Arkansas Fast Facts

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  • 38%

    locals think K–12 education in Arkansas is headed in the right direction

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker

People Arkansas Parents Trust Most to Make Good Decisions About Education
  1. Teachers
  2. School Parents
  3. School Principals

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker

Arkansas Private School Fast Facts

  • 4,458

    estimated open seats in private schools

  • 84%

    of private schools serve students with special needs

  • 65%

    provide some form of financial assistance to students

Exploring Arkansas’s Private Education Sector

Arkansas K–12 Education Spending

$5.9 Billion

Total Arkansas Public Education Revenue

U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Common Core of Data (CCD)

Data last updated 6/2022.

Arkansas Student Transportation

  • $717

    Avg. District Busing Expenditure Per Pupil

  • 6%

    Total Spending Per Pupil

U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Common Core of Data (CCD)

Data last updated 6/2022.

Inter-District

Arkansas mandates inter-district transportation funding only for open enrollment students who are assigned to a “failing” district school.

Charter School

The state does not permit publicly funded transportation of charter school students unless they are zoned to a “failing” district school.

Private School

Arkansas does not allow for publicly funded transportation to private schools with the exception of students with special needs. Districts can transport students to private schools at their own discretion.

State Student Transportation Statutes

Inter-District: Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-18-1904 and 6-21-812

Charter Schools: Ark Code Ann. §§ 6-19-101 through 131

Private Schools: Ark. Admin. Code 005.18.14-14.08

Transporting School Choice Students, 2020