Summary:
There are three elementary schools serving grades PK through 5 in zip code 72908 (Fort Smith, AR), all part of the Fort Smith School District, which holds a 2-star rating and ranks 142nd out of 251 districts in Arkansas.
Elmer H. Cook Elementary School stands out as the top academic performer, ranking 85th out of 491 schools statewide (83rd percentile) with a 4-star rating. It leads the area in ELA (55.5%), math (60.2%), and science (53.3%) proficiency, and has maintained a 4-star rating for three consecutive years. Cavanaugh Elementary School is a strong middle performer, also earning a 4-star rating and ranking 109th (78th percentile). It shows impressive year-over-year improvement, jumping from 151st to 109th place, and outperforms both district and state averages in all subjects. Beard Elementary School faces the most challenges, ranking 252nd (49th percentile) with a 2-star rating, but it has shown a dramatic turnaround—its rank soared from 359th to 252nd in one year, and proficiency rates more than doubled across all subjects.
A key finding is the inverse relationship between spending and performance: Beard has the highest spending per student ($14,170) and lowest student-teacher ratio (15.3), yet the lowest test scores, while Elmer H. Cook has the lowest spending ($11,805) and highest ratio (19.3) but achieves the best results. This suggests factors like school culture and parental involvement play a larger role than resources alone. Additionally, Cavanaugh’s consistent upward trend makes it a reliable "value-add" school, while Elmer H. Cook’s 5th-grade scores (65.6% ELA, 63.4% math) far exceed state averages, indicating strong preparation for middle school.
Thank you for your feedback!