Since 1876, several schools existed in the area near the modern school, first known as "Goardnneck". In subsequent years, various buildings were erected to serve as the school building for the local community renamed as "Acorn" assumed to be named so due to the abundance of oak trees. The first graduating class of Acorn High School was in 1916 with two students. The school was initially a part of the Acorn School District. The Ouachita River district was established by the merger of the Oden School District and the Acorn School District on July 1, 2004.
Academics
The assumed course of study that students complete is the Smart Core curriculum developed by the Arkansas Department of Education, which requires students to complete 22 units prior to graduation. Students complete regular courses and exams and may select Advanced Placement coursework and exams that provide an opportunity to receive college credit. The school is accredited by the ADE. In 2012, Acorn High School was nationally recognized as a selectee in the first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School recognition award program. The school campus includes a outdoor classroom that includes a vegetable garden and a greenhouse, and students established a protection program for an endangered Ozark Chinquapin tree discovered near the campus. Acorn High School science teacher Kathy Rusert was honored as the 2012 Rural Teacher of the Year Award by the Arkansas Rural Education Association and was one of five educators in the nation named a 2012 National Project Learning Tree Outstanding Teacher. Acorn High School was listed unranked in the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools 2012 report.
Extracurricular activities
The Acorn High School mascot is the tiger with blue and gold serving as the school colors. For 2012–14, the Acorn Tigers participate in the 1A Classification—the state's smallest classification—within the 1A Region 7 Conference as sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association. The Tigers compete in golf, bowling, cross country, basketball, cheer, tennis, baseball, softball, and track and field.
Cross country: The boys teams have won four state championships. The girls team won consecutive state championships in 2011 and 2012.
Tennis: The boys tennis team won a state championship in 2007.
Track and field: The boys track and field team won consecutive state championships in 2007 and 2008. The girls team won consecutive state championships in 2011 and 2012.
