Enrollment
NWA Now Educates 1 in 7 Arkansas Students
Four Northwest Arkansas districts grew from 9.8% to 14.2% of state enrollment since 2005, gaining 21,488 students while the Delta lost nearly as many.
Arkansas Education News & Data
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Demographics
Arkansas Schools Are 57% White and Falling
White student share has declined every year for two decades in Arkansas, from 69.4% to 56.5%, as Hispanic enrollment surged 162% and the multiracial category grew fivefold.
District Spotlight
Little Rock Fell from #1 to #3 in Seven Years
Arkansas's capital city district lost 6,774 students since its 2008 peak as Northwest Arkansas boomed and charter schools multiplied.
Covid Impact
Three Out of Four Arkansas Districts Still Below Pre-COVID Enrollment
Only 57 of 216 comparable Arkansas districts have recovered to their 2019-20 enrollment levels. The state lost 8,916 students in 2026 alone.
School Choice
One in 17 Arkansas Students Now Attends a Charter-Like School
Charter and virtual schools tripled their share of Arkansas enrollment in a decade, reaching 5.9% in 2025-26. Two virtual schools alone account for 42% of the sector.
Enrollment
Arkansas Lost More Students This Year Than COVID Took
Arkansas enrollment fell by 8,916 students in 2025-26, the largest single-year drop on record and 39% larger than the COVID-year loss, as vouchers and falling birth rates converge.
Demographics
After 21 Years of Growth, Hispanic Enrollment Falls for the First Time
Arkansas's Hispanic student population declined by 1,157 in 2025-26 after two decades of unbroken growth, with losses concentrated in the NWA poultry corridor.
District Spotlight
Nine Delta Districts Lost 55% of Their Students
Nine Arkansas Delta school districts have shed 13,769 students since 2005, with Helena-West Helena down 69% and five districts below 1,000 students.
Enrollment
Arkansas Publishes 2025-26 Enrollment Data
ADE releases 2025-26 enrollment data showing 465,421 students statewide — down 8,916, the largest single-year loss on record.