School guide for families moving to Morrilton
Bringing kids with you for the mill project? Compare schools in Morrilton, Conway and Perryville, see what to bring to enroll, and learn how the LEARNS Act helps pay for private school or homeschool.
Pick where you live, and that picks your schools
In Arkansas, kids attend public school in the district where they live. Most mill families choose one of three areas. Each has a different feel, so decide what matters most to your family before you sign a lease.
South Conway County
(Morrilton)
- Commute: ~5 min
- Size: small-town district
- Mascot: Devil Dogs
- Feel: shortest drive, small classes, everyone knows everyone
Conway Public Schools
- Commute: ~30 min on I-40
- Size: one of Arkansas's larger districts, about 10,000 students
- Mascot: Wampus Cats
- Feel: college town with lots of activities, sports and advanced classes
Perryville School District
- Commute: ~20 min south on Hwy 9
- Size: small rural district
- Schools: two campuses (K–6 and 7–12)
- Feel: country living in the Ouachita foothills, across the river
Not sure which district an address is in? Call the district office before you sign a lease. It takes two minutes and avoids surprises. Also in Conway County are two small rural districts: Wonderview (Hattieville area) and Nemo Vista (Center Ridge).
Morrilton schools by grade
Serves Morrilton, Menifee, Oppelo, Plumerville, Solgohachia and Springfield. The district office is at 704 E Church St, Morrilton (sccsd.org).
Morrilton Primary School
Pre-K and the youngest grades.
Morrilton Elementary School
Early elementary grades.
Morrilton Intermediate School
Upper elementary.
Morrilton Junior High
1400 Poor Farm Rd
(501) 354-9437
Morrilton High School
701 E Harding St
(501) 354-9430
River Valley Technical Center
Career and technical training for high schoolers in grades 10–12. It's worth a look for teens who want a head start on a trade.
Sacred Heart Catholic School
A private K–12 Catholic school in Morrilton (the Knights). 106 N St. Joseph St.
Grade ranges for the primary and elementary campuses can shift year to year. Confirm with the district when you enroll.
Conway schools by grade
A larger district with many neighborhood elementary schools. Your address decides which elementary and middle school your kids attend, and everyone comes together for junior high and high school.
Sallie Cone Preschool Center
District pre-K program.
Neighborhood elementary schools
Nine elementary schools across Conway, including Jim Stone, Ida Burns, Ellen Smith, Marguerite Vann and others.
Middle schools
Ruth Doyle, Carl Stuart, Bob & Betty Courtway, and Raymond & Phyllis Simon.
Conway Junior High
One junior high for the whole district.
Conway High School
Home of the Wampus Cats.
Why families pick Conway
More course choices, AP classes, bigger sports and band programs, and three colleges in town. The trade-off is a longer drive to the mill, about 30 minutes each way on I-40, and higher rents. There are also private school options in Conway.
Ask the district's central office which elementary and middle school serve your address. Attendance zones can change.
Perryville schools
South of Morrilton across the Arkansas River, about 20 minutes down Highway 9. A small rural district serving Perryville, Adona and Aplin, plus parts of Conway County.
Perryville Elementary School
All elementary grades on one campus.
Perryville High School
Junior high and high school together.
Why families pick Perryville
Small classes, a quiet country setting, and more land for the money. The drive to the mill is short since it's south of Morrilton, but shopping and activities mean trips to Morrilton or Conway. District office: 614 S Fourche Ave, Perryville.
Private school & homeschool: state money can help
Arkansas's LEARNS Act created Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). If you choose a private school or homeschool instead of public school, the state puts money into an account you can spend on your child's education.
Using an EFA for private school
- The school must be an approved EFA provider. Ask the school directly.
- Tuition and required fees are paid from your account through ClassWallet, the state's payment system.
- You pay any tuition above the EFA amount.
- The school handles the required yearly testing.
Nearby: Sacred Heart Catholic School (K–12) in Morrilton, plus private options in Conway. Ask each school about EFA participation and openings.
Using an EFA for homeschool
- File a Notice of Intent to homeschool each year, online through the Arkansas Department of Education or with your local district.
- Choose your own curriculum and teach at home, or use an approved microschool or tutor.
- EFA students must take a yearly test in reading and math (state test or an approved national test like MAP, Iowa or Stanford).
- Spend funds on curriculum, books, online courses, tutoring, supplies and more.
✅ What EFA money covers
- Private school tuition & required fees
- Curriculum, textbooks, online courses
- Tutoring and academic classes
- Approved therapies for special needs
- Test fees, uniforms, school supplies
- Some extracurriculars and field trips (capped)
❌ What it doesn't cover
- Home internet or phone bills
- Entertainment and general electronics
- Medical costs
- Recreational travel
- Cash withdrawals
- College tuition
⚠️ Good to know
- A student can't be enrolled full-time in public school and get EFA money at the same time.
- Funds are paid in installments during the school year.
- Report moves or school changes to the state within 5 days.
📅 When to apply
The application window for 2026–27 opened in March and families were urged to apply by June 1, 2026. Watch for the 2027–28 window to open next spring. Arriving mid-year? Contact the EFA office about late applications or partial-year funding.
Official EFA page → · EFA office: (501) 683-1876 · ade.efa@ade.arkansas.gov
Homeschool basics, with or without an EFA
Many traveling families homeschool so their kids' schooling doesn't change with every job. Arkansas makes it fairly simple.
File a Notice of Intent
Required every year, online through the Arkansas Department of Education's portal or on paper with your local district. Notices for the next school year open after June 1. If you file after August 15, you'll need to request a waiver of the waiting period.
Pulling kids from public school?
There's a 5-day waiting period after you file before the school withdraws your child. The district superintendent can waive it, and the online form has a checkbox to request that.
Testing
Homeschoolers not using an EFA don't have to take state standardized tests. EFA families do (see above).
Sports & activities
Homeschoolers may be able to try out for sports and activities at their local public school. Grades 7–12 follow Arkansas Activities Association rules, which include notifying the principal and enrolling in at least one class period early in the semester. Ask the school about the details.
Going back to public school
Plans change. To re-enroll, notify the state homeschool office and contact the district. Bring your enrollment documents (see the checklist below).
Rules and dollar amounts can change each year. This is a summary, not legal advice. Check the Arkansas Department of Education for current requirements.
Enrollment checklist
Arkansas public schools ask for the same basic documents. Gather these before you move so you can enroll your first week here.
📋 Bring these
- Proof of age: birth certificate, passport, or other accepted record
- Up-to-date immunization records
- Proof of residency: your signed lease or rental agreement, or a utility bill
- Social Security number, or ask the district to assign a state student ID number
- Latest report card or transcript from the previous school
- IEP or 504 plan, if your child has one
- Parent/guardian photo ID and custody papers if they apply
🧒 Starting kindergarten?
In Arkansas, a child must be 5 years old on or before August 1 of the school year to start kindergarten. Kids who already started kindergarten in another state, or families moving on military orders, may qualify under different rules, so ask the district.
📆 Moving mid-year?
That's common with project work. Ask your current school for a withdrawal form and records before you leave, and enroll here as soon as you have a signed lease. Schools can request records directly, but having copies in hand speeds things up.
Colleges & training nearby
UA Community College at Morrilton
Right in town (UACCM). Associate degrees, technical certificates and workforce training. A good fit for spouses and older teens, too.
Conway (~30 min)
Home to the University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College and Central Baptist College.
Russellville (~30 min)
Home to Arkansas Tech University, with engineering and technical programs.
Ask local parents
Wondering about bus routes, sports, teachers or childcare? Ask in our Facebook group. Local parents and families who've already made the move are happy to help.
Join the Facebook Group →School information is a general guide for newcomers. Always confirm enrollment requirements, grade levels and boundaries directly with the school district.