Best Schools in Fort Smith, Arkansas
35 schools · 23 Elementary · 5 Middle · 5 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Fort Smith?
Use this page to compare every school in Fort Smith by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Cavanaugh Elementary School
Elementary · Fort Smith School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Southside High School
High · Fort Smith School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ballman Elementary School
Elementary · Fort Smith School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Fort Smith for 2026 are Cavanaugh Elementary School (8.1/10), Southside High School (7.4/10), and Ballman Elementary School (7.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 27 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
35
28 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$154,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
35
28 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$154,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 68% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Fort Smith schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Fort Smith
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 27 rated schools; 35 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cavanaugh Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Southside High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Ballman Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | William O. Darby Middle School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 5 | L. A. Chaffin Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Howard Elementary School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Carnall Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Sutton Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Northside High School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Raymond F. Orr Elem. School | 6.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $52,952
- Median home value
- $154,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 23%
- Avg commute
- 17 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 53%
24% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Fort Smith compares
Arkansas rank
#85 of 125
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Arkansas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$53k
96% of Arkansas median
Schools in this city
34
Fort Smith School District runs Fort Smith's public schools
28 public schools. Fort Smith School District is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Fort Smith is a Fort Smith School District school (26 of 28).
Among 27 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.3 to 8.1 — the spread is inside Fort Smith, not a citywide average.
- Fort Smith School District26 public · 93%
- Future School of Fort Smith1 public · 4%
- Premier High Schools of Arkansas1 public · 4%
About Schools in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith's public school landscape covers 26 ranked schools with an average score of 5.7 out of 10. That number tells the real story: a capable top tier pulling against a wide middle, producing a citywide average that understates both the highs and the lows. Parents here benefit from moving past the average and evaluating individual schools directly.
Seven of the 26 schools — 27% — score 7 or higher, forming a distinct high-performing tier. L. A. Chaffin Middle School leads the city at 8.6, an exceptional score for a middle school in any market. Euper Lane Elementary follows at 8.5, with Beard Elementary and Bonneville Elementary each landing at 8.2. John P. Woods Elementary rounds out the top five at 7.8. Four of the city's five strongest schools are at the elementary level, which gives families with younger children the broadest access to high-scoring options.
The gap between the top tier and the rest is significant. An 8.6 leader against a 5.7 city average means the lower half of Fort Smith schools scores notably below the mean. That spread matters for families choosing where to live. School zone boundaries carry real weight here — a few blocks in either direction can mean the difference between a school above 8 and one well below 6.
For parents evaluating Fort Smith, the practical takeaway is straightforward: treat school zone research as a prerequisite, not an afterthought. The top-tier cluster around Chaffin and Euper Lane delivers strong academics. But with fewer than a third of the city's schools clearing the 7-point mark, the majority of Fort Smith students attend schools performing at or below the city average. Checking the specific school tied to any address — before signing a lease or closing on a home — is the single highest-return step a parent can take.
Elementary Schools
23 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 298 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 284 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 3 | 253 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 |
| 4 | 203 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 5 | 416 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 309 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 7 | 505 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.1 |
| 8 | 418 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
| 9 | 503 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
| 10 | 341 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
Show all 23 elementary schools in Fort Smith
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 720 students · 6th–8th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | 691 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 808 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 | ||
| 4 | 800 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Trinity Catholic SchoolPrivate 212 students · 6th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,970 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 |
| 2 | 2,253 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 219 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 |
| 4 | 98 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 |
| 5 | 73 students · 6th–12th | 4.3 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 133 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.2 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Union Christian AcademyPrivate 284 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Arkansas · 35 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$52,952
Median Home Value
$154,800
Median Rent
$836/mo
Population
82,914
College Educated
23%
Homeownership
53%
Avg Commute
17 min
Poverty Rate
18.8%
Community Profile
Fort Smith has a median household income of $52,952. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $154,800, with a median rent of $836/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.8%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Arkansas
- Elementary
- 23
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 5
- Other
- 2
Resources
Other Major Cities in Arkansas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Fort Smith, Arkansas
How many schools are in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
Fort Smith has 35 schools, including 28 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fort Smith is 6.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The top-ranked school in Fort Smith on MySchoolScout is Cavanaugh Elementary School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Fort Smith on MySchoolScout is Cavanaugh Elementary School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The top-ranked middle school in Fort Smith on MySchoolScout is William O. Darby Middle School with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best high school in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The top-ranked high school in Fort Smith on MySchoolScout is Southside High School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
How many school districts serve Fort Smith, Arkansas?
Fort Smith is served by 3 school districts: Premier High Schools of Arkansas, Future School of Fort Smith, Fort Smith School District.
What is the education level in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
According to Census data, 23% of adults in Fort Smith have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The median household income in Fort Smith is approximately $52,952 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
Yes, Fort Smith has 7 private schools alongside 28 public schools. The top-rated private school is Trinity Catholic School with a score of 7.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fort Smith is 14.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Fort Smith, Arkansas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Arkansas Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.