Best Schools in Fayetteville, Arkansas
26 schools · 15 Elementary · 4 Middle · 2 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Fayetteville?
Use this page to compare every school in Fayetteville by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Vandergriff Elementary School
Elementary · Fayetteville School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Root Elementary School
Elementary · Fayetteville School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Woodland Junior High School
Middle · Fayetteville School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Fayetteville for 2026 are Vandergriff Elementary School (9.0/10), Root Elementary School (8.7/10), and Woodland Junior High School (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
26
16 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$322,400
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
26
16 public · 10 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$322,400
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.0/10 despite 68% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Fayetteville schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Fayetteville
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 16 rated schools; 26 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vandergriff Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Root Elementary School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Woodland Junior High School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Holcomb Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Fayetteville High School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Leverett Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Ramay Junior High School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Fayetteville Virtual Academy District Conversion Charter Sch | 7.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Owl Creek School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Mcnair Middle School | 6.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.9/10
- Median household income
- $66,545
- Median home value
- $322,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 49%
43% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Fayetteville compares
Arkansas rank
#32 of 125
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.6
above Arkansas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$67k
120% of Arkansas median
Schools in this city
23
Fayetteville School District runs Fayetteville's public schools
16 public schools. Fayetteville School District is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Fayetteville is a Fayetteville School District school (16 of 16).
Among 16 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.5 to 9.0 — the spread is inside Fayetteville, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville's public school system gives parents a substantial pool to evaluate. The city runs 16 ranked public schools spanning elementary through high school, with an average rating of 6.7 out of 10. Half the schools — eight of the sixteen — clear the 7-out-of-10 mark, a meaningful concentration of high performers within a single city's boundaries.
Performance at the top end of the range is consistent. Woodland Junior High School leads with an 8.1 rating, the highest score among all ranked Fayetteville schools. On the elementary side, Holcomb and Root Elementary each score 7.9, with Vandergriff Elementary close behind at 7.6. Fayetteville High School comes in at 7.7, which means parents can find strong-rated options at every school level — elementary, middle, and high.
The 6.7 citywide average tells only part of the story. With eight schools above 7.0 and eight at or below that threshold, Fayetteville carries real variation across attendance zones. The spread between the city's top-rated school (8.1) and the overall average (6.7) is wide enough to matter on the ground. Attending a 7.9-rated elementary is a materially different experience from landing in a school at or below the city mean — and in most districts, your address determines your school, not your preference.
For families relocating to Fayetteville, the highest-leverage move is mapping school zone boundaries before narrowing down neighborhoods. The high-performing elementary cluster — Holcomb, Root, and Vandergriff — gives parents multiple geographic entry points into the upper tier. Confirm current zone lines and enrollment capacity directly with Fayetteville Public Schools before committing to a specific address. School assignment is the variable with the most impact here, and it shifts with district boundary updates more often than most parents expect.
Elementary Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 573 students · Kindergarten–4th | 9.0 | ||
| 2 | 465 students · Kindergarten–4th | 8.7 | ||
| 3 | 578 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.9 | ||
| 4 | 257 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.5 | ||
| 5 | 561 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.0 | ||
| 6 | 513 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.6 | ||
| 7 | 560 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.2 | ||
| 8 | 280 students · Kindergarten–4th | 5.5 | ||
| 9 | 309 students · Kindergarten–4th | 3.5 | ||
Private Schools6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Hill SchoolPrivate 53 students · Pre-K–4th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 15 elementary schools in Fayetteville
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 713 students · 7th–8th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 721 students · 7th–8th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 761 students · 5th–6th | 6.7 |
| 4 | 449 students · 5th–6th | 6.5 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,599 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 254 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 129 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.1 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 138 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Prism North AmericaPrivate 163 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | The New SchoolPrivate 307 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 21 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas · 26 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$66,545
Median Home Value
$322,400
Median Rent
$1,031/mo
Population
114,403
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
49%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
17.7%
Community Profile
Fayetteville has a median household income of $66,545. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $322,400, with a median rent of $1,031/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.7%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arkansas
- Elementary
- 15
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 2
- Other
- 5
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in Arkansas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Fayetteville, Arkansas
How many schools are in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
Fayetteville has 26 schools, including 16 public and 10 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fayetteville is 6.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
The top-ranked school in Fayetteville on MySchoolScout is Vandergriff Elementary School with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Fayetteville on MySchoolScout is Vandergriff Elementary School with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
The top-ranked middle school in Fayetteville on MySchoolScout is Woodland Junior High School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
The top-ranked high school in Fayetteville on MySchoolScout is Fayetteville High School with a composite score of 7.6/10.
How many school districts serve Fayetteville, Arkansas?
Fayetteville is served by 1 school district: Fayetteville School District.
What is the education level in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in Fayetteville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
The median household income in Fayetteville is approximately $66,545 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
Yes, Fayetteville has 10 private schools alongside 16 public schools. The top-rated private school is Fayetteville Christian School with a score of 8.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fayetteville is 20.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Fayetteville, Arkansas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Arkansas Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.