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Schools in Jacksonville · Jacksonville North Pulaski School District

Jacksonville’s public schools score below 90% of Arkansas districts on tests and graduation

In Jacksonville, 17% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Arkansas average (38%). The grade covers the public school district serving Jacksonville, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arkansas, not nationally.

#120of 123 Arkansas townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arkansas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency

22%

▼ 18 pts vs AR 40%

2021–22

Math proficiency

17%

▼ 21 pts vs AR 38%

2021–22

Graduate on time

79%

▼ 11 pts vs AR 90%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$13.6K

▲ 0% vs AR $13.6K

FY2024

Students per teacher

13.0

AR 12.4 · larger classes

Schools in town

3,944 students on the public path

In brief

Jacksonville’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 279 Arkansas towns with household incomes within a quarter of Jacksonville’s, its schools beat 5%, lower than their 10% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 22% of tested students were proficient in reading and 17% in math, against 40% and 38% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Arkansas. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,606 per student, against $13,585 across Arkansas (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Jacksonville Middle School, then Jacksonville High School. Enrollment is up 31% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Jacksonville Lighthouse Elementary, Jacksonville Lighthouse Flightline Academy, Jacksonville Lighthouse High School and Jacksonville Christian Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Jacksonville’s grade

D Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 10% of Arkansas school districts, #120 of 123 Arkansas towns. Both inputs trail the Arkansas average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Arkansas school districts we grade (261)Better than 10%

Lower resultsHigher results

Arkansas towns with similar household incomes (279)Better than 5%

DC⁻A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,324 test results and a graduating class of 254 could put Jacksonville anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Jacksonville’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,332 in math, 2,317 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Jacksonville, with each school’s own grade.

Kindergarten in Jacksonville · depends on your address

Jacksonville Elementary School

Grades K–5 · 733 students · 17:1 students per teacher

No scores

Murrell Taylor Elementary School

Grades K–5 · 428 students · 15:1 students per teacher

Bobby G Lester Elementary School

Grades K–5 · 421 students · 13:1 students per teacher

C⁺

The path, start to finish

K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to C⁺

6–8Jacksonville Middle SchoolJacksonville North Pulaski School DistrictD

9–12Jacksonville High SchoolJacksonville North Pulaski School DistrictD

Jacksonville’s public schools are run by Jacksonville North Pulaski School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Jacksonville North Pulaski School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 4,360 students, up 31% since 2020–21 · 13.0 per teacher (AR 12.4)

$13,606AR $13,585 · FY2024

Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading22%

State average 39.9% · 2317 students tested

Math17%

State average 38.3% · 2332 students tested

Jacksonville vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arkansas towns that share Jacksonville’s borders.

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Jacksonville	D	Jacksonville North Pulaski
Sherwood	C⁺	Pulaski County Special

Every school in Jacksonville

10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arkansas’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Jacksonvilleby address

Adkins Preschool Center

Prekindergarten · Grades PK

228 students18:1Rate it →

Jacksonville Elementary School

Elementary · Grades K–5

733 students17:1Rate it →

Murrell Taylor Elementary School

Elementary · Grades K–5

428 students15:1Rate it →

Bobby G Lester Elementary School

Elementary · Grades K–5

C⁺

421 students13:1Rate it →

Jacksonville Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8

926 students12:1Rate it →

Jacksonville High School

High · Grades 9–12

1,208 students11:1Rate it →

Charter schoolsfree, open by application

Jacksonville Lighthouse Elementary

Elementary · Grades K–4

Charter

210 students15:1Rate it →

Jacksonville Lighthouse Flightline Academy

Middle · Grades 5–8 · Little Rock

Charter

156 students9:1Rate it →

Jacksonville Lighthouse High School

High · Grades 9–12

Charter

60 students11:1Rate it →

Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

Jacksonville Christian Academy

Grades PK–12

Private · Religious

158 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Jacksonville’s schools

Are Jacksonville’s schools good?

On Arkansas’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Jacksonville children attend score below 90% of Arkansas’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #120 of 123 Arkansas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 5%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Jacksonville in?

Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,360 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

Where do Jacksonville kids go to high school?

Jacksonville High School, with 1,208 students; its own test results earn a D.

What is Jacksonville’s graduation rate?

79% of the class of 2023 in Jacksonville North Pulaski School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Arkansas.

How much does Jacksonville spend per student?

$13,606 in Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (FY2024), against $13,585 across Arkansas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Jacksonville?

Yes: Jacksonville Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 158 students). Jacksonville also has 3 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Jacksonville families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Jacksonville → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Arkansas. Stars are from neighbors.