6.0 avg / 10

Best Schools in Jacksonville, Arkansas

10 schools · 5 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 2 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 9

Private: 1

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 6.0/10

Estimated Scores: 10%

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Jacksonville?

Use this page to compare every school in Jacksonville by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Jacksonville North Pulaski School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Jacksonville for 2026 are Murrell Taylor Elementary School (7.8/10), Bobby G Lester Elementary School (7.6/10), and Bayou Meto Elementary School (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 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.

Best value · beats the odds

Murrell Taylor Elementary School

Rates 7.8/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.1 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 Jacksonville schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Jacksonville

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Murrell Taylor Elementary School	7.8 / 10	Elementary	+1.1	82th
2	Bobby G Lester Elementary School	7.6 / 10	Elementary	+0.9	78th
3	Bayou Meto Elementary School	7.1 / 10	Elementary	+0.4	67th
4	Jacksonville Christian Academy	6.9 / 10	Other	—	72th
5	Jacksonville Middle School	6.2 / 10	Middle	-0.5	48th
6	Jacksonville Elementary School	6.0 / 10	Elementary	-0.7	43th
7	Jacksonville High School	5.9 / 10	High	-0.8	40th
8	Jacksonville Lighthouse High School	5.4 / 10	High	+1.1	29th
9	Jacksonville Lighthouse Elementary	3.5 / 10	Elementary	-1.7	5th

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: 6.0/10
Median household income: $53,048
Median home value: $155,600
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22%
Avg commute: 22 min
Owner-occupied homes: 54%

How Jacksonville compares

Arkansas rank

#81 of 123

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.4

below Arkansas avg (6.3)

Median household income

$53k

96% of Arkansas median

Schools in this city

10

About Schools in Jacksonville, Arkansas

Jacksonville, Arkansas is home to 10 schools, including 9 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Jacksonville show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Jacksonville is Murrell Taylor Elementary School with a composite score of 7.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Jacksonville is served by 2 school districts: ARKANSAS LIGHTHOUSE CHARTER SCHOOLS, JACKSONVILLE NORTH PULASKI SCHOOL DISTRICT. These districts collectively serve 4,885 students.

Jacksonville's community shows 22% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $53,048. The poverty rate in the area is 16.7%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (10) Elementary (5) Middle (1) High (2)

Filter by Type: All Types (10) Public (9) Private (1)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (10) Academics (9) Growth (8) Diversity (8) Resources (9)

Filter by ZIP: 72076 (10)

Elementary Schools

5 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Murrell Taylor Elementary School 412 students · Kindergarten–5th	412	Kindergarten–5th	7.8
2	Bobby G Lester Elementary School 500 students · Kindergarten–5th	500	Kindergarten–5th	7.6
3	Bayou Meto Elementary School 464 students · Pre-K–5th	464	Pre-K–5th	7.1
4	Jacksonville Elementary School 764 students · Kindergarten–5th	764	Kindergarten–5th	6.0
5	Jacksonville Lighthouse Elementary 181 students · Kindergarten–4th	181	Kindergarten–4th	3.5

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Jacksonville Middle School 929 students · 6th–8th	929	6th–8th	6.2

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Jacksonville High School 1,165 students · 9th–12th	1,165	9th–12th	5.9
2	Jacksonville Lighthouse High School 78 students · 9th–12th	78	9th–12th	5.4

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Adkins Preschool Center 217 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	217	Pre-K–Pre-K	3.1
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Jacksonville Christian Academy Private 105 students · Pre-K–12th	105	Pre-K–12th	6.9

Schools in Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Arkansas · 10 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$53,048

Median Home Value

$155,600

Median Rent

$917/mo

Population

38,647

College Educated

22%

Homeownership

54%

Avg Commute

22 min

Poverty Rate

16.7%

Community Profile

Jacksonville has a median household income of $53,048. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $155,600, with a median rent of $917/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.7%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Arkansas
Elementary: 5
Middle: 1
High: 2
Other: 2

Resources

🔍 Google "Jacksonville schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Jacksonville 📊 Niche Jacksonville Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

ARKANSAS LIGHTHOUSE CHARTER SCHOOLS

3 schools · 434 students

JACKSONVILLE NORTH PULASKI SCHOOL DISTRICT

7 schools · 4,451 students

Nearby Cities

Lrafb (1 school)

1 mi

Sherwood (11 schools)

6 mi

Cabot (15 schools)

9 mi

North Little Rock (28 schools)

10 mi

Scott (1 school)

12 mi

College Station (1 school)

Little Rock (89 schools)

Mayflower (3 schools)

18 mi

Enola (1 school)

22 mi

Mabelvale (4 schools)

21 mi

Other Major Cities in Arkansas

Top metros statewide by school count.

Fort Smith 37 schools Rogers 32 schools Springdale 32 schools Bentonville 29 schools Jonesboro 27 schools

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 rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Jacksonville, Arkansas

How many schools are in Jacksonville, Arkansas?

Jacksonville has 10 schools, including 9 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Jacksonville, Arkansas?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Jacksonville is 6.0 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 Jacksonville, Arkansas?

The top-ranked school in Jacksonville on MySchoolScout is Murrell Taylor Elementary School with a composite score of 7.8/10.

What is the best elementary school in Jacksonville, Arkansas?

The top-ranked elementary school in Jacksonville on MySchoolScout is Murrell Taylor Elementary School with a composite score of 7.8/10.

What is the best middle school in Jacksonville, Arkansas?

The top-ranked middle school in Jacksonville on MySchoolScout is Jacksonville Middle School with a composite score of 6.2/10.

What is the best high school in Jacksonville, Arkansas?

The top-ranked high school in Jacksonville on MySchoolScout is Jacksonville High School with a composite score of 5.9/10.

How many school districts serve Jacksonville, Arkansas?

Jacksonville is served by 2 school districts: Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools, Jacksonville North Pulaski School District.

What is the education level in Jacksonville, Arkansas?

According to Census data, 22% of adults in Jacksonville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Jacksonville, Arkansas?

The median household income in Jacksonville is approximately $53,048 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Jacksonville, Arkansas?

Yes, Jacksonville has 1 private school alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Jacksonville Christian Academy with a score of 6.9/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Jacksonville, Arkansas?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Jacksonville is 13.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Jacksonville, 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.