Education Fast Facts
| School Districts |
245 |
| Elementary Schools |
600 |
| Middle/Junior High Schools |
201 |
| High Schools |
311 |
| Number of Required School Days in School Calendar Year |
178 |
| Students |
452,000 |
| Students Eligible for Free and Reduced Lunches |
53% |
| Graduates 2000-01** |
26,621 |
| Graduation Rate 2000-01** |
81% |
| Instructional Staff** |
35,000 |
| Teachers Completely Certified |
99% |
| Teachers with Master's Degrees |
64% |
| Professional Development Hours Required |
60 |
** Source: 2005-2006 Statewide Information System Database
Education in Arkansas
 Statewide Testing: All third-through eighth-graders take the State Benchmark Exams in math and literacy. All fifth- and seventh-graders take a science Benchmark Exam. Arkansas students also take an 11th-grade literacy exam and end-of-course exams in Algebra I and Geometry. Highlights of 2006: 67 percent of third graders scored proficient and above in math and 66 percent of eighth graders scored at those levels in literacy.
A nationally norm-referenced test is administered to students in kindergarten through ninth grades. In 2006, the average composite scores for all grade levels taking the test were right at the national average or above.
ACT: The Class of 2006 scored an average of 20.6, up from 20.3 the year before. That was higher than the national growth rate and the highest growth rate for states testing at least 50 percent of their graduating classes.
108 Percent: The increase in Advanced Placement exam participation in Arkansas from 2004-2005 -- the largest increase in all of AP's 50-year history. Taking an AP class gives students a 30 percent greater chance at college success.
3 out of 4: Arkansas was one of three states improving on three of the four 2005 NAEP mathematics and reading tests since they were last administered in 2003. Gains occurred in fourth grade reading and mathematics and eighth grade mathematics -- putting Arkansas at or near the national average on all four tests.
38: Every Arkansas high school student has the opportunity to take challenging courses thanks to the state's requirement that every high school must teach a minimum 38 units.
4: The number of higher level maths -- including Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry -- and grade-level English courses required for students to graduate from Smart Core, the rigorous set of courses all students are encouraged to take.
2: Arkansas was one of the first two states to require students to take the mathematics sequence up to Algebra II. Other states are now following suit.
95 Percent: At least this many of Arkansas schools' core classes are taught by "highly qualified teachers" under the state's definition.
10: The number of elements that experts recommend for a quality statewide data system for tracking student achievement -- Arkansas has all 10.
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