Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0Fort Smith’s public schools outscore 65% of Arkansas districts
The grade covers the two public school districts serving Fort Smith, 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.
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.
Fort Smith’s schools, in brief
Above the state on tests
Reading proficiency is 43% and math 40% across both districts in spring 2022, against 40% and 38% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Fort Smith spends $13,857 per student and Greenwood $11,668, against $13,585 across Arkansas (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Haas Hall Academy Fort Smith, Premier High School of Fort Smith, Future School of Fort Smith, Institute for the Creative Arts School, Union Christian Academy (private), Christ the King Catholic School (private), Harvest Time Academy (private), Trinity Catholic School (private), First Umc Weekday School (private) and The Montessori School of Fort Smith (private) are in town. Fort Smith Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓
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.
What’s behind Fort Smith’s grade
B+: better than 65% of Arkansas school districts, #54 of 123 Arkansas towns. Test scores are above the Arkansas average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Fort Smith, with each school’s own grade.
9th grade in Fort Smith · depends on your address
Northside High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,231 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Southside High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,053 students · 11:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Fort Smith · depends on your address
Northside High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,231 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Southside High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,053 students · 11:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Fort Smith · depends on your address
Northside High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,231 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Southside High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,053 students · 11:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Fort Smith · depends on your address
Northside High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,231 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Southside High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,053 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Fort Smith runs its own schools through grade 12 (Fort Smith Public Schools). From grade PK, students attend the Greenwood School District, shared with Greenwood. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Fort Smith
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Above the state in reading
Fort Smith vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Arkansas towns that share Fort Smith’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith | B+ | Fort Smith PK–12 · Greenwood PK–12 |
| Barling | B− | Fort Smith PK–12 · Lavaca PK–12 |
| Van Buren | B+ | Van Buren |
Arkoma, OK borders Fort Smith but is graded on its own state’s tests, so it’s left out.
Every school in Fort Smith
35 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).
Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Western Arkansas Technical Center).
Questions about Fort Smith’s schools
Are Fort Smith’s schools good?
By Arkansas’s own tests, yes: the public schools Fort Smith children attend outscore 65% of Arkansas’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #54 of 123 Arkansas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 68%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Fort Smith in?
Two districts: Fort Smith Public Schools runs grades PK–12, and Greenwood School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Greenwood.
Where do Fort Smith kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Northside High School and Southside High School.
What is Fort Smith’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 Fort Smith spend per student?
$13,857 in Fort Smith Public Schools and $11,668 in Greenwood School District (FY2024), against $13,585 across Arkansas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Fort Smith?
Yes: Union Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 315 students), Christ the King Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 281 students), Harvest Time Academy (religious, grades PK–5, 231 students), Trinity Catholic School (Catholic, grades 6–8, 212 students), First Umc Weekday School (religious, grades PK–K, 178 students) and The Montessori School of Fort Smith (nonsectarian, grades PK–7, 78 students). Fort Smith also has 4 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Fort Smith families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fort Smith → They have their own page.
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.