Excellent
#52 of 1,035 schools in AR
Top 5% in state
Beard Elementary School
Elementary School · FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT
1600 CAVANAUGH RD, Fort Smith, AR 72908
Enrollment
287
Student-Teacher
15.1:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
287
Student-Teacher
15.1:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Fort Smith
#2 of 26
public schools
Arkansas elementary schools
#27 of 509
In district
#2 of 26
FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Academic performance
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Beard Elementary School
Beard Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fort Smith, AR, part of the FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT. The school serves approximately 287 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 15.1:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 95.1th percentile among AR schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 51% proficiency in math and 53% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.9/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $68,697, where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a small city setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Beard Elementary School — Students at Beard Elementary School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
81.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores AR EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from AR state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.9/10.
How Beard Elementary School Compares
See how Beard Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 58% (2019) to 52% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 51% (2019) to 57% (2022).
Location
1600 CAVANAUGH RD, Fort Smith, AR 72908
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Beard Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. BONNEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 4.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is HARVEST TIME ACADEMY (rated 7.9/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF FORT SMITH (rated 7.4/10, 2.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Fort Smith, see our Fort Smith schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 4.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| CAVANAUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 0.4 mi | 7.3 |
| HARVEST TIME ACADEMY Fort Smith | 1.0 mi | 7.9 |
| CARNALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 1.7 mi | 3.4 |
| ELMER H. COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 1.7 mi | 6.5 |
| THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF FORT SMITH Fort Smith | 2.4 mi | 7.4 |
| RAYMOND F. ORR ELEM. SCHOOL Fort Smith | 2.3 mi | 4.5 |
| RAMSEY MIDDLE SCHOOL Fort Smith | 2.8 mi | 7.1 |
| FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 2.9 mi | 3.4 |
| SINGLETON ES Arkoma | 2.8 mi | 4.3 |
| ARKOMA MS Arkoma | 3.1 mi | 4.2 |
| ARKOMA HS Arkoma | 3.1 mi | 7.7 |
| SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL Fort Smith | 3.0 mi | 7.6 |
| CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SCHOOL Fort Smith | 3.8 mi | 6.3 |
| BALLMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 3.9 mi | 5.5 |
| BELLE POINT ALTERNATIVE CENTER Fort Smith | 4.2 mi | 6.7 |
| PREMIER HIGH SCHOOL OF FORT SMITH Fort Smith | 4.4 mi | — |
| BONNEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 4.1 mi | 8.3 |
| NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL Fort Smith | 4.7 mi | 6.6 |
| TRINITY CATHOLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL Fort Smith | 4.7 mi | 6.7 |
| IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Fort Smith | 4.9 mi | 6.7 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 72908 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$68,697
Median Home Value
$181,600
Median Rent
$886/mo
Population
14,003
College Educated
30%
Homeownership
66.3%
Poverty Rate
9.7%
Median Age
42.6
Community Profile
The community surrounding Beard Elementary School has a median household income of $68,697. It is an area where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $181,600, with a median rent of $886/month. The local poverty rate of 9.7% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| EUPER LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith, AR | 8.4 |
| HECTOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hector, AR | 8.4 |
| MOUNTAINBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mountainburg, AR | 8.4 |
| PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Corning, AR | 8.4 |
| BONNEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith, AR | 8.3 |
| BUFFALO ISLAND CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Leachville, AR | 8.3 |
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 is ranked #52 out of 1,035 schools in AR.
What is Beard Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Beard Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Beard Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Beard Elementary School has 50.7% math proficiency and 53.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Fort Smith). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 287
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 81.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Sebastian County
- Phone
- (479) 646-0834
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT- District Enrollment
- 14,060
- Schools in District
- 27
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,459
- District Rank
- #2 of 26
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyGet school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.