December 12, 2016 Karen Coker Academics in Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff is home to three public K-through-12 schools systems, one community college, and one four-year university, providing quite a big picture for academics in Pine Bluff. Here is a summary of these schools and the contact information for their main administrative offices.
The K-through-12 Public School Districts
Dollarway School District
Three schools: high school, middle school, and elementary schools
Street address: 4900 Dollarway Road, Pine Bluff, AR 71602
Web: 
Pine Bluff School District
Seven schools: one each for high school, junior high, and middle school; four elementary; and one pre-Kindergarten.
Street address: 512 South Pine Street, Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Web: 
Watson Chapel School District
Five schools: high school, junior high, intermediate, and two elementary schools
Street address: 4100 South Camden Road, Pine Bluff, AR 71603
Web: 
Southeast Arkansas College
One community college campus offering two-year degrees
Street address: 1900 Hazel Street, Pine Bluff, AR 71603
Web: 
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
One university campus offering four-year degrees
Street address: 1200 North University Drive, Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Web: https://www.uapb.edu/
For a town this size, Pine Bluff enjoys quite the selection in both primary and secondary education. Of special note is the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), a HBCU that traces its beginnings back to 1875 as the Branch Normal College, a branch of Arkansas Industrial University (now the University of Arkansas). Its primary mission was to educate future teachers. In 1892, Branch Normal College was designated as a land-grant institution (as provided in the Morrill Act of 1890).
In 1927, Branch Normal College had a name change to the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical, and Normal (AM&N) College. The following year, athletic teams were added, and the Lion became the school’s mascot. Over the decades, enrollments grew and programs expanded, and the campus required a larger area and thus relocation.
In 1972, Arkansas AM&N merged with the University of Arkansas system and became the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). It is known for excellent programs in arts (visual arts and music, fine and performing), humanities, science, and business. Their fisheries program is notable as a great example of two-fold accomplishments: multiple disciplines coming together to serve the state’s and region’s needs.
Dollarway
Watson Chapel
Delta Rhythm and Bayous (DRB) Alliance