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 2026-27 school year, there are 5 public middle schools serving 3,124 students in Fort Smith School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in Arkansas.
Public Middle Schools in Fort Smith School District have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the Arkansas public middle school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 43% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Arkansas public middle school average of 41% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (AR)
# Schools
23 Schools
350 Schools
# Students
13,527 Students
144,916 Students
# Teachers
963 Teachers
13,318 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%
89.9%
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
36%
59%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
11%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,184 is higher than the state median of $14,739. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,654 is less than the state median of $14,969. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$205 MM
$7,224 MM
Spending
$198 MM
$7,337 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,184
$14,739
Spending / Student
$14,654
$14,969
Best Fort Smith School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
L. A. Chaffin Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3025 Massard Rd
Fort Smith, AR 72903
(479) 452-2226
Fort Smith, AR 72903
(479) 452-2226
Gr: 6-8 | 753 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #22.
Ramsey Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3201 Jenny Lind Rd
Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 783-5115
Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 783-5115
Gr: 6-8 | 801 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #33.
William O. Darby Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
616 N 14th St
Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 783-4159
Fort Smith, AR 72901
(479) 783-4159
Gr: 6-8 | 711 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #44.
Dora Kimmons Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2201 N 50th St
Fort Smith, AR 72904
(479) 785-2451
Fort Smith, AR 72904
(479) 785-2451
Gr: 6-8 | 753 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
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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