About Howard County
Howard County is served by three public K–12 districts—Nashville, Dierks, and Mineral Springs—each rooted in its community and aligned with the De Queen–Mena Education Service Cooperative. Together they provide the foundation for families, workforce pipelines, and lifelong learning. Enrollment and school-level figures below come from the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) My School Info for the 2025–2026 reporting year; numbers change as new reports are published.
Each district operates its own schools, school board, and central office. Use the links for calendars, enrollment, athletics, and board meetings.
The county’s largest district is headquartered in Nashville and serves students in grades K–12 across four campuses, from early primary grades through high school graduation.
Schools
Dierks School District serves Howard County families with a K–6 elementary school and a combined junior high and high school for grades 7–12.
Schools
Based in Mineral Springs, this district runs an elementary school and a high school serving grades 7–12 for families across the southern part of the county and nearby rural areas.
Schools
UA Cossatot (University of Arkansas Cossatot) is a two-year college in the UA System with a Nashville campus on Highway 371. It offers technical programs, health professions, general education, adult basic education, and testing services that complement the county’s K–12 schools.
Employers and families often coordinate with both local districts and UA Cossatot for internships, industry credentials, and continuing education. See programs by campus for Nashville offerings.