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Beard Elementary School

Q: Is Beard Elementary School a good school?

Beard Elementary School ranks 252 nd of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

252^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 49% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Beard Elementary School in Fort Smith, AR, serves 297 students from Pre-K through 5th grade and is part of the Fort Smith School District, with a high level of economic disadvantage as 78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school presents a mixed academic picture: it slightly outperforms the district average in English Language Arts and Reading, but falls short of state averages in Math and Science. Its state ranking has been volatile, peaking at the 80th percentile in 2021-2022, dropping to the 27th percentile the following year, and recovering to the 49th percentile in the most recent data.

A key differentiator is the dramatic grade-level disparity. Beard's 5th graders significantly outperform state averages across all subjects, while its 4th graders are a major concern, scoring well below both district and state averages in every subject—for example, only 29.8% are proficient in ELA compared to 41.4% statewide. This "4th grade slump" is not a district-wide trend, suggesting a specific cohort or instructional challenge. In contrast, nearby John P. Woods Elementary and Elmer H. Cook Elementary show much greater year-over-year consistency and higher performance, despite spending less per student ($10,959 and $11,805, respectively) compared to Beard's $14,170.

Interestingly, Beard is geographically close to Cavanaugh Elementary (0.42 miles away), a high-performing school with a similar poverty rate, suggesting factors beyond socioeconomic status—like school leadership or teacher quality—drive the performance gap. After a difficult 2024-2025 year, Beard has shown a strong recovery, jumping 107 spots in state rankings, indicating the school is capable of improvement. For parents, this school offers strong foundations in 3rd and 5th grades but requires close attention to the 4th-grade experience and overall academic consistency.

297

Students ?

15.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,170

Per pupil spending ?

78.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1600 Cavanaugh Rd
Fort Smith, AR 72908

(479) 646-0834

District: Fort Smith School District

Students who attend Beard Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Ramsey Middle School
High:	Southside High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.8%

Hispanic:

18.2%

Two or more races:

17.8%

See top rated Arkansas elementary schools

Compare Beard Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 54th percentile in 2016 → 49th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg39%

Arkansas avg42%

252^nd of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 49%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From top 46% (2016) to bottom 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^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	51.1	252 of 491	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.4	359 of 495	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	45.4	282 of 497	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.0	243 of 492	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	77.5	96 of 487	80.3%	★★★★☆
2021	52.9	255 of 496	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.0	265 of 488	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.0	222 of 480	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.6	153 of 485	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	54.2	227 of 494	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	69.5	112 of 466	76.0%	★★★★☆
2014	66.4	148 of 471	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	54.3	256 of 476	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	46.8	307 of 468	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	46.9	299 of 471	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	57.5	226 of 457	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	57.7	219 of 445	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	55.6	220 of 439	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	55.7	217 of 440	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	64.1	152 of 402	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2005	68.6	118 of 411	71.3%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Science42%~ state avg

Mathematics42%~ state avg

English Language Arts41%~ state avg

Reading40%~ state avg

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, July 14, 2016

Wonderful learning environment. The teachers truly care about the students. Close Quote

Schools Near Beard 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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Beard Elementary School

How many students attend Beard Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 297 students attended Beard Elementary School.

Is Beard Elementary School a good school?

Beard Elementary School ranks 252^nd of 491 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Beard Elementary School?

Students at Beard Elementary School are 46% White, 18% Hispanic, 18% Two or more races, 11% African American, 6% Asian, 1% American Indian.

What schools do graduates of Beard Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Ramsey Middle School
High : Southside High School

What district is Beard Elementary School in?

Fort Smith School District

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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.