The Bentonville School District is growing — both within Bentonville and in surrounding communities — prompting the School Board to review projections at an Oct. 10 work session and assess the implications for facility needs.

The Bentonville School District is the third-largest district in Arkansas and is expected to grow by about 3,000 students in the next 10 years. 

The district contracted with Overland Park, Kan.-based RSP & Associates to do an in-depth data analysis of district enrollment and growth. The company successfully predicted the district’s growth in the past, with a 2022 analysis that was over 99% accurate in predicting the current year’s enrollment.

Elementary enrollment is expected to grow by 980 students, middle school by 400, junior high by over 500, and high school by nearly 1,000.

The consultants reviewed several different factors that would have the most potential impact on growth, including birth rates, demographic shifts and housing changes. 

Superintendent Debbie Jones and Janet Schwanhausser, deputy superintendent and CFO, led a discussion on what the enrollment projections mean for the district’s 10-year facilities plan. The plan is updated annually in October based largely on enrollment projections. 

“We use the (enrollment numbers) to guide the discussions on the plan,” Schwanhausser said. 

The growth — and the direction it’s moving — is expected to cause issues at five elementary schools, two middle schools, one junior high school and both high schools. 

By the 2026-27 school year, the district will have more than 20,000 students, Schwanhausser said. In the 2028-29 school year, the high school capacity will be surpassed, which will mean a possible expansion at Bentonville West High School. By the 2031-32 school year, a sixth middle school will be necessary. 

The board discussed different ideas for funding the facility plans, including using the building fund, a potential future millage request, and even expanding programs that take students off the main campuses, therefore opening more space. 

They also briefly discussed the idea of constructing a third high school sooner than originally planned instead of making smaller expansions at existing schools. This idea would exponentially grow the amount of money needed sooner, but could save the district in the long run due to rapidly growing construction costs. 

The idea of “learning cottages,” usually referred to as trailers or portable buildings, was discussed with some board members who had mental health and safety concerns about using that approach to growth management. 

Jones, the board and other district leaders agreed that they would continuously monitor enrollment and make decisions based on the trends, keeping in mind that at least 18 months of construction time is usually needed for a given facility. 

To learn more, watch this Oct. 10 Board work session on YouTube.