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Barling Elementary School

Q: Is Barling Elementary School a good school?

Barling Elementary School ranks 190 th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

190^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Barling Elementary School in Barling, AR, is a PK-5 school within the Fort Smith School District that serves 316 students and has shown a strong upward trend in academic performance, recently achieving its best ranking since 2016-2017.

Barling Elementary stands out for its exceptional mathematics performance, with 54.5% of students proficient in math—significantly higher than the district (40.1%) and state (44.1%) averages. This strength is consistent across all grade levels, with 5th graders reaching an impressive 63.1% proficiency rate. The school has demonstrated remarkable growth, jumping 79 places in state rankings over the past two years to reach the 61st percentile. Despite serving a community with high economic need (78.16% Free/Reduced Lunch rate), Barling outperforms many nearby schools with similar demographics, including Sunnymede Elementary (30th percentile) and Park Elementary (9th percentile). The school also leads its district peers by outperforming the district average in all four core subjects—a feat not achieved by schools like Fairview Elementary or Ballman Elementary.

While math is a clear strength, science performance is an area for growth, with only 43.5% of students proficient—below the state average. A notable pattern is the exceptional performance of 4th graders across all subjects, particularly in science (61.3% proficiency) compared to 3rd grade (32%) and 5th grade (37%). This "4th-grade spike" suggests effective teaching or interventions at that level that could be replicated school-wide. Compared to the district's top performer, John P. Woods Elementary School (5 stars, 90th percentile), Barling achieves strong results despite serving a higher-need population, and it uses its resources more efficiently than higher-spending schools like Carnall Elementary ($17,679 per student) and Raymond F. Orr Elementary ($16,992 per student), which have lower academic rankings.

316

Students ?

17.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,916

Per pupil spending ?

78.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1400 D St
Barling, AR 72923

(479) 452-0211

District: Fort Smith School District

Students who attend Barling Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	L. A. Chaffin Middle School
High:	Southside High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.8%

Hispanic:

28.2%

Two or more races:

13.3%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 64th percentile in 2016 → 61st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Arkansas average (47% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Above the Arkansas median (61st percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg39%

Arkansas avg42%

190^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th 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	62.0	190 of 491	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.0	179 of 495	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.8	269 of 497	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.7	259 of 492	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.3	249 of 487	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.3	205 of 496	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.9	281 of 488	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.5	270 of 480	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	66.9	143 of 485	70.5%	★★★★☆
2016	60.4	179 of 494	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	57.7	171 of 466	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.9	275 of 471	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	54.9	251 of 476	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.4	282 of 468	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.2	335 of 471	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	50.5	275 of 457	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	43.7	292 of 445	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	50.7	261 of 439	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	55.6	218 of 440	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	45.2	264 of 402	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	41.8	275 of 411	33.1%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics55%+10 vs state

Reading46%+6 vs state

English Language Arts44%+5 vs state

Science44%~ state avg

5.0

1 rating

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Schools Near Barling 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 (2025)	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
Barling Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 D St	Barling	72923	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 452-0211	316	18	17.7	78.2%	167 (52.8%)	1 (0.3%)	89 (28.2%)	13 (4.1%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	42 (13.3%)	62	190^th of 491 public elementary schools	61.3%		62	179^th of 495 public elementary schools	63.8%	11	40.0	49.0	43.4	44.1	40.0	53.1	45.6	46.2	48.0	53.1	63.1	54.5	32.0	61.3	37.0	43.5	$11,916	$1,137	$10,779
John P. Woods Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3201 Massard Rd	Fort Smith	72903	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 452-5808	514	27	19.3	50.0%	277 (53.9%)	29 (5.6%)	75 (14.6%)	56 (10.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (14.6%)	85.7	48^th of 491 public elementary schools	90.2%		89.4	42^nd of 495 public elementary schools	91.5%	6	56.1	55.4	67.9	59.7	51.7	51.8	57.1	53.5	63.8	66.2	79.8	69.8	55.0	57.8	66.7	59.7	$10,959	$1,247	$9,711
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
Bonneville Elementary School	Public	K-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
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
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
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
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
Sunnymede Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4201 N O St	Fort Smith	72904	Sebastian County	Fort Smith School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 783-6327	510	27	18.7	91.4%	70 (13.7%)	35 (6.9%)	323 (63.3%)	21 (4.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (11.8%)	34.9	343^rd of 491 public elementary schools	30.1%		25.3	388^th of 495 public elementary schools	21.6%	45	24.0	33.3	42.7	32.8	25.0	29.3	40.3	31.3	34.4	33.3	57.4	41.5	27.1	33.3	35.4	31.7	$11,773	$1,780	$9,993

Frequently Asked Questions about Barling Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Barling Elementary School?

Students at Barling Elementary School are 53% White, 28% Hispanic, 13% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

How many students attend Barling Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 316 students attended Barling Elementary School.

Is Barling Elementary School a good school?

Barling Elementary School ranks 190^th of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Barling Elementary School in?

Fort Smith School District

What schools do graduates of Barling Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : L. A. Chaffin Middle School
High : Southside High School

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Latest Arkansas data All new data »

2025–26 ATLAS test scoresJul 13, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2019–20 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 dropout ratesJan 6, 2026

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.