Dora Kimmons Middle School

Dora Kimmons Middle School in Fort Smith, AR, serves 753 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the Fort Smith School District, a district ranked in the 43rd percentile statewide.

This school stands out for its exceptionally high level of economic disadvantage, with over 93% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch—the highest rate among its local peers. Academically, Dora Kimmons has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Arkansas middle schools over the past decade, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (24.3%) and Math (27.4%) well below state averages. However, there is a notable bright spot: 70.8% of students taking the Algebra exam were proficient, nearly double the state average. This likely reflects a small group of advanced 8th graders in a specialized track, so it doesn't represent the typical student experience. On a positive note, test scores have shown a slight upward trend over the last three years, suggesting recent efforts may be gaining traction.

Comparing Dora Kimmons to nearby schools reveals stark contrasts. Just 3.89 miles away, L. A. Chaffin Middle School—also in the Fort Smith district—is a top-performing school (90th percentile) with a much lower poverty rate (55.4%) and significantly higher test scores (51.3% proficient in ELA). Other nearby schools in the Greenwood School District, like Greenwood Junior High School, also outperform with lower poverty rates (30.9%). These comparisons highlight how socioeconomic factors strongly influence academic outcomes, but they also raise questions about resource allocation within the district. Dora Kimmons spends $13,279 per student—the lowest among Fort Smith middle schools—despite serving the highest-need population.