Fort Smith School District

The Fort Smith School District is a large, urban district in Arkansas serving 26 schools, including 18 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools, with a district-wide 2-star rating that places it in the 43rd percentile statewide.

Performance varies dramatically across the district. The standout schools are Southside High School (5-star, 91st percentile) and L. A. Chaffin Middle School (5-star, 90th percentile), both achieving proficiency rates far above district averages. At the elementary level, John P. Woods Elementary School is a top performer with a 5-star rating and 59.7% proficiency in English Language Arts. In contrast, Belle Point Alternative Center is the most challenged school, with a 0-star rating, a 6.9% graduation rate, and 0% proficiency across all subjects. Other low-performing schools include Tilles Elementary School (0-star) and Dora Kimmons Middle School (1-star). The district's two comprehensive high schools show a stark contrast: Southside High School has double the proficiency rates of Northside High School in English Language Arts (51.1% vs. 30.2%).

A key finding is that middle school Algebra is a district-wide strength, with all four middle schools achieving proficiency rates above 70%, including 92.1% at L. A. Chaffin Middle School. However, a "middle school slump" is evident, as performance drops from high-performing elementary schools like John P. Woods Elementary School to struggling middle schools. Resource allocation does not guarantee success: Belle Point Alternative Center spends the most per student ($27,301) but has the worst outcomes, while John P. Woods Elementary School spends the least ($10,959) and excels. The Fort Smith Virtual Academy has improved its ranking to the 51st percentile but still struggles with low test scores and a graduation rate of 78.2%.