Bentonville School District, AR

Original Research by School Decision on Bentonville School District

Bentonville School District is the largest public school system in Benton County, Arkansas, serving a student population that makes it one of the state’s biggest districts. It covers a broad geographic area that includes the city of Bentonville as well as the surrounding communities of Bella Vista, Cave Springs, Centerton, and portions of other towns. The district’s enrollment is large and has grown substantially in recent years, reflecting the rapid population growth of northwest Arkansas. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population that is sizeable, alongside smaller but notable shares of Asian, multiracial, and Black students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available in the source materials, so a direct read on economic need is not possible from this dataset.

The district’s academic performance on the state’s ATLAS assessments is strong across the board. In both math and English language arts, proficiency rates at every tested grade level—from third through eighth—consistently land well above what is typical for the county. The overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, places Bentonville in the top quartile among the county’s districts. That is a clear strength. Science results are similarly solid, with each grade reporting that a solid majority of students met the proficient threshold. The high school graduation rate was not reported in the data provided, so that common measure of completion cannot be addressed here. A parent looking for that figure would need to check the state’s own report card or the district’s website.

Chronic absenteeism is a soft spot. The rate is elevated, sitting above the midpoint among Bentonville’s county peers. A family new to the district may want to ask what supports are in place for attendance, particularly at the middle and high school levels where absenteeism can affect course credit and academic momentum.

The district operates a large number of schools, including two comprehensive high schools, several junior high and middle schools, and many elementary schools spread across the region. The housing market across the district’s zip codes shows a wide range of values, from more affordable pockets to higher-cost areas, reflecting the diversity of the communities it serves. Home values and rents have been rising, consistent with the region’s growth. The district’s per-pupil spending falls in the upper half of the county’s middle range, which suggests a level of investment that is reasonable given the scale of the system.

Publicly reported information about recent referendums, curriculum changes, and new school openings was searched for but not provided in sufficient detail to include here. What is clear from the shape of the district is that it is a large, growing system with strong academic results and a broad geographic footprint. It fits a family looking for a well-resourced public school option in a rapidly developing part of Arkansas, with the understanding that the district’s size means individual school experiences can vary within the system.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

19,137

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 12%

Black 3%

White 69%

Asian 8%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

Schools in this District

24 schools are officially reported under this district.

BENTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

WASHINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

R.E. BAKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEM. SCHOOL

ARDIS ANN MIDDLE SCHOOL

ELM TREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LINCOLN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

MARY MAE JONES ELEM. SCHOOL

CENTRAL PARK AT MORNING STAR

RUTH BARKER MIDDLE SCHOOL

CENTERTON GAMBLE ELEMENTARY

OLD HIGH MIDDLE SCHOOL

SUGAR CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

APPLE GLEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COOPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

WILLOWBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BRIGHT FIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL

J. WILLIAM FULBRIGHT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

BENTONVILLE WEST HIGH SCHOOL

CREEKSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL

OSAGE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

EVENING STAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRIMSLEY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

VAUGHN ELEMENTARY

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

65%

Grade 3

71%

Grade 4

64%

Grade 5

67%

Grade 6

71%

Grade 7

58%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

58%

Grade 3

62%

Grade 4

59%

Grade 5

64%

Grade 6

62%

Grade 7

58%

Grade 8

Science

6 grades reported

62%

Grade 3

62%

Grade 4

62%

Grade 5

67%

Grade 6

63%

Grade 7

64%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$440,562

Year-over-year change+3.0%

Range across 14 ZIP codes$283K to $560K

vs. state typical1.98x

vs. national typical1.20x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (14 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
72713	Bentonville	$454K	+2.2%	31.0%
72712	Bentonville	$508K	+5.1%	29.8%
72714	Bella Vista	$354K	+1.7%	12.8%
72715	Bella Vista	$361K	+2.1%	7.5%
72719	Centerton	$356K	+0.2%	6.5%
72718	Cave Springs	$560K	+4.3%	3.5%
72736	Gravette	$359K	+2.3%	3.4%
72758	Rogers	$455K	+3.5%	2.2%
72734	Gentry	$303K	+2.9%	1.8%
72762	Springdale	$387K	+4.0%	0.7%
72756	Rogers	$345K	+3.1%	0.5%
72722	Decatur	$283K	+3.3%	0.2%
72751	Pea Ridge	$348K	+2.8%	0.1%
72745	Lowell	$358K	+0.6%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,687/mo

Year-over-year change+2.6%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$1,386 to $1,986/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
72713	Bentonville	$1,657	+0.4%	31.0%
72712	Bentonville	$1,584	+5.3%	29.8%
72714	Bella Vista	$1,986	—	12.8%
72715	Bella Vista	$1,850	—	7.5%
72719	Centerton	$1,631	+0.2%	6.5%
72758	Rogers	$1,510	+3.2%	2.2%
72762	Springdale	$1,551	-0.0%	0.7%
72756	Rogers	$1,386	+5.1%	0.5%
72751	Pea Ridge	$1,769	-1.0%	0.1%
72745	Lowell	$1,930	—	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,223/mo

Home price / national median income5.3x

Annual rent / national median income24.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$536/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$222,300 (+3.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.