Thurman G. Smith Elementary School

Thurman G. Smith Elementary School in Springdale, AR, is a mid-sized school serving 483 students in grades PK through 5 within the Springdale School District.

Thurman G. Smith has shown remarkable improvement over the past decade, climbing from a 1-star rating to a solid 3-star school and now ranking in the 62nd percentile—a 38-percentile-point gain. This is the strongest year-over-year improvement in the district, especially notable since 74.5% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school now outperforms both district and state averages in English Language Arts, Reading, and Mathematics. A unique pattern sets it apart: while 3rd-grade scores lag behind district and state averages, 4th and 5th graders dramatically outperform them. For example, 4th-grade math proficiency reaches 62%, compared to the district's 46% and state's 47%. This "reverse slide" is rare among nearby schools, where performance typically declines in upper grades.

Thurman G. Smith stands as a beacon of success in a high-poverty context, achieving far better results than other schools with similar economic challenges. For instance, Walker Elementary has a 71.5% poverty rate but ranks only in the 43rd percentile, while Elmdale Elementary (88.8% poverty) and Westwood Elementary (86.1% poverty) rank in the 20th and 16th percentiles, respectively. Even compared to the nearby charter Lisa Academy Springdale, which serves a similar demographic (73.78% poverty) and ranks slightly higher (65th percentile), Thurman G. Smith outperforms it in all core subjects. The school's success appears driven by effective resource allocation and teaching strategies rather than higher spending, as its per-student funding ($13,659) is in the middle range among district peers.