Summary:
Zip code 72901 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is home to two middle schools—Ramsey Middle School and William O. Darby Middle School—both part of the Fort Smith School District, serving grades 6-8 in a community with notable economic diversity.
Ramsey Middle School generally outperforms William O. Darby Middle School in most academic areas, though both schools have distinct strengths and challenges. Ramsey has a higher state ranking (199th out of 327) and stronger proficiency in math (35.7%) and science (39.1%) compared to Darby (31.9% and 32.7%, respectively). However, Darby slightly edges Ramsey in English Language Arts (33.9% vs. 32.6%) and reading (35.9% vs. 35.5%). A standout finding is that both schools dramatically exceed the state average in Algebra proficiency—Ramsey at 72.2% and Darby at 68.8% versus the state’s 36.9%—suggesting a district-wide strength in advanced math. Ramsey also spends more per student ($17,549 vs. $14,326) and serves a less economically disadvantaged population (68.04% free/reduced lunch vs. 82.84% at Darby).
Key takeaways for parents include the “7th grade slump” at Ramsey, where proficiency drops across all subjects compared to 6th and 8th grades, signaling a need for targeted support. At Darby, 8th-grade standard math proficiency is alarmingly low at 17.5%, yet its 8th-grade Algebra proficiency is a high 68.8%, indicating a sharp divide between advanced and struggling students. Despite current gaps, Darby’s state ranking has steadily improved from the 28th percentile to the 35th percentile over three years, while Ramsey’s ranking has declined from the 68th percentile to the 39th. If trends continue, Darby may soon surpass Ramsey in overall performance, making both schools worth watching closely.
Thank you for your feedback!