Very Good
#253 of 1,035 schools in AR
Top 24% in state
Cavanaugh Elementary School
Elementary School · FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT
1025 SCHOOL ST, Fort Smith, AR 72908
Enrollment
298
Student-Teacher
16.6:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
298
Student-Teacher
16.6:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Fort Smith
#7 of 26
public schools
Arkansas elementary schools
#116 of 509
In district
#7 of 26
FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Academic performance
9.0 / 10
Exceptional
About Cavanaugh Elementary School
Cavanaugh Elementary School serves 298 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This regular public school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 16.6:1 with 18 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranking 87th among Arkansas's 1,044 elementary schools, placing it in the 92nd percentile statewide.
Students show solid achievement with 53% scoring proficient or above in English Language Arts and reading, while 57% reach proficiency in mathematics. The school's academic score of 8.4 out of 10 reflects its commitment to educational excellence. Cavanaugh Elementary sits in the 72908 ZIP code area, where families enjoy a median household income of $63,697 and median home values of $164,500.
The surrounding community of 13,860 residents includes 31% with bachelor's degrees or higher, and maintains a relatively low poverty rate of 8.5%. This stable neighborhood environment supports student learning and family engagement. The school operates within Fort Smith's small city setting on School Street, providing students with both community connections and educational opportunities that prepare them for continued academic success.
Score Breakdown
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Cavanaugh Elementary School — Students at Cavanaugh Elementary School score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
68.1%
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
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 7.2/10.
How Cavanaugh Elementary School Compares
See how Cavanaugh Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 56% (2019) to 57% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 60% (2019) to 47% (2022).
Location
1025 SCHOOL ST, Fort Smith, AR 72908
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Cavanaugh Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. BEARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is HARVEST TIME ACADEMY (rated 7.9/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, POCOLA ES (rated 7.8/10, 4.4 miles away, in nearby Pocola), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Fort Smith, see our Fort Smith schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 4.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| BEARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 0.4 mi | 8.4 |
| HARVEST TIME ACADEMY Fort Smith | 1.4 mi | 7.9 |
| CARNALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 1.9 mi | 3.4 |
| ELMER H. COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 2.0 mi | 6.5 |
| THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF FORT SMITH Fort Smith | 2.4 mi | 7.4 |
| SINGLETON ES Arkoma | 2.7 mi | 4.3 |
| RAYMOND F. ORR ELEM. SCHOOL Fort Smith | 2.5 mi | 4.5 |
| RAMSEY MIDDLE SCHOOL Fort Smith | 2.9 mi | 7.1 |
| ARKOMA MS Arkoma | 3.1 mi | 4.2 |
| ARKOMA HS Arkoma | 3.1 mi | 7.7 |
| FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 3.0 mi | 3.4 |
| SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL Fort Smith | 3.3 mi | 7.6 |
| CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SCHOOL Fort Smith | 3.9 mi | 6.3 |
| BALLMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Fort Smith | 4.0 mi | 5.5 |
| BELLE POINT ALTERNATIVE CENTER Fort Smith | 4.3 mi | 6.7 |
| POCOLA HS Pocola | 4.3 mi | 7.6 |
| POCOLA ES Pocola | 4.4 mi | 7.8 |
| PREMIER HIGH SCHOOL OF FORT SMITH Fort Smith | 4.5 mi | — |
| POCOLA MS Pocola | 4.4 mi | 4.1 |
| NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL Fort Smith | 4.7 mi | 6.6 |
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 Cavanaugh 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 |
|---|---|
| BELLVIEW ELEMENTARY Rogers, AR | 7.3 |
| MAGAZINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Magazine, AR | 7.3 |
| WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Cabot, AR | 7.3 |
| ANNE WATSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Bigelow, AR | 7.2 |
| BERRYVILLE INTERMEDIATE SCH Berryville, AR | 7.2 |
| ELKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Elkins, AR | 7.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Cavanaugh Elementary School
What grades does Cavanaugh Elementary School serve?
Cavanaugh Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Cavanaugh Elementary School?
Cavanaugh Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 298 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cavanaugh Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cavanaugh Elementary School is 16.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cavanaugh Elementary School rank in AR?
Cavanaugh Elementary School is ranked #253 out of 1,035 schools in AR.
What is Cavanaugh Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cavanaugh Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.3 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 Cavanaugh Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Cavanaugh Elementary School has 56.7% math proficiency and 53.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Cavanaugh Elementary School a charter school?
No, Cavanaugh Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cavanaugh Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Cavanaugh Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cavanaugh Elementary School?
68.1% of students at Cavanaugh 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
- 298
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 68.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Sebastian County
- Phone
- (479) 646-1131
- 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
- #7 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.
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