sharp County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Sharp County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 76.0% of students in Sharp County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Arkansas county average of 76.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Sharp County schools?
Across Sharp County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 11.5 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data