Best Schools in Little Rock, Arkansas
94 schools · 49 Elementary · 12 Middle · 16 High · 17 Other
Choosing a school in Little Rock?
Use this page to compare every school in Little Rock 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.
Gibbs Magnet Elementary School
Elementary · Little Rock School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ivy Hill Preparatory Academy
Elementary · Scholarmade Achievement Place of Arkansas. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Chenal Elementary School
Elementary · Pulaski County Special School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Little Rock for 2026 are Gibbs Magnet Elementary School (9.3/10), Ivy Hill Preparatory Academy (8.2/10), and Chenal Elementary School (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 65 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
94
72 public · 22 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$247,517
home value · ACS
Districts
16
serving the city
Schools
94
72 public · 22 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$247,517
home value · ACS
Districts
16
serving the city
Rates 9.3/10 despite 61% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.4 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 Little Rock schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Little Rock
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 65 rated schools; 94 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gibbs Magnet Elementary School | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Ivy Hill Preparatory Academy | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Chenal Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Forest Heights Stem Academy | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Pinnacle View Middle School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Baker Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Joe T. Robinson Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Estem High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Pulaski Heights Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Joe T. Robinson Elem. School | 7.3 / 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
- 5.7/10
- Median household income
- $73,920
- Median home value
- $247,517
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
17% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Little Rock compares
Arkansas rank
#98 of 125
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.6
below Arkansas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$74k
134% of Arkansas median
Schools in this city
88
Education Snapshot
Little Rock, ArkansasLittle Rock's 89 schools span 16 districts and serve roughly 36,984 students — a notably fragmented setup for a mid-sized city. The average MySchoolScout composite of 5.6/10 across 82 scored schools sits 0.7 points below the Arkansas state average of 6.3/10, making targeted school research more consequential here than in much of the state. Twenty-two of those 89 schools are charters — nearly one in four — giving families a real alternative to the district system. The grade-level split runs 48 elementary, 12 middle, and 16 high schools. On the economic side, the picture is stronger: median household income of $69,693 outpaces the Arkansas state median of $60,526 by 15%, and 45% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree — a financially secure, well-educated population navigating a school landscape where individual choices carry real weight.
16 districts draw attendance lines through Little Rock
Little Rock is not one school system. 16 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 47% of the public campuses.
Little Rock School District is the largest slice at 34 of 72 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Little Rock address is choosing a district first.
Among 65 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.7 to 9.3 — the spread is inside Little Rock, not a citywide average.
22 of the 72 public schools are charters (31%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Little Rock School District34 public · 47%
- Pulaski County Special School District11 public · 15%
- Estem Public Charter School5 public · 7%
- Lisa Academy4 public · 6%
- Ark. School For the Blind2 public · 3%
About Schools in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock has 70 ranked public schools with an average score of 5.7 out of 10. That average masks real range: 19 schools — 27% of the city's ranked schools — score 7 or higher, while a significant share pull the average down. Parents should treat the 5.7 citywide figure as a baseline, not a ceiling, and sort from the top.
At the top of the field, Baker Elementary scores 9.4 out of 10, the city's highest-rated school. Joe T. Robinson Middle follows at 9.3 — a strong anchor at the middle school level, where high-performing options tend to be harder to find than at the elementary level. Chenal Elementary (8.6), Arkansas School for the Blind High School (8.4), and Pulaski Heights Elementary (8.4) round out the top five. Three of those five serve elementary grades, meaning the strongest options concentrate in the lower grades.
The 27% of schools clearing the 7-point threshold gives families meaningful choices, but it also means roughly three in four ranked schools fall below that mark. Little Rock's school landscape spans multiple districts, so performance varies significantly by geography and attendance zone. Elementary families have the widest set of strong choices — three of the five top-rated schools serve elementary grades. At the middle school level, Robinson stands out clearly. High school options are thinner at the top — Arkansas School for the Blind is the only high school in the top five — so families with older students should examine the full district landscape carefully.
The practical move: filter first by grade level, then target schools scoring 7 or above. That narrows the 70-school set to a manageable list. Baker and Robinson are the strongest individual choices at their respective grade levels, and Pulaski Heights and Chenal give elementary families additional high-performing options nearby. The wide performance spread across the city means where you live shapes your choices far more than the 5.7 average suggests.
Elementary Schools
49 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 299 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.3 |
| 2 | 346 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 420 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 4 | 782 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.9 |
| 5 | 392 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 6 | 273 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.3 |
| 7 | 305 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 8 | 296 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 9 | 839 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 |
| 10 | 701 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 |
Show all 49 elementary schools in Little Rock
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 817 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 2 | 543 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 486 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 57 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 5 | 641 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 6 | 584 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
| 7 | 358 students · 7th–9th | 5.6 |
| 8 | 346 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
| 9 | 494 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
| 10 | 280 students · 7th–9th | 4.6 |
Show all 12 middle schools in Little Rock
High Schools
16 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 561 students · 10th–12th | 7.4 |
| 2 | 386 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 845 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 1,063 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 5 | 2,260 students · 8th–12th | 6.3 |
| 6 | 37 students · 7th–12th | 6.1 |
| 7 | 671 students · 8th–12th | 5.8 |
| 8 | 305 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
| 9 | 490 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 |
| 10 | 277 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 |
Show all 16 high schools in Little Rock
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
17 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 251 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 2 | 209 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.6 | ||
| 3 | 218 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 4 | 193 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.2 | ||
| 5 | 102 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 6 | 263 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.6 | ||
| 7 | 181 students · 15–15 | — | ||
Private Schools10 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 526 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 73 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Southwest Christian AcademyPrivate 182 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 17 other schools in Little Rock
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas · 94 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 12 ZIP codes
Median Income
$73,920
Median Home Value
$247,517
Median Rent
$1,067/mo
Population
218,724
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
56%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
14.1%
Community Profile
Little Rock has a median household income of $73,920. 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 $247,517, with a median rent of $1,067/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.1%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arkansas
- Elementary
- 49
- Middle
- 12
- High
- 16
- Other
- 17
Resources
School Districts (16)
SHERIDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
7 schools · 4,321 students
ARK. SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
2 schools · 67 students
ARK. SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
1 school · 102 students
LISA ACADEMY
11 schools · 4,015 students
DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES SCHOOL SYSTEM
5 schools · 239 students
ARKANSAS VIRTUAL ACADEMY
3 schools · 3,936 students
ESTEM PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
5 schools · 2,739 students
GRADUATE ARKANSAS CHARTER
1 school · 490 students
PREMIER HIGH SCHOOLS OF ARKANSAS
4 schools · 534 students
FOUNDERS CLASSICAL ACADEMIES OF ARKANSAS
7 schools · 1,719 students
EXALT ACADEMY OF SOUTHWEST LITTLE ROCK
1 school · 749 students
THE EXCEL CENTER
2 schools · 222 students
SCHOLARMADE ACHIEVEMENT PLACE OF ARKANSAS
1 school · 346 students
FRIENDSHIP ASPIRE ACADEMIES ARKANSAS
7 schools · 1,307 students
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT
39 schools · 21,105 students
PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
26 schools · 12,290 students
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 Little Rock, Arkansas
How many schools are in Little Rock, Arkansas?
Little Rock has 94 schools, including 72 public and 22 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Little Rock, Arkansas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Little Rock is 5.7 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 Little Rock, Arkansas?
The top-ranked school in Little Rock on MySchoolScout is Gibbs Magnet Elementary School with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Little Rock, Arkansas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Little Rock on MySchoolScout is Gibbs Magnet Elementary School with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Little Rock, Arkansas?
The top-ranked middle school in Little Rock on MySchoolScout is Pinnacle View Middle School with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best high school in Little Rock, Arkansas?
The top-ranked high school in Little Rock on MySchoolScout is Estem High School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
How many school districts serve Little Rock, Arkansas?
Little Rock is served by 16 school districts: Sheridan School District, Ark. School for the Blind, Ark. School for the Deaf, Lisa Academy, Division of Youth Services School System, Arkansas Virtual Academy, Estem Public Charter School, Graduate Arkansas Charter, Premier High Schools of Arkansas, Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas, Exalt Academy of Southwest Little Rock, The Excel Center, Scholarmade Achievement Place of Arkansas, Friendship Aspire Academies Arkansas, Little Rock School District, Pulaski County Special School District.
What is the education level in Little Rock, Arkansas?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in Little Rock have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Little Rock, Arkansas?
The median household income in Little Rock is approximately $73,920 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Little Rock, Arkansas?
Yes, Little Rock has 22 private schools alongside 72 public schools. The top-rated private school is Little Rock Montessori School with a score of 8.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Little Rock, Arkansas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Little Rock is 14.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Little Rock, 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.