Top Rankings
Fort Smith School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Arkansas for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 3 public high schools serving 4,390 students in Fort Smith School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Arkansas.
Public High Schools in Fort Smith School District have an average math proficiency score of 24% (versus the Arkansas public high school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Public High School in Fort Smith School District have a Graduation Rate of 91%, which is more than the Arkansas average of 89%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Northside High School, with 91% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Arkansas or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Arkansas public high school average of 41% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (AR)
# Schools
25 Schools
379 Schools
# Students
14,006 Students
178,639 Students
# Teachers
989 Teachers
19,297 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Fort Smith School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 256 school districts in Arkansas (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 89% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#118 out of 258 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
39%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
39%
40%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
32%
36%
Graduation Rate
89%
88%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)28.1%
22.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.72
0.60
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
5%
2%
% Hispanic
37%
15%
% Black
10%
18%
% White
35%
59%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
12%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,101 is higher than the state median of $12,976. The school district revenue/student has grown by 18% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,950 is higher than the state median of $12,888. The school district spending/student has grown by 38% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$198 MM
$6,371 MM
Spending
$251 MM
$6,327 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,101
$12,976
Spending / Student
$17,950
$12,888
Best Fort Smith School District Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Southside High School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4100 Gary St
Fort Smith, AR 72903
(479) 646-7371
Fort Smith, AR 72903
(479) 646-7371
Gr: 9-12 | 2,053 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #22.
Northside High School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2301 N B St
Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 783-1171
Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 783-1171
Gr: 9-12 | 2,231 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: n/an/a
Fort Smith Virtual Academy
Charter School
3205 Jenny Lind Rd
Fort Smith, AR 72903
(844) 989-3399
Fort Smith, AR 72903
(844) 989-3399
Gr: 6-12 | 106 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
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