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Cavanaugh Elementary School

Q: Is Cavanaugh Elementary School a good school?

Cavanaugh Elementary School ranks 109 th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

109^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 78% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Cavanaugh Elementary School in Fort Smith, AR, is a public school serving 303 students in grades PK through 5, and it stands out as a high-performing school within the Fort Smith School District, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 30% of Arkansas elementary schools over the past decade.

What makes Cavanaugh particularly impressive is its strong academic performance despite serving a student population where about 72% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (51.9%), Math (56.5%), and Science (54.2%) significantly exceed both district and state averages. This is especially notable when compared to nearby schools like Park Elementary (19.7% ELA proficiency) and Tilles Elementary (17.7% ELA proficiency), which are among the lowest-performing in the state. Cavanaugh's math proficiency is a standout strength, outperforming Bonneville Elementary (41.1%) and Fairview Elementary (38.2%) by wide margins.

The school's success is even more striking when you look at its neighbors. Beard Elementary, located just 0.42 miles away on the same road, has fluctuated between 1 and 2 stars in recent years, with ELA proficiency at 26.2% compared to Cavanaugh's 47.1%. This stark difference highlights the powerful impact of effective teaching and school culture. Cavanaugh also achieves excellent results with efficient spending ($14,156 per student), while schools like Raymond F. Orr Elementary ($16,992) and Carnall Elementary ($17,679) spend more but perform significantly lower. For families in the area, Cavanaugh is a clear "school of choice" that demonstrates resilience and consistent excellence.

303

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,156

Per pupil spending ?

71.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1025 School St
Fort Smith, AR 72908

(479) 646-1131

District: Fort Smith School District

Students who attend Cavanaugh Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Ramsey Middle School
High:	Southside High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.9%

Hispanic:

19.5%

Two or more races:

16.2%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

Compare Cavanaugh Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 67th percentile in 2016 → 78th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arkansas average (53% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of Arkansas elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg39%

Arkansas avg42%

109^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 10 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to top 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 17Elementary Schools in the Fort Smith School District

142^nd of 251Fort Smith School District among Arkansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	76.1	109 of 491	77.8%	★★★★☆
2025	80.9	79 of 495	84.0%	★★★★☆
2024	67.8	151 of 497	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.6	191 of 492	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.3	137 of 487	71.9%	★★★★☆
2021	73.1	115 of 496	76.8%	★★★★☆
2019	72.9	115 of 488	76.4%	★★★★☆
2018	68.5	149 of 480	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	81.9	60 of 485	87.6%	★★★★☆
2016	62.8	161 of 494	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	79.3	72 of 466	84.5%	★★★★☆
2014	71.2	117 of 471	75.2%	★★★★☆
2013	78.3	64 of 476	86.6%	★★★★☆
2012	80.2	46 of 468	90.2%	★★★★★
2011	72.0	118 of 471	74.9%	★★★★☆
2010	79.4	65 of 457	85.8%	★★★★☆
2009	70.0	132 of 445	70.3%	★★★★☆
2008	69.6	142 of 439	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	58.6	201 of 440	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	49.7	242 of 402	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	50.2	238 of 411	42.1%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics56%+12 vs state

Science54%+10 vs state

English Language Arts52%+12 vs state

Reading51%+11 vs state

5.0

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, July 16, 2017

We love our school! Close Quote

by a student
Thursday, October 28, 2010

it is an amazing school. the best ever Close Quote

Schools Near Cavanaugh Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2026)				ATLAS Reading (2026)				ATLAS Mathematics (2026)				ATLAS Science (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 3rd Grade	ATLAS Reading 4th Grade	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 4th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Science 3rd Grade	ATLAS Science 4th Grade	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cavanaugh Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1025 School St	Fort Smith	72908	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 646-1131	303	18	16.6	71.9%	139 (45.9%)	38 (12.5%)	59 (19.5%)	16 (5.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (16.2%)	76.1	109^th of 491 public elementary schools	77.8%		80.9	79^th of 495 public elementary schools	84.0%	30	55.9	47.5	52.1	51.9	55.8	50.0	47.9	51.2	51.2	60.0	58.3	56.5	41.9	62.5	58.4	54.2	$14,156	$1,588	$12,568
Beard Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 Cavanaugh Rd	Fort Smith	72908	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 646-0834	297	19	15.3	78.1%	136 (45.8%)	32 (10.8%)	54 (18.2%)	19 (6.4%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (17.8%)	51.1	252^nd of 491 public elementary schools	48.7%		32.4	359^th of 495 public elementary schools	27.5%	107	43.2	29.8	50.0	41.0	43.2	31.9	45.9	40.1	40.5	31.9	52.1	41.7	51.3	27.7	50.0	42.4	$14,170	$2,080	$12,089
Carnall Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2524 South Tulsa St	Fort Smith	72901	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 646-3612	172	9	18.8	91.3%	79 (45.9%)	22 (12.8%)	40 (23.3%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (16.3%)	43	294^th of 491 public elementary schools	40.1%		23.3	400^th of 495 public elementary schools	19.2%	106	28.5	60.0	33.3	39.7	38.0	65.0	33.3	44.1	19.0	75.0	18.5	35.3	28.6	55.0	25.9	35.3	$17,679	$2,202	$15,477
Elmer H. Cook Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3517 Brooken Hill Dr	Fort Smith	72908	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 646-8880	459	24	19.3	57.1%	242 (52.7%)	36 (7.8%)	66 (14.4%)	18 (3.9%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	94 (20.5%)	79	85^th of 491 public elementary schools	82.7%		76.5	101^st of 495 public elementary schools	79.6%	16	52.3	47.6	65.6	55.5	50.0	48.7	61.3	53.6	66.2	50.0	63.4	60.2	55.8	50.0	53.7	53.3	$11,805	$1,594	$10,211
Raymond F. Orr Elementary School	Public	K-5	3609 Phoenix Ave	Fort Smith	72903	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 646-3711	235	14	17.0	70.6%	124 (52.8%)	18 (7.7%)	32 (13.6%)	12 (5.1%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (19.6%)								(n/a)																	$16,992	$4,555	$12,437
Fairview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2400 S Dallas St	Fort Smith	72901	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 783-3214	582	32	17.9	80.6%	236 (40.5%)	43 (7.4%)	178 (30.6%)	10 (1.7%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	110 (18.9%)	41.7	300^th of 491 public elementary schools	38.9%		42.7	298^th of 495 public elementary schools	39.8%	2	38.1	36.2	48.0	41.0	38.1	29.7	44.0	37.4	32.1	37.3	44.0	38.2	35.7	30.9	32.0	32.7	$11,809	$1,299	$10,510
Ballman Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2601 S Q St	Fort Smith	72901	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 783-1280	286	15	18.7	67.1%	144 (50.3%)	20 (7.0%)	79 (27.6%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (13.3%)	51.6	249^th of 491 public elementary schools	49.3%		64.7	164^th of 495 public elementary schools	66.9%	85	32.7	39.6	40.0	37.6	36.7	34.5	44.0	38.2	53.1	43.1	48.0	47.8	40.8	50.9	42.0	44.8	$13,689	$1,511	$12,178
Bonneville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 South Waldron Rd	Fort Smith	72903	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 478-3161	287	15	19.1	74.6%	114 (39.7%)	38 (13.2%)	65 (22.6%)	23 (8.0%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (15.0%)	58.9	204^th of 491 public elementary schools	58.5%		61	190^th of 495 public elementary schools	61.6%	14	55.3	40.0	48.1	47.3	53.1	36.4	44.4	44.2	40.4	40.0	44.4	41.1	53.2	41.8	55.5	48.9	$12,206	$1,033	$11,173
Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4111 Park Ave	Fort Smith	72903	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 783-4506	387	20	19.3	89.9%	79 (20.4%)	42 (10.9%)	210 (54.3%)	7 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (12.7%)	13.1	447^th of 491 public elementary schools	9.0%		21.3	404^th of 495 public elementary schools	18.4%	43	19.5	20.0	19.7	19.7	15.3	20.0	19.7	18.0	18.3	22.4	30.3	23.3	19.7	40.8	21.4	26.2	$13,603	$2,816	$10,787
Euper Lane Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6601 Euper Ln	Fort Smith	72903	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 452-2601	397	24	16.2	61.5%	188 (47.4%)	26 (6.5%)	96 (24.2%)	16 (4.0%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	65 (16.4%)	66.3	162^nd of 491 public elementary schools	67.0%		57.4	217^th of 495 public elementary schools	56.2%	55	58.5	50.0	41.3	50.4	60.4	41.6	43.5	49.0	58.5	56.2	45.6	53.8	52.8	37.5	37.0	42.8	$14,761	$1,961	$12,800

Frequently Asked Questions about Cavanaugh Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Cavanaugh Elementary School?

Students at Cavanaugh Elementary School are 46% White, 19% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 13% African American, 5% Asian.

What district is Cavanaugh Elementary School in?

Fort Smith School District

What schools do graduates of Cavanaugh Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Cavanaugh Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ramsey Middle School
High : Southside High School

Is Cavanaugh Elementary School a good school?

Cavanaugh Elementary School ranks 109^th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Cavanaugh Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 303 students attended Cavanaugh Elementary School.

Rate Cavanaugh Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.