BENTON SCHOOL DISTRICT

Benton School District serves 5,904 students in Saline County, Arkansas, as a suburban district experiencing modest growth of 3.2% year-over-year. The district operates 7 schools across 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school configuration with 374 teachers, resulting in a student-teacher ratio of 15.8:1.

Academically, Benton demonstrates performance above state averages in both measured areas. Math proficiency stands at 42.9% compared to the Arkansas average of 33.3%, while reading proficiency reaches 37.7% versus the state average of 31.1%. This represents a meaningful gap above state performance in both subjects.

The student population reflects moderate economic challenges, with 40.2% of students classified as economically disadvantaged and 6.2% identified as English learners. The district's racial composition is 70.1% White, 11.6% Black, 11.2% Hispanic, and 0.8% Asian.

Financially, Benton operates with a total budget of $62.3 million, though per-pupil spending of $10,553 falls below the state average of $12,609. Revenue sources show reliance on state funding at 56.8%, supplemented by local contributions of 34.2% and federal funding of 9.0%. This funding structure and spending level suggest the district operates with fewer resources per student than the state average while maintaining above-average academic outcomes.