Opened in 1859, the school was founded as The Institute for the Education of the Blind by Reverend Haucke, a blind Baptist minister. Originally located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, the school moved in 1868 to Little Rock in the facility now used as the Arkansas Governor's Mansion. By 1877, the school was renamed to its present-day Arkansas School for the Blind. On October 9, 1939, construction of the school's new campus at 2600 West Markham Street was complete and dedicated to Helen Keller, who was in attendance.
The Arkansas Department of Education classifies it as a school district.
Located within the same campus facilities are the following schools:
The Arkansas School for the Blind mascot and athletic emblem is the Lion with black and gold serving as the school colors.
For the 2012–14 school years, the ASBVI Lions compete in the 1A Classification—the state's smallest classification—within the 1A Region 5 Conference, as administered by the Arkansas Activities Association in competition with the state's public and private schools. Also, ASB is a member of the North Central Association of Schools for the Blind. The Lions compete in track and field (boys/girls), wrestling, goalball, and cheer.
The school has a dormitory available for students.
