Average
#486 of 1,036 schools in AR
Top 47% in state
Beard Elementary School
Elementary School · Fort Smith School District · Fort Smith, AR
A Fort Smith School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
1600 CAVANAUGH RD, Fort Smith, AR 72908
- Math 33% vs AR 40% (2025)
- Reading 26% vs AR 37% (2025)
- 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Beard Elementary School score 30% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).
2025 ATLAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 17 points since 2020, to 30% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 37 test records from AR state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
81.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Beard Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 35Car-Dependent
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,538/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Fort Smith), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$68,697
Median home value
$181,600
Median rent
$886/mo
College educated
30%
Homeownership
66.3%
Poverty rate
9.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 72908; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavanaugh Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | PK–5 | 0.4 mi | 298 | Compare → |
| Harvest Time AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.9private | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 100 | Compare → |
| Carnall Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.5 | PK–5 | 1.7 mi | 203 | Compare → |
| Elmer H. Cook Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | PK–5 | 1.7 mi | 494 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Fort Smith School District
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #12 of 26
- District spending per student
- $12,459NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Beard Elementary School is listed in FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Beard Elementary School
Beard Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fort Smith, AR, part of Fort Smith School District, serving approximately 287 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #486 of 1,036 schools in AR. State assessment records show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Beard Elementary School
What grades does Beard Elementary School serve?
Beard Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Beard Elementary School?
Beard Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 287 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Beard Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Beard Elementary School is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Beard Elementary School rank in AR?
Beard Elementary School ranks #486 of 1,036 schools in AR.
What is Beard Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Beard Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Beard Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Beard Elementary School has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Beard Elementary School a charter school?
No, Beard Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Beard Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Beard Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Beard Elementary School?
81.9% of students at Beard Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 287
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Sebastian County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.8%
- Phone
- (479) 646-0834
- Area population (ZIP 72908)
- 14,003
- Area median age
- 42.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ATLAS · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ATLAS. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ATLAS · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ATLAS. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 72908; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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