Average
#394 of 1,036 schools in AR
Top 38% in state
William O. Darby Middle School
Middle School · Fort Smith School District · Fort Smith, AR
A Fort Smith School District middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.
616 N 14TH ST, Fort Smith, AR 72901
- Math 29% vs AR 40% (2025)
- Reading 30% vs AR 34% (2025)
- 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at William O. Darby Middle School score 29% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).
2025 ATLAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 29 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 29% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 37% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 41% (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
85.6%
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 William O. Darby Middle 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 76Very 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Catholic Middle SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.7private | 6–8 | 1.9 mi | 210 | Compare → |
| Union Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.8private | PK–12 | 1.9 mi | 197 | Compare → |
| Dora Kimmons Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | 6–8 | 2.2 mi | 800 | Compare → |
| Ramsey Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | 6–8 | 2.4 mi | 808 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
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
- #8 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
William O. Darby Middle School is listed in FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About William O. Darby Middle School
William O. Darby Middle School is a public middle school in Fort Smith, AR, part of Fort Smith School District, serving approximately 720 students in grades 6th-8th with a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #394 of 1,036 schools in AR.
State assessment records show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about William O. Darby Middle School
What grades does William O. Darby Middle School serve?
William O. Darby Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend William O. Darby Middle School?
William O. Darby Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 720 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at William O. Darby Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at William O. Darby Middle School is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does William O. Darby Middle School rank in AR?
William O. Darby Middle School ranks #394 of 1,036 schools in AR.
What is William O. Darby Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
William O. Darby Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 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 William O. Darby Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, William O. Darby Middle School has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is William O. Darby Middle School a charter school?
No, William O. Darby Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is William O. Darby Middle School a Title I school?
No, William O. Darby Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for William O. Darby Middle School?
85.6% of students at William O. Darby Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 720
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 49
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Sebastian County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 28.5%
- Phone
- (479) 783-4159
- 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
Get 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.