Public School Enrollment Exceeds Population Growth in Little Rock

It was recently reported in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that, based on day ten attendance, the Springdale School District has surpassed Little Rock as the largest school district in Arkansas.

This is true.

However, what was not reported is that, despite weak population growth in the City over the past few decades, more students now attend public schools in the Little Rock School District footprint and the City of Little Rock than at any time in history.

YearLRSD PCSSD (in LR) Charters (in LR) Total LR Population Public School Students as % of Population 
 1985 18,834  –   
 1986 19,060  –   
 1987 26,079  –   
 1988 26,663  –   
 1989 25,090  –   
 1990 24,658  –  175,795 
 1991 24,476  –   
 1992 24,364  –   
 1993 23,264  –   
 1994 23,013  –   
 1995 24,433  –   
 1996   –   
 1997 24,665  –   
 1998 24,975  –   
 1999 25,047  –   
 2000 25,077  –  183,180 
 2001 25,936  –   
 2002 25,727  –   
 2003 25,701  –   
 2004 24,424 4,872 163 29,459  
 2005 25,095 4,823 299 30,217 186,396 16.21%
 2006 25,500 4,830 359 30,689  
 2007 25,738 4,719 655 31,112  
 2008 24,660 4,411 1,714 30,785  
 2009 24,380 4,301 1,918 30,599  
 2010 24,226 4,101 2,215 30,542 193,524 15.78%
 2011 24,049 4,033 2,870 30,952 195,048 15.87%
 2012 23,594 4,624 3,015 31,233 196,228 15.92%
 2013 23,676 4,430 3,052 31,158 196,830 15.88%
 2014 23,363 4,366 3,374 31,103 197,235 15.78%
 2015 23,164 4,385 3,745 31,294 197,864 15.82%
 2016 22,759 4,130 4,244 31,133 198,307 15.70%
 2017 22,338 4,145 5,044 31,527 198,606 15.87%
 2018* 22,664     
 Increase/DeclineSince 1985
-3,415 (-13%)
Since 2005
-727 (-15%)
Since 2005
+4,881 (+2,994%)
Since 2004 
+2,068 (+7%)
Since 2005
+5,082 (+6.6%)
Since 2010
+0.09

*10th Day Attendance; Includes Pre-K

Fast Facts:

  • There were more public school students in Little Rock last year than at any time in history
  • Public school enrollment in Little Rock has increased +2,068 students (7%) since 2004
  • Open-enrollment public charter school enrollment is the only increasing public school enrollment
  • Public school enrollment as a percentage of Little Rock’s population has essentially been stable over the past 12 years
  • Since charters were introduced to Little Rock in 2004, they have grown enrollment by 4,881 students, while LRSD lost 2,086 and PCSSD lost 727 for a combined district loss of 2,813.
  • Charter enrollment exceeded the combined school district loss by 2,068 students
  • Charters are retaining, returning public school students to Little Rock at a rate which exceeds population growth
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