Fort Smith School District
School District · Fort Smith, Arkansas
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
27
19 elem, 4 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,459
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
27
19 elem, 4 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,459
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
Evaluating Fort Smith School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Fort Smith School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
L. A. Chaffin Middle School
Fort Smith · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
John P. Woods Elementary School
Fort Smith · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Ballman Elementary School
Fort Smith · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Arkansas rank
#155 of 244
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Arkansas avg
Per-pupil spending
$12,459
+$53 vs Arkansas median
District size
14,060 students
Much larger than Arkansas median
The short answer
Fort Smith School District ranks #155 of 244 Arkansas districts by overall school rating. Fort Smith School District's schools with real test data average 6.0/10 across 26 schools. Its top-rated schools are L. A. Chaffin Middle School (8.8/10), John P. Woods Elementary School (7.8/10), and Ballman Elementary School (7.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.9/10 despite 86% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 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 School District schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Fort Smith School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (26 of 27). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | L. A. Chaffin Middle School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | John P. Woods Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Ballman Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Barling Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Elmer H. Cook Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Cavanaugh Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Bonneville Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | William O. Darby Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Euper Lane Elementary School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Northside High School | 6.7 / 10 |
See all 27 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Fort Smith School District
Fort Smith School District is a Fort Smith, Arkansas school district serving 27 schools. The district educates 14,060 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1. The district invests $12,459 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.0/10, Fort Smith School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is L. A. Chaffin Middle School, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.
In standardized testing, Fort Smith School District students show an average math proficiency of 48.4% and ELA proficiency of 48.7%.
The district includes 19 elementary schools , 4 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Fort Smith School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Fort Smith School District with test data.
Schools in Fort Smith School District
27 schools Elementary Schools 19
Middle Schools 4
High Schools 3
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Arkansas
- City
- Fort Smith
- Total Enrollment
- 14,060
- Teachers (FTE)
- 980
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Fort Smith School District?
Fort Smith School District has 27 schools in total — 19 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Fort Smith School District?
The average composite rating for Fort Smith School District is 6.0/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Fort Smith School District?
Fort Smith School District spends $12,459 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Fort Smith School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Fort Smith School District is 14.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Fort Smith School District?
L. A. Chaffin Middle School is the highest-rated school in Fort Smith School District with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What are the test scores in Fort Smith School District?
Across schools in Fort Smith School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 48.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 48.7%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Fort Smith School District compare to other districts in Arkansas?
Fort Smith School District has an average school rating of 6.0/10 across 27 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Arkansas by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.0/10
- Math Proficiency
- 48.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 48.7%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in AR
Compare Fort Smith School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Little Rock School District (39)
- Springdale School District (29)
- Pulaski County Special School District (26)
- Bentonville School District (24)
- Rogers School District (23)
- Fayetteville School District (17)
- Cabot School District (16)
- Conway School District (16)
- North Little Rock School District (14)
- Bryant School District (12)
- Lisa Academy (11)
- Jonesboro School District (11)
- Van Buren School District (11)
- Russellville School District (10)
- West Memphis School District (9)
- Benton School District (8)
- Nettleton School District (8)
- Texarkana School District (8)
- Sheridan School District (7)
- Paragould School District (7)
- Pine Bluff School District (7)
- Founders Classical Academies of Arkansas (7)
- Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (7)
- Friendship Aspire Academies Arkansas (7)
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.
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