- SHIRLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–6 · 169 students
- SHIRLEY HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 7–12 · 110 students
| Metric | Shirley School District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | — | 3,700 | Data not available |
| Number of Schools | 2 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $9,500/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Supervisory Union | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 8/10 — Good | — | Near average |
About Shirley School District
Shirley School District is the public school district assigned to zip code 72088 in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. Serving students from K–12, this district is the primary public education system for families living in and around zip code 72088. The sections below cover the district’s resources, scale, rating, and everything families need to know about enrollment and school assignment.
Funding and Resources
Per-pupil spending at Shirley School District runs approximately $9,500 annually, placing it near the Arkansas state average of approximately $9,500 and significantly below the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Districts with constrained budgets face challenges with class sizes, program breadth, and facility upkeep. Ask specifically about available services when enrolling. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
Shirley School District is a small, community-focused district with 2 schools serving students from K–12. The district enrolls approximately 319 students in total. Small districts often benefit from tighter community cohesion, more personalized teacher-student relationships, and stronger parental involvement. The trade-off is narrower program variety: fewer elective courses, specialized tracks, or extracurricular options than larger systems offer.
Understanding the 8/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Shirley School District 8 out of 10 — above average among Arkansas public school districts. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in the U.S. Department of Education’s EDFacts collection. We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Arkansas is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Shirley School District earns an above-average rating, with reading and math proficiency rates stronger than most other districts in Arkansas. Above-average districts generally show solid and consistent academic results across their schools. Families considering this area will find a district with meaningful academic strengths. Research the specific schools assigned to your address — even above-average districts have variation between individual buildings.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 72088
Children in zip code 72088 are assigned to Shirley School District for public school enrollment, covering grades K–12. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 72088, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Shirley School District at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Arkansas districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Fairfield Bay
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Shirley School District serves zip code 72088, homes in and around zip code 72088 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Arkansas, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Shirley School District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 72088.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Shirley School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 72088 data.