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William O. Darby Middle School

Q: Is William O. Darby Middle School a good school?

William O. Darby Middle School ranks 217 th of 324 Arkansas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

217^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 324 Arkansas Middle Schools

Better than 33% of Arkansas middle schools

Summary

William O. Darby Middle School is a public middle school located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 720 students. The school is part of the Fort Smith School District, which is ranked 149 out of 250 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

William O. Darby Middle School consistently ranks in the bottom half of Arkansas middle schools, ranking between 199-275 out of 315-335 schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on standardized tests is significantly below the state and district averages across all subjects and grade levels, with proficiency rates around 30% in English Language Arts, Reading, and Mathematics, compared to the state averages of 34-39%. The school's performance is particularly low in Mathematics, with only 22-31% of students proficient, compared to the state average of 31-40%. Additionally, William O. Darby Middle School has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 85-90% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state and district averages.

Comparison to nearby schools, such as East Hills Middle School and Greenwood Junior High School, which are outside the Fort Smith School District, highlights the significant disparities in academic achievement, with these schools consistently outperforming William O. Darby Middle School. The nearby L.A. Chaffin Middle School, which is also part of the Fort Smith School District, consistently outperforms William O. Darby Middle School on academic measures, often by 10-20 percentage points or more.

711

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,326

Per pupil spending ?

82.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

616 N 14th St
Fort Smith, AR 72901

(479) 783-4159

District: Fort Smith School District

Students who attend William O. Darby Middle School usually attend:

High:

Northside High School

Feeder schools for William O. Darby Middle School:

Elementary:	Ballman Elementary School
	Howard Elementary School
	Park Elementary School
	Tilles Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

49.6%

White:

29.8%

Two or more races:

9.7%

See top rated Arkansas middle schools

Compare William O. Darby Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 16th percentile in 2015 → 33rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arkansas average (30% vs 36% meeting standards)

!Mathematics scores 10 pts below the Arkansas average

!Near the bottom of Fort Smith School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

District avg33%

Arkansas avg36%

217^th of 324

Arkansas public middle schools ?

Bottom 33%▲ up 17 pts since 2015

From bottom 16% (2015) to bottom 33% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd 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	38.3	217 of 324	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.1	242 of 335	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.0	275 of 330	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.6	261 of 318	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.8	271 of 330	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.1	246 of 319	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.2	246 of 318	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	41.6	199 of 315	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	25.4	258 of 312	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	21.6	231 of 275	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	37.3	203 of 280	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	30.5	221 of 278	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	18.8	233 of 265	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	16.2	238 of 264	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	21.6	223 of 254	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	13.9	219 of 240	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	11.2	205 of 223	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	16.4	205 of 225	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	8.6	195 of 206	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	11.6	193 of 208	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2024-2025) ?

Algebra31%~ state avg

Reading30%-5 vs state

Science30%-8 vs state

English Language Arts29%-5 vs state

Mathematics28%-10 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

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3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Monday, May 28, 2018

Great school and teachers. They really care about their students Close Quote

Schools Near William O. Darby Middle 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
Cedarville Middle School	Public	5-8	9614 Pirates Point	Cedarville	72932	Crawford County	Cedarville School District	No	No	No	Yes	(479) 474-5847	207	18	11.2	98.6%	162 (78.3%)	3 (1.4%)	9 (4.3%)	1 (0.5%)	5 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (13.0%)	50.3	157^th of 324 public middle schools	51.5%		48.1	167^th of 335 public middle schools	50.1%	10	29.8	34.8	13.1	42.0	30.1	35.1	37.0	15.2	38.0	31.6	38.6	50.0	26.1	39.5	38.5			33.4	34.8	34.7	40.0	35.7	$13,652	$1,947	$11,704
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

Frequently Asked Questions about William O. Darby Middle School

How many students attend William O. Darby Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 711 students attended William O. Darby Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of William O. Darby Middle School?

Students at William O. Darby Middle School are 50% Hispanic, 30% White, 10% Two or more races, 9% African American, 1% Asian.

What high school do graduates of William O. Darby Middle School attend?

Students who attend William O. Darby Middle School usually go on to attend Northside High School

Is William O. Darby Middle School a good school?

William O. Darby Middle School ranks 217^th of 324 Arkansas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is William O. Darby 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.