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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 213 th of 327 Arkansas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

213^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 327 Arkansas Middle Schools

Better than 35% of Arkansas middle schools

Summary

William O. Darby Middle School in Fort Smith, AR, is a public school serving 711 students in grades 6-8 within the Fort Smith School District, and it serves a high-poverty community where 82.84% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Darby Middle School is on a clear upward trajectory, climbing from the 17th percentile in state rankings three years ago to the 35th percentile today, showing steady improvement. Its most striking feature is an exceptional Algebra I program, where 68.8% of students are proficient—far exceeding the district average of 43.9% and the state average of 36.9%. This success stands in stark contrast to the school's standard 8th-grade math proficiency of just 17.5%, which is the lowest in the district. This "tale of two math scores" suggests a highly effective advanced math program that could serve as a model for other areas. The school also spends $14,326 per student, higher than many nearby schools like Northridge Middle School ($9,820) and Alma Middle School ($11,022), though this funding has not yet fully translated into overall academic gains.

Compared to similar schools, Darby shows promise. While Ramsey Middle School, just 2.4 miles away and also serving a high-poverty population, achieves better overall results (39th percentile), Darby's positive momentum sets it apart from struggling peers like Dora Kimmons Middle School (18th percentile) and Butterfield Trail Middle School (27th percentile). The school's challenge is to replicate its Algebra success across all subjects, particularly for 8th graders, who show a significant drop in math and science performance. With continued focus, Darby is well-positioned to close the gap with higher-performing neighbors.

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 — 17th percentile in 2016 → 35th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 18 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arkansas average (35% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Mathematics scores 12 pts below the Arkansas average

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg39%

Arkansas avg41%

213^th of 327

Arkansas public middle schools ?

Bottom 35%▲ up 18 pts since 2016

From bottom 17% (2016) to bottom 35% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Middle 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	38.8	213 of 327	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
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 (2025-2026) ?

Algebra69%+32 vs state

Reading36%-4 vs state

English Language Arts34%-6 vs state

Science33%-11 vs state

Mathematics32%-12 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

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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 Algebra (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 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%)	38.8	213^th of 327 public middle schools	34.9%		38.3	217^th of 324 public middle schools	33.0%	4		35.2	33.2	33.3	33.9		37.5	35.4	34.8	35.9		37.6	35.7	17.5	31.9	68.8	68.8		31.7	29.4	37.0	32.7	$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%)	22.4	269^th of 327 public middle schools	17.7%		20.4	268^th of 324 public middle schools	17.3%	1		23.5	23.1	26.3	24.3		24.7	24.6	29.7	26.3		21.9	35.0	26.0	27.4	70.8	70.8		21.9	29.5	28.8	26.6	$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%)	43.2	199^th of 327 public middle schools	39.1%		52.9	148^th of 324 public middle schools	54.3%	51		36.1	25.4	37.0	32.6		38.8	28.5	39.6	35.5		39.7	31.4	36.4	35.7	72.2	72.2		38.4	35.7	43.5	39.1	$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%)	82.6	33^rd of 327 public middle schools	89.9%		84.3	32^nd of 324 public middle schools	90.1%	1		47.9	55.3	50.7	51.3		48.1	56.0	49.8	51.3		54.2	66.8	46.6	57.5	92.1	92.1		46.8	64.2	58.7	56.6	$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%)	31.5	240^th of 327 public middle schools	26.6%		31.3	236^th of 324 public middle schools	27.2%	4		35.1	26.5	26.9	29.3		35.1	26.9	29.1	30.2		44.0	27.6	16.9	30.4	45.1	46.1		41.7	29.0	32.4	34.1	$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%)	70.1	84^th of 327 public middle schools	74.3%		78.3	44^th of 324 public middle schools	86.4%	40		45.3	49.2	46.1	46.8		45.3	49.6	44.3	46.4		58.4	51.1	29.0	49.6	79.2	80.2		42.7	52.5	42.8	46.0	$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%)	73.2	71^st of 327 public middle schools	78.3%		74.1	59^th of 324 public middle schools	81.8%	12		44.8	37.8	48.9	44.0		45.1	40.5	52.4	46.1		46.4	58.4	57.2	53.3	91.0	91.0		49.0	50.0	60.5	53.1	$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%)	48.9	178^th of 327 public middle schools	45.6%		50.3	157^th of 324 public middle schools	51.5%	21	37.5	30.4	48.0	20.4	34.2	45.4	33.9	44.0	24.5	37.4	51.6	46.4	46.0	37.2	46.0			45.3	43.7	58.0	26.6	43.6	$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%)	74	65^th of 327 public middle schools	80.1%		54.1	141^st of 324 public middle schools	56.5%	76	51.9	47.7	54.7	42.0	49.1	48.2	50.8	58.5	40.0	49.5	46.3	41.5	58.5	40.6	47.0	77.8	77.8	53.7	47.7	62.3	50.0	53.1	$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%)	93.8	11^th of 327 public middle schools	96.6%		91.1	15^th of 324 public middle schools	95.4%	4			57.7	59.5	58.6			56.1	57.0	56.5			68.9	66.7	68.0	95.8	95.8			63.2	68.1	65.6	$10,384	$467	$9,917

Frequently Asked Questions about William O. Darby Middle School

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 213^th of 327 Arkansas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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 district is William O. Darby Middle School in?

Fort Smith School District

How many students attend William O. Darby Middle School?

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

Rate William O. Darby Middle 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.