The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

St. Francis County

Arkansas · Public K-12

Arkansas's St. Francis County runs 8 public K-12 schools between its districts, the largest being Forrest City School District at 2,078 students. That works out to 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.

7-year change in St. Francis County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,904
-662 (-19%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
7
-2 (-22%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
26%
was 26%
% Hispanic
2%
was 2%
% Black
71%
was 71%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
8
3 districts
Enrollment
2,904
NCES CCD
Median income
$42,574
Below Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.8%
Above Arkansas avg
Elementary
3
1,561 students
Middle
2
402 students
High
3
941 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
FORREST CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
2,078 students · 3 districts in St. Francis County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of St. Francis 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
41%
Hispanic
4%
Black
55%
Asian
0%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
26%
Hispanic
2%
Black
70%
Asian
1%
Two or more
n/r
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
14.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
24.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
9.2%
civilian labor
Median age
40
21.2% under 18

Test scores in St. Francis County

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

See all 6 schools in St. Francis County ranked by score →

All schools (8)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLForrest CityElementaryPK-02713·
FORREST CITY HIGH SCHOOLForrest CityHigh09-12563·
PALESTINE-WHEATLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLPalestineElementaryPK-06448·
STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOLForrest CityElementary03-05400·
PALESTINE-WHEATLEY SENIOR HIGHPalestineHigh07-12378·
FORREST CITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLForrest CityMiddle07-08270·
LINCOLN ACADEMYForrest CityMiddle06-06132·
EAST ARKANSAS SECONDARY CAREER CENTERForrect CityHigh09-120·

Cities in St. Francis County

Forrest City5 schoolsPalestine2 schoolsForrect City1 school

About St. Francis County

St. Francis County is a sparse county of about 22,400 residents in Arkansas. Its public-school system instructs approximately 2,904 students across 8 schools.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $42,574, 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 24%. That income level is 19% meaningfully below the Arkansas median.

For a sense of the school types, St. Francis County consists of 3 elementary schools (1,561 students), 2 middle schools (402), and 3 high schools (941).

FORREST CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,078 students across St. Francis County.

Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,904 students, shrank 19% from the 3,566 reported in SY 2017-18. St. Francis County now counts 7 public schools, down from 9 in SY 2017-18.

In the discussion threads here, the community for St. Francis County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve St. Francis County?
There are 8 public K-12 schools in St. Francis County, Arkansas, with a combined enrollment of about 2,904.
How many high schools are in St. Francis County?
St. Francis County, Arkansas has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 941 students.
How many middle schools are in St. Francis County?
St. Francis County, Arkansas has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 402 students.
How many elementary schools are in St. Francis County?
St. Francis County, Arkansas has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,561 students.
What is the largest school district in St. Francis County?
FORREST CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in St. Francis County, serving approximately 2,078 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
How many people live in St. Francis County?
St. Francis County has roughly 22,400 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in St. Francis County?
Median household income in St. Francis County is $42,574, below the Arkansas average of $52,446. About 24.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of St. Francis County?
Approximately 14.2% of adults 25 and older in St. Francis County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in St. Francis County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 99.8% of students in St. Francis County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Arkansas county average of 76.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in St. Francis County schools?
Across St. Francis County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 16.0 to 1.

St. Francis County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data