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B−
Schools in Barling · Fort Smith Public Schools, Lavaca Public Schools

Barling’s public schools outscore 52% of Arkansas districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Barling, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Arkansas, not nationally.

#73of 123 Arkansas townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Arkansas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
39%
▼ 1 pts vs AR 40%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▼ 2 pts vs AR 38%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▼ 1 pts vs AR 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.9K
▲ 2% vs AR $13.6K
FY2024 · Fort Smith
Students per teacher
13.4
AR 12.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
8,097 students on the public path
In brief

Barling’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 39% of tested students were proficient in reading and 36% in math, against 40% and 38% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Arkansas. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Fort Smith spends $13,857 per student and Lavaca $12,750, against $13,585 across Arkansas (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Barling’s grade

B− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 52% of Arkansas school districts, #73 of 123 Arkansas towns. Both inputs trail the Arkansas average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Arkansas school districts we grade (261)Better than 52%
Lower resultsHigher results
Arkansas towns with similar household incomes (267)Better than 53%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 9,046 test results and a graduating class of 1,057 could put Barling anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Barling’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,060 in math, 9,032 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Barling, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Barling Elementary SchoolFort Smith Public SchoolsB+
6–85 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC to A
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressD to B+

Barling runs its own schools through grade 12 (Fort Smith Public Schools). From grade PK, students attend the Lavaca Public Schools, shared with Central City and Lavaca. Its middle school is in Fort Smith. Parts of Barling (15% of its land) are served by Greenwood instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Barling

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Fort Smith Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 26 schools · 14,045 students · 14.1 per teacher (AR 12.4)
$13,857AR $13,585 · FY2024
B−
Lavaca Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 801 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 7.4 per teacher (AR 12.4)
$12,750AR $13,585 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Fort Smith Public Schools39%
State average 39.9% · 8533 students tested
Math · PK–12, Fort Smith Public Schools36%
State average 38.3% · 8561 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Lavaca Public Schools38%
State average 39.9% · 499 students tested
Math · PK–12, Lavaca Public Schools35%
State average 38.3% · 499 students tested

Barling vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Arkansas towns that share Barling’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BarlingB−Fort Smith PK–12 · Lavaca PK–12
Fort SmithB+Fort Smith PK–12 · Greenwood PK–12
Central City—Lavaca

Every school in Barling

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Arkansas’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Barlingby address
Barling Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
316 students18:1Rate it →
Also serving Barlingin other towns
Lavaca Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Lavaca
B−
234 students13:1Rate it →
Ramsey Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Smith
B+
801 students14:1Rate it →
L. A. Chaffin Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Smith
A
753 students14:1Rate it →
Dora Kimmons Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Smith
C
753 students15:1Rate it →
William O. Darby Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Fort Smith
C
711 students12:1Rate it →
Northside High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fort Smith
D
2,231 students11:1Rate it →
Southside High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Fort Smith
B+
2,053 students11:1Rate it →
Lavaca High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Lavaca
B−
245 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Barling’s schools

Are Barling’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Arkansas: the public schools Barling children attend outscore 52% of Arkansas’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #73 of 123 Arkansas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 53%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Barling in?

Two districts: Fort Smith Public Schools runs grades PK–12, and Lavaca Public Schools runs grades PK–12, shared with Central City and Lavaca.

Where do Barling kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Northside High School, Southside High School and Lavaca High School.

What is Barling’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Fort Smith Public Schools graduated in four years, against 90% across Arkansas.

How much does Barling spend per student?

$13,857 in Fort Smith Public Schools and $12,750 in Lavaca Public Schools (FY2024), against $13,585 across Arkansas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

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What Barling families are saying about school.

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School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Arkansas. Stars are from neighbors.