School Rankings Unchanged on Business Journal’s List

Area’s public school districts maintain their positions; new institution added to college list

The new school term is just days old for most Northwest Arkansas schools and most enrollment numbers won’t be official until the 11th day of class.

But based on estimates from the districts themselves, the public school districts remain relatively unchanged, at least in relation to their neighbors.

Springdale remains the region’s largest district, with 10,372 students expected to enroll this fall. That’s 245 students, or 2.4 percent, more than in 1998.

Rogers retains its second-place ranking with 10,300 students expected, an increase of 300 students, or 3 percent, over 1998.

And in third place is Fayetteville, with 7,641 students expected, actually 1 percent fewer students than were expected last fall.

But if the rankings were based on budget size, Fayetteville–with a $52 million budget–would be first. Springdale, with 2,700 more students than Fayetteville, has a $51 million budget.

Fayetteville also has the highest millage rate — that’s the tax assessed on property — with 44 mills. Next highest in either of the two counties of Northwest Arkansas is Pea Ridge with 39.6 mills.

Winslow, with a $1 million budget and 290 students, remains the smallest public school district in either Washington or Benton county.

Winslow also has the lowest tax rate, at 29.3 mills, narrowly edging out Gravette for that honor. Gravette, which is in Benton County, collects a 29.5-mill tax.

Rogers, ranked second in number of students and in millage rate and third in budget size, employs the most people: 1,285.

Bentonville retained its fourth-place ranking, based on enrollment, with an anticipated enrollment this fall of 6,688, an increase of 527 students, or 8.6 percent.

New college

On the Business Journal’s list of area colleges and universities, Webster College debuts this year. Based in St. Louis Missouri, Webster expects 84 students in its master of business administration program.

John Brown University, the only other private school on the list, is the most expensive with tuition of $10,232.

Northwest Arkansas Community College marks its 10th anniversary this year.

Founded in 1989 as a “school without walls,” NWACC has since built an impressive structure in Bentonville.

This year, the school anticipates fall enrollment of 3,800; that’s 8.6 percent more than the 3,500 students from fall 1998.

Private school growth

A number of private schools in the region are expecting significant growth in their enrollments this fall.

The largest school, Springdale’s Shiloh Christian, expects a 12 percent increase while St. Vincent de Paul in Rogers and Salem Lutheran in Springdale are predicting growth of 16 and 19 percent, respectively.

St. Joseph’s School in Fayetteville added seventh grade for the fall and expects total enrollment to grow about 6 percent.

St. Joseph’s, founded in 1948, appears to be the region’s oldest private school, while St. Vincent de Paul, founded in 1957, is second-oldest.

Salem Lutheran dates to 1968 while each of the other 10 schools was founded during the 1970s or 1990s.