PULASKI COUNTY SCHOOL CHOICE MARKET SURPASSES LITTLE ROCK ENROLLMENT

 

(November 2019) More K-12 students are now enrolled in the Pulaski County school choice market than in the Little Rock School District, public records show.

 

An Arkansas Department of Education spokesperson provided current year (2019-2020) K-12 enrollment figures in response to a public information request:

 

Little Rock School District                               21,472 students1

 

The school choice market includes students attending Pulaski County open-enrollment charter, private and home schools. 

 

ADE records show there are 12,3952 students enrolled in Pulaski County charters. Another 9,3083 students attend county private schools, according to records published by the Arkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association.  ADE has not reported the number of home school students in the current school year, though its most recent report (2018-19) listed 2,160 in Pulaski County.4

 

The total (23,863) exceeds Little Rock School District enrollment (21,472).

 

Little Rock enrollment exceeded the school choice market in 2018-19.5

 

In economic terms, parental demand is the major factor behind expansion of the school choice market. The supply of options should expand to meet this demand.

 

--Greg Kaza


1  ADE publishes enrollment data at: My School Info: https://myschoolinfo.arkansas.gov/

2 (Charter Schools) Arkansas Virtual Academy E.S., 669; Arkansas Virtual Academy M.S., 697; Arkansas Virtual Academy H.S., 1,108; Capital City Lighthouse Lower, 164; Estem East Village E.S., 793; Estem East Village J.H.S., 376; Estem E.S., 969; Estem J.H.S., 497; Estem H.S., 567; Exalt Academy of S.W. Little Rock, 486; Flightline Upper Academy, 174; Friendship Aspire E.S. Academy,125; Friendship Aspire M.S. Academy,106; Ivy Hill Academy of Scholarship, 211; Jacksonville Lighthouse College Prep. 293; Jacksonville Lighthouse E.S., 390;    Lisa Academy, 317; Lisa Academy Chenal, 643; Lisa Academy H.S., 435; Lisa Academy North E.S., 675; Lisa Academy North M.S., 294; Lisa Academy North H.S., 235; Little Rock Prep Academy E.S., 154;  Little Rock Prep Academy M.S., 88; Maumelle Charter E.S., 756; Maumelle Charter H.S., 545; Premier High School of Little Rock, 95; Premier High School of North Little Rock, 70; Scott Charter School, 251; Siatech High Charter, 119; The Excel Center, 93.

3   (Private Schools) Abundant Life Christian Academy, 274; Agape Academy,  39; The Anthony School, 292; Baptist Preparatory School, 512; Calvary Academy, 348; Catholic High School, 728; Central Arkansas Christian , 742; Christ Lutheran School, 100; Christ the King Catholic School, 590; Episcopal Collegiate School, 743; Immaculate Conception School, 361; Immaculate Heart of Mary School, 134; Little Rock Christian Academy, 1,384; Miss Selma's School, 218; Mount St. Mary Academy, 481; North Little Rock Catholic Academy, 184; Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic School, 471; Pulaski Academy, 1,250; Southwest Christian Academy, 228; St. Theresa Catholic School, 229. http://www.ansaa.com/uploads/2/6/1/3/26134429/ansaa_directory_2019-2020.pdf

4 ADE will publish its 2019-2020 Home School Report next year.

5  Policy Foundation research memo, December 2018