Summary:
The five public schools in zip code 72904 (Fort Smith, AR) are all part of the Fort Smith School District and serve elementary and middle school students in a community where over 90% of students face economic disadvantage.
Sunnymede Elementary School stands out as the academic leader in the area, earning the only 2-star rating and the highest state ranking. It is the only school to exceed the district average in Mathematics, and its 5th-grade cohort is exceptionally strong, outperforming the district in ELA, Reading, and Math. In contrast, Spradling Elementary School is the only school whose state ranking has declined over the past three years. Dora Kimmons Middle School presents a fascinating contradiction: while its overall test scores are the lowest in the zip code, it is a standout in Algebra, with 70.8% of students proficient—far exceeding both the district (43.9%) and state (36.9%). A concerning pattern emerges at Harry C. Morrison Elementary School and Sutton Elementary School, where both show a dramatic drop in proficiency from 4th to 5th grade across all subjects, suggesting a potential systemic issue with the 5th-grade curriculum or transition.
Despite high poverty rates, the overall trend is cautiously optimistic, with three of four elementary schools improving their state rankings over the last three years. Notably, Sutton Elementary spends the most per student ($14,863) but has the lowest academic performance, while Sunnymede spends less ($11,773) and achieves the best results—showing that resource allocation and instructional strategy matter more than raw spending. The average student-teacher ratio is 17.1:1, with Dora Kimmons offering the smallest classes (14.5:1) and Harry C. Morrison the largest (19.1:1).
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