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L. A. Chaffin Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

32^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 324 Arkansas Middle Schools

Better than 90% of Arkansas middle schools

Summary

L. A. Chaffin Middle School is a public middle school located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 691 students. This exceptional institution consistently delivers outstanding academic results, outperforming both the Fort Smith School District and the state of Arkansas.

L. A. Chaffin Middle School has maintained a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating excellent academic performance and a strong learning environment. The school consistently ranks within the top 25 middle schools in Arkansas, with impressive performance across all subjects. In the 2024-2025 school year, 47.8% of L. A. Chaffin students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 32.4% for the district and 34.7% for the state. In mathematics, 55.2% of L. A. Chaffin students were proficient or better, compared to 35% for the district and 38.7% for the state. The school's performance in science is also noteworthy, with 52.9% of students proficient or better, compared to 32.8% for the district and 38.1% for the state.

When compared to other middle schools in the Fort Smith area, L. A. Chaffin Middle School stands out as the top performer. William O. Darby Middle School and Dora Kimmons Middle School, both within the Fort Smith School District, have significantly lower academic performance across all subjects and grade levels. Ramsey Middle School, another Fort Smith middle school, performs better than Darby and Kimmons but still lags behind L. A. Chaffin in most areas. The school's success is not solely dependent on the socioeconomic status of its student population, as it has a relatively high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, but rather on the quality of education and support provided by the dedicated faculty and staff.

753

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,020

Per pupil spending ?

55.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3025 Massard Rd
Fort Smith, AR 72903

(479) 452-2226

District: Fort Smith School District

Students who attend L. A. Chaffin Middle School usually attend:

High:

Southside High School

Feeder schools for L. A. Chaffin Middle School:

Elementary:	Barling Elementary School
	Bonneville Elementary School
	Euper Lane Elementary School
	John P. Woods Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

55.1%

Hispanic:

16.7%

Two or more races:

14.9%

See top rated Arkansas middle schools

Compare L. A. Chaffin Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 95th percentile in 2015 → 90th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arkansas average (51% vs 36% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 10% of Arkansas middle schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Fort Smith School District

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school51%

District avg33%

Arkansas avg36%

32^nd of 324

Arkansas public middle schools ?

Top 10%▼ down 5 pts since 2015

From top 5% (2015) to top 10% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 4Middle Schools in the Fort Smith School District

149^th of 250Fort 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
2025	84.3	32 of 324	90.1%	★★★★★
2024	91.0	17 of 335	94.9%	★★★★★
2023	91.5	11 of 330	96.7%	★★★★★
2022	87.8	19 of 318	94.0%	★★★★★
2021	87.2	25 of 330	92.4%	★★★★★
2019	90.6	17 of 319	94.7%	★★★★★
2018	93.3	8 of 318	97.5%	★★★★★
2017	95.0	5 of 315	98.4%	★★★★★
2016	91.1	7 of 312	97.8%	★★★★★
2015	89.5	13 of 275	95.3%	★★★★★
2014	85.5	9 of 280	96.8%	★★★★★
2013	81.6	20 of 278	92.8%	★★★★★
2012	82.4	15 of 265	94.3%	★★★★★
2011	86.4	10 of 264	96.2%	★★★★★
2010	88.1	6 of 254	97.6%	★★★★★
2009	84.9	14 of 240	94.2%	★★★★★
2008	80.6	24 of 223	89.2%	★★★★☆
2007	80.2	20 of 225	91.1%	★★★★★
2006	87.0	9 of 206	95.6%	★★★★★
2005	86.2	11 of 208	94.7%	★★★★★

By subject vs Arkansas (2024-2025) ?

Algebra89%+58 vs state

Mathematics55%+16 vs state

Science53%+15 vs state

English Language Arts48%+13 vs state

Reading46%+10 vs state

5.0

1 rating

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near L. A. Chaffin Middle 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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2025)					ATLAS Reading (2025)					ATLAS Mathematics (2025)					ATLAS Algebra (2025)		ATLAS Science (2025)					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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading 6th Grade	ATLAS Reading 7th Grade	ATLAS Reading 8th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 6th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 7th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 8th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Algebra 8th Grade	ATLAS Algebra All Grades	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science 6th Grade	ATLAS Science 7th Grade	ATLAS Science 8th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
L. A. Chaffin Middle School	Public	6-8	3025 Massard Rd	Fort Smith	72903	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 452-2226	753	54	13.9	55.4%	415 (55.1%)	40 (5.3%)	126 (16.7%)	54 (7.2%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	112 (14.9%)	84.3	32^nd of 324 public middle schools	90.1%		91	17^th of 335 public middle schools	94.9%	15		46.5	44.0	53.3	47.8		44.4	42.3	50.6	45.7		60.2	55.1	45.9	55.2	89.2	89.2		48.9	48.7	62.1	52.9	$14,020	$1,421	$12,599
Dora Kimmons Middle School	Public	6-8	2201 N 50th St	Fort Smith	72904	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 785-2451	753	52	14.5	93.5%	88 (11.7%)	112 (14.9%)	466 (61.9%)	40 (5.3%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.7%)	20.4	268^th of 324 public middle schools	17.3%		23.9	278^th of 335 public middle schools	17.0%	10		16.7	18.0	20.3	18.5		17.6	18.1	22.5	19.6		15.0	28.2	29.0	24.0	55.9	55.9		15.4	19.3	23.0	19.4	$13,279	$1,751	$11,529
Ramsey Middle School	Public	6-8	3201 Jenny Lind Rd	Fort Smith	72901	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 783-5115	801	57	13.9	68.0%	396 (49.4%)	81 (10.1%)	151 (18.9%)	40 (5.0%)	10 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	122 (15.2%)	52.9	148^th of 324 public middle schools	54.3%		59.6	107^th of 335 public middle schools	68.1%	41		33.4	31.6	37.1	34.1		34.2	31.2	37.5	34.3		35.6	35.0	35.6	35.4	63.1	63.1		29.6	38.9	41.4	36.6	$17,549	$1,158	$16,391
William O. Darby Middle School	Public	6-8	616 N 14th St	Fort Smith	72901	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 783-4159	711	57	12.4	82.8%	212 (29.8%)	63 (8.9%)	353 (49.6%)	9 (1.3%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (9.7%)	38.3	217^th of 324 public middle schools	33.0%		31.1	242^nd of 335 public middle schools	27.8%	25		32.0	25.7	30.7	29.4		31.2	28.9	31.1	30.3		29.8	31.3	22.0	28.5	31.1	31.1		28.5	29.7	30.7	29.6	$14,326	$1,352	$12,974
Butterfield Trail Middle School	Public	6-8	310 North 11 St	Van Buren	72956	Crawford County	Van Buren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 474-6838	557	40	14.0	80.6%	309 (55.5%)	16 (2.9%)	174 (31.2%)	12 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (7.9%)	31.3	236^th of 324 public middle schools	27.2%		28.8	259^th of 335 public middle schools	22.7%	23		29.2	20.6	19.5	23.2		30.7	22.9	21.8	25.2		35.4	26.8	20.8	28.3	51.3	52.5		28.6	27.8	28.5	28.2	$11,730	$858	$10,872
Northridge Middle School	Public	6-8	120 Northridge Drive	Van Buren	72956	Crawford County	Van Buren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 471-3126	713	44	16.0	51.3%	501 (70.3%)	13 (1.8%)	115 (16.1%)	18 (2.5%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	58 (8.1%)	78.3	44^th of 324 public middle schools	86.4%		75.7	55^th of 335 public middle schools	83.6%	11		51.4	46.2	45.0	47.6		48.9	43.0	41.6	44.6		62.3	55.7	27.5	52.2	69.4	70.0		49.8	42.6	42.0	44.9	$9,820	$811	$9,008
Lavaca Middle School	Public	5-8	603 S Division St	Lavaca	72941	Sebastian County	Lavaca School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 377-1234	234	19	12.5	53.8%	195 (83.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.6%)	2 (0.9%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.5%)	54.1	141^st of 324 public middle schools	56.5%		51.8	144^th of 335 public middle schools	57.0%	3	23.5	41.4	26.8	25.0	29.2	23.5	46.6	25.0	25.0	30.1	35.3	55.1	33.9	42.8	41.4	68.8	68.8	27.9	53.5	21.4	34.1	34.1	$11,048	$701	$10,346
Greenwood Junior High School	Public	7-8	300 East Gary Street	Greenwood	72936	Sebastian County	Greenwood School District	No	No	No	No	(479) 996-7440	605	41	14.7	30.9%	487 (80.5%)	5 (0.8%)	42 (6.9%)	9 (1.5%)	11 (1.8%)	2 (0.3%)	49 (8.1%)	91.1	15^th of 324 public middle schools	95.4%		84.6	30^th of 335 public middle schools	91.0%	15			52.5	54.0	53.3			51.7	47.3	49.5			65.8	51.3	60.0	94.3	94.3			59.5	57.2	58.3	$10,384	$467	$9,917
Alma Middle School	Public	6-8	706 Hwy. 64 East	Alma	72921	Crawford County	Alma School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 632-2168	722	63	11.5	48.1%	595 (82.4%)	11 (1.5%)	38 (5.3%)	3 (0.4%)	17 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (8.0%)	74.1	59^th of 324 public middle schools	81.8%		69.1	78^th of 335 public middle schools	76.7%	19		37.5	39.9	42.7	40.0		38.4	39.5	44.9	41.0		49.3	46.7	60.4	51.7	100.0	100.0		39.3	46.0	52.2	46.1	$11,022	$1,294	$9,727
East Hills Middle School	Public	5-6	1211 Raymond E Wells Drive	Greenwood	72936	Sebastian County	Greenwood School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 996-0504	632	31	20.0	31.3%	484 (76.6%)	7 (1.1%)	50 (7.9%)	14 (2.2%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (10.9%)								(n/a)	50.6	46.8			48.7	47.7	46.8			47.3	51.9	55.7			53.9			59.3	59.3			59.3	$9,629	$630	$8,998

Frequently Asked Questions about L. A. Chaffin Middle School

What high school do graduates of L. A. Chaffin Middle School attend?

Students who attend L. A. Chaffin Middle School usually go on to attend Southside High School

What is the racial makeup of L. A. Chaffin Middle School?

Students at L. A. Chaffin Middle School are 55% White, 17% Hispanic, 15% Two or more races, 7% Asian, 5% African American.

How many students attend L. A. Chaffin Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 753 students attended L. A. Chaffin Middle School.

Is L. A. Chaffin Middle School a good school?

Yes. L. A. Chaffin Middle School ranks in the top 9.9% of Arkansas middle schools.

What district is L. A. Chaffin Middle School in?

Fort Smith School District

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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.