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Union County

Arkansas · Public K-12

Public schools in Union County, Arkansas total 15, with combined enrollment of about 6,933 students against a county population of 37,900. That breaks down as 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high.

7-year change in Union County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
6,933
-507 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
14
-3 (-18%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
49%
was 50%
% Hispanic
7%
was 7%
% Black
38%
was 39%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
15
6 districts
Enrollment
6,933
NCES CCD
Median income
$55,259
Above Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
63.1%
Below Arkansas avg
Elementary
6
2,935 students
Middle
3
1,459 students
High
5
2,255 students
Combined / other
1
284 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
EL DORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT
3,921 students · 6 districts in Union County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Union 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
62%
Hispanic
5%
Black
32%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
49%
Hispanic
7%
Black
38%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
19.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
14.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.5%
civilian labor
Median age
41
23.7% under 18

Test scores in Union County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 33.9%.

See all 14 schools in Union County ranked by score →

All schools (15)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
EL DORADO HIGH SCHOOLEl DoradoHigh09-121,235·
WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOLEl DoradoMiddle05-06581·
YOCUM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLEl DoradoElementaryKG-04580·
BARTON JR. HIGH SCHOOLEl DoradoMiddle05-08540·
SMACKOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLNorphletElementaryPK-04523·
HUGH GOODWIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLEl DoradoElementaryPK-04508·
PARKERS CHAPEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLEl DoradoElementaryPK-06491·
NORTHWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLEl DoradoElementaryKG-04477·
JUNCTION CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLJunction CityElementaryKG-06356·
PARKERS CHAPEL HIGH SCHOOLEl DoradoHigh07-12356·
SMACKOVER HIGH SCHOOLNorphletHigh09-12347·
NORPHLET MIDDLE SCHOOLNorphletMiddle05-08338·
JUNCTION CITY HIGH SCHOOLJunction CityHigh07-12317·
STRONG-HUTTIG SCHOOLSStrongCombinedKG-12284·
SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE TECHNICAL CENTEREl DoradoHigh09-120·

Cities in Union County

El Dorado9 schoolsNorphlet3 schoolsJunction City2 schoolsStrong1 school

About Union County

Across the small Arkansas county of Union County of about 37,900 residents, the public-school footprint covers 15 schools and about 6,933 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $55,259 a year, 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 15%. That income level is 5% higher than the Arkansas median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Union County consists of 6 elementary schools (2,935 students), 3 middle schools (1,459), 5 high schools (2,255), and 1 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Union County is EL DORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT, which alone enrolls about 3,921 students.

Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Union County has decreased 7% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 7,440 students to 6,933. Over that span, Union County lost 3 schools, going from 17 to 14.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Union County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Union County?
Union County, Arkansas has 15 public K-12 schools serving approximately 6,933 students.
How many high schools are in Union County?
Union County, Arkansas has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 2,255 students.
How many middle schools are in Union County?
Union County, Arkansas has 3 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,459 students.
How many elementary schools are in Union County?
Union County, Arkansas has 6 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,935 students.
What is the largest school district in Union County?
EL DORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Union County, serving approximately 3,921 students. The county contains 6 school districts overall.
What is the population of Union County?
Union County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 37,900, with a median age of 41. About 23.7% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Union County?
Median household income in Union County is $55,259, above the Arkansas average of $52,446. About 14.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Union County?
Approximately 19.1% of adults 25 and older in Union County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Union County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 63.1% of students in Union 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 Union County schools?
Across Union County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.6 to 1.

Union County school rankings

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