JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL operates as a compact elementary campus in DIERKS, Arkansas, overseen by DIERKS SCHOOL DISTRICT. Current enrollment sits at 288 students spanning grades K through 6. Enrollment runs roughly 31% leaner than the state mean of about 418.

Across the 2 schools in DIERKS SCHOOL DISTRICT (541 students total), JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL shows that nearly all students (81%) are White. The remainder breaks down as 14% Hispanic, 5% multiracial. By comparison, Howard County as a whole is about 65% White, so the school skews noticeably more White than its surroundings.

On the income-and-resources front, JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL shows 20 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 14.6:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 16.0:1, putting JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL tighter than the state norm the norm. An estimated 86% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. Set against Howard County (around 94%), the school's rate is meaningfully below typical.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 27.2% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 29.8%.

In the broader community, ACS estimates for Howard County put median household earnings sit near $45,603, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 22%. JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is one of 9 public schools in Howard County (combined enrollment of about 2,825 students).

DIERKS HIGH SCHOOL is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.3 miles from this campus. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL at 5th of 8; the average score across the group is 28.0%.

The school occupies an outlying site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at JOANN WALTERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has ticked down 8%, going from 314 students in 2018 to 288 in 2025. The White share of enrollment decreased from 91% to 81% over that span. Class-load math has grew: from 12.8:1 in 2018 to 14.6:1 in 2025.

On the community side, recent activity here tends to focus on science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.