The state report gives NWA families data most private schools never publish. For example, 96% of St. Vincent de Paul's EFA students and 95% of Shiloh Christian's continued in the program the next year. EFA students at Thaden, St. Vincent de Paul and Anthem Classical averaged at or above the 70th national percentile in math. That data is on every school page and in our comparison table.
The rules, briefly
- Who qualifies
Any Arkansas student eligible to enroll in a public school, kindergarten through grade 12, with a parent who lives in Arkansas. The program has been universal since 2025-26. Kindergartners must be 5 by August 1.
- How much
$7,208 per student for 2026-27 ($8,011 for students who came from the former Succeed Scholarship), deposited quarterly into ClassWallet, about $1,802 a quarter. In 2024-25 it was $6,856.
- What it pays for
Tuition and fees at participating private schools; for homeschool students, curriculum, instructional materials, approved tutoring, testing and assessment, and some enrichment; services for students with disabilities from licensed or accredited providers; approved college courses; and limited transportation. A 2025 law (SB 625) caps spending on extracurriculars, PE and transportation.
- How you apply
New students apply through the state's FACTS portal (arkansasefa.com) during the spring window. For 2026-27 it ran March 9 to June 1, 2026. Returning families renew inside ClassWallet. 2027-28 dates have not been announced.
- What schools must do
Participating schools are approved by the Arkansas Department of Education, accept ClassWallet payments, and give participating students a nationally norm-referenced test each year. The results feed the state's annual report.
- Unused money
Unused funds can roll over within limits set by program rules, and no cash withdrawals are allowed.
Where Northwest Arkansas's EFA students went in 2024-25
| School | City | EFA students | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiloh Christian School | Springdale | 488 | 32% |
| Life Way Christian School | Centerton | 227 | 43% |
| Providence Classical Christian Academy | Rogers | 224 | 37% |
| St. Joseph Catholic School | Fayetteville | 168 | 40% |
| St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School | Rogers | 162 | 46% |
| First Academy | Rogers | 100 | 67% |
| The New School | Fayetteville | 96 | 21% |
| Thaden School | Bentonville | 72 | 20% |
Source: 2024-25 Arkansas EFA Program Annual Report, Table 1. All 30 local schools →
Questions we hear most
And in Fayetteville and Springdale?
Shiloh Christian (Springdale), St. Joseph Catholic, Fayetteville Christian, Anthem Classical, The New School, The Hill School, Prism North America, Fayetteville Nature School and The Grace School all participated in 2024-25, as did Ozark Catholic Academy, the Catholic high school in Tontitown.
Can the EFA pay for a microschool or Acton-style program?
It can if the program is an approved participating school or an approved provider in ClassWallet. In 2024-25, NWA families paid Fayetteville Acton Academy and several local learning programs from their accounts. Approval is per program, so check ClassWallet before you commit.
Is Shiloh Christian covered? It's one of the biggest schools in the state.
Yes. Shiloh Christian had 488 EFA students in 2024-25, the most of any school in Northwest Arkansas, out of roughly 1,500 students.
Other money that stacks with the account
School-based aid and discounts come first. Catholic families can ask about parish rates and diocesan assistance. From January 2027, a new federal tax credit lets donors fund K-12 scholarships through approved scholarship-granting organizations, and Arkansas has opted in, so expect new scholarship money for the balance after the EFA. Our partner scholarship (terms pending) is aimed at church-run schools.