- DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR LEADERSHIP & LANGUAGE MAGNET ACAD — Grades PK–5 · 414 students
- METROPOLITAN CAREER & TECHNICAL CENTER — Grades 9–12 · 0 students
- BRADY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 309 students
- CARVER STEAM MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 232 students
- CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 2371 students
- DUNBAR MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 315 students
- FAIR PARK EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER — Grades PK–PK · 195 students
- FOREST PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 379 students
- GIBBS MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 291 students
- JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 359 students
- MANN MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 557 students
- MCDERMOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 254 students
- PARKVIEW MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL — Grades 9–12 · 1072 students
- PULASKI HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 585 students
- TERRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 328 students
- WESTERN HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 202 students
- WILLIAMS MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 340 students
- STEPHENS ELEMENTARY — Grades PK–5 · 474 students
- BALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 330 students
- FULBRIGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 485 students
- PULASKI HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 266 students
- BASELINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades · 0 students
- MABELVALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 369 students
- OTTER CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 372 students
- WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 493 students
- CLOVERDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades · 0 students
- MABELVALE MIDDLE SCHOOL — Grades 6–8 · 477 students
- WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 315 students
- CHICOT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades PK–5 · 897 students
- WATSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — Grades K–5 · 383 students
| Metric | Little Rock 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 | 5/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Little Rock School District
Little Rock School District serves zip code 72227, covering Little Rock, Arkansas with grades K–12. Whether you’re researching a move, evaluating a home purchase, or preparing to enroll a child, the sections below give you a complete picture of this district’s resources, size, and what its rating means for your family.
Funding and Resources
According to NCES 2024–2025, Little Rock School District spends approximately $9,500 per student per year, 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
At 40 schools serving grades K–12, Little Rock School District qualifies as a very large district serving students from K–12. The district enrolls approximately 21,456 students in total. Very large districts are complex systems with significant variation in school quality across attendance zones. They typically offer extensive programs — magnet schools, specialized high schools, dual-language tracks, advanced coursework — but navigating these options requires active engagement with the district.
Understanding the 5/10 Rating
With a rating of 5/10 (average), Little Rock School District ranks among Arkansas’s average-rated school systems. 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.
Little Rock School District falls near the middle of Arkansas on state assessment results, with reading and math proficiency close to the state median. Average-rated districts provide foundational public education, and many families find they deliver solid day-to-day learning — particularly when parents stay engaged. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 72227
Children in zip code 72227 are assigned to Little Rock 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 72227, 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 Little Rock School District at the number listed on the district website or visit the district’s official website. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. 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 Little Rock
For families considering a purchase in the Little Rock area, district assignment matters financially. Because Little Rock School District serves zip code 72227, buyers should factor school district quality into their overall evaluation of homes in zip code 72227. 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 Little Rock 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 72227.
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 Little Rock School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 72227 data.