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Cavanaugh Elementary School

Q: Is Cavanaugh Elementary School a good school?

Cavanaugh Elementary School ranks 79 th of 495 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

79^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 495 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 84% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Cavanaugh Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fort Smith, Arkansas, serving 298 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Fort Smith School District, which is ranked 149 out of 250 districts in the state.

Cavanaugh Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state averages in academic proficiency, with 47.1% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 60% proficient or better in mathematics, compared to 32.4% and 35% for the district, respectively. The school has a strong statewide ranking, placing in the top 25% of Arkansas elementary schools and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Despite serving a population with a higher socioeconomic need, as indicated by the high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, Cavanaugh Elementary maintains a lower student-teacher ratio than nearby schools, ranging from 15.6 to 16.3 students per teacher.

Cavanaugh Elementary's consistent academic performance and high statewide ranking suggest the school has effective teaching practices and a curriculum that supports student learning. While the school serves a population with significant socioeconomic challenges, it outperforms nearby schools like Park Elementary, Tilles Elementary, and Carnall Elementary in academic proficiency across multiple subjects and grade levels. This success can serve as a model for other schools in the district and provide insights into effective educational practices.

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: Holding steady — 85th percentile in 2015 → 84th in 2025

Strengths

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

✓Ranks in the top 16% of Arkansas elementary schools

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school51%

District avg33%

Arkansas avg36%

79^th of 495

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Top 16%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 18Elementary 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	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 (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics60%+21 vs state

Science51%+13 vs state

Reading48%+12 vs state

English Language Arts47%+12 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

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 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 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%)	80.9	79^th of 495 public elementary schools	84.0%		67.8	151^st of 497 public elementary schools	69.6%	72	45.4	54.0	41.3	47.1	41.0	54.0	47.8	47.8	52.3	58.0	69.6	60.0	54.5	48.0	50.0	50.7	$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%)	32.4	359^th of 495 public elementary schools	27.5%		45.4	282^nd of 497 public elementary schools	43.3%	77	25.5	22.7	30.6	26.2	25.6	24.5	26.5	25.5	31.9	35.8	32.6	33.6	25.6	26.4	32.6	28.2	$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%)	23.3	400^th of 495 public elementary schools	19.2%		15.7	439^th of 497 public elementary schools	11.7%	39	20.9	37.0	16.7	25.3	25.0	37.0	20.9	28.0	16.7	22.2	16.7	18.7	25.0	22.2	12.5	20.0	$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%)	76.5	101^st of 495 public elementary schools	79.6%		82.1	65^th of 497 public elementary schools	86.9%	36	50.0	58.5	46.5	51.9	47.2	53.3	42.3	47.7	48.6	57.2	38.0	48.2	45.8	55.9	33.8	45.5	$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%)	57.5	215^th of 495 public elementary schools	56.6%		59.7	208^th of 497 public elementary schools	58.1%	7	27.7	58.6	34.9	39.7	27.6	53.7	39.6	39.7	34.0	61.0	32.6	42.0	29.8	51.2	34.9	38.2	$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%)	42.7	298^th of 495 public elementary schools	39.8%		52.7	237^th of 497 public elementary schools	52.3%	61	28.5	32.5	51.2	37.0	29.6	28.5	45.2	34.2	28.6	34.6	30.9	31.2	29.5	25.3	30.9	28.6	$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%)	64.7	164^th of 495 public elementary schools	66.9%		61.2	200^th of 497 public elementary schools	59.8%	36	28.0	47.0	57.8	43.8	30.0	47.0	51.1	42.4	38.0	44.9	53.3	45.2	30.0	46.9	48.9	41.7	$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%)	61	190^th of 495 public elementary schools	61.6%		64.9	170^th of 497 public elementary schools	65.8%	20	34.1	46.4	44.0	40.8	36.1	46.4	42.0	40.8	33.4	50.0	40.0	39.7	39.6	46.4	34.0	38.9	$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%)	21.3	404^th of 495 public elementary schools	18.4%		18	432^nd of 497 public elementary schools	13.1%	28	15.1	30.3	28.3	24.0	16.6	25.0	30.2	23.4	16.7	26.7	24.5	22.3	12.1	26.8	15.1	17.7	$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%)	57.4	217^th of 495 public elementary schools	56.2%		81.3	71^st of 497 public elementary schools	85.7%	146	36.4	43.1	42.6	40.9	31.8	43.2	42.6	39.6	47.8	41.2	40.7	42.9	36.4	33.4	27.8	32.3	$14,761	$1,961	$12,800

Frequently Asked Questions about Cavanaugh Elementary School

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

How many students attend Cavanaugh Elementary School?

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

Is Cavanaugh Elementary School a good school?

Cavanaugh Elementary School ranks 79^th of 495 Arkansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Cavanaugh Elementary School in?

Fort Smith School District

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.

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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.