Average
#516 of 1,036 schools in AR
Top 50% in state
Howard Elementary School
Elementary School · Fort Smith School District · Fort Smith, AR
A Fort Smith School District elementary school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1301 N 8TH ST, Fort Smith, AR 72901
- Math 30% vs AR 40% (2025)
- Reading 32% vs AR 37% (2025)
- 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Howard Elementary School score 31% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
2025 ATLAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 9 points since 2020, reaching 31% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 37% (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
91.3%
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 Howard 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 63Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 51Bikeable
- 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
$42,568
Median home value
$113,200
Median rent
$837/mo
College educated
21.1%
Homeownership
44.7%
Poverty rate
23.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 72901; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tilles Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 341 | Compare → |
| Immaculate Conception Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.7private | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 213 | Compare → |
| Trusty Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | K–5 | 1.5 mi | 119 | Compare → |
| Barling Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | PK–5 | Not available | 347 | 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
- #13 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
Howard Elementary School is listed in FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Howard Elementary School
Howard Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fort Smith, AR, part of Fort Smith School District, serving approximately 253 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #516 of 1,036 schools in AR. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Howard Elementary School
What grades does Howard Elementary School serve?
Howard Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Howard Elementary School?
Howard Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 253 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard Elementary School is 18.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Howard Elementary School rank in AR?
Howard Elementary School ranks #516 of 1,036 schools in AR.
What is Howard Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Howard Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 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 Howard Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Howard Elementary School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Howard Elementary School a charter school?
No, Howard Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Howard Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Howard Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Howard Elementary School?
91.3% of students at Howard 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
- 253
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Sebastian County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.5%
- Phone
- (479) 783-7382
- Area population (ZIP 72901)
- 19,966
- Area average commute
- 16.8 min
- Area median age
- 36.3
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 72901; 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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