Half of Fort Smith schools received an improved grade in 2025 state index

Of the 24 school facilities in the Fort Smith Public School District^[1], 12 had improved grades in a state index compared with 2023, 7 had a falling grade, and the grades for 5 facilities did not change.

The Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recently released the 2025 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) School Index report.

The annual report assigns a letter grade to based on factors that include measured proficiency in language arts, math, and science, number of students graduating with merit or distinction, changes in number of students falling behind their peer groups, and percentage of students who graduate in their four-year cohort. (Link here^[2] for more information about how the grade is determined.)

Arkansas officials implemented a new formula to calculate 2025 ESSA scores. The state allowed districts to use, through an appeal, their 2023 grades calculated under the old formula or the 2025 grades. This story reports only on the 2025 grades reported by the state. The Fort Smith Public School District reported the 2025 grades and the appealed grades.

“At Fort Smith Public Schools, we believe transparency drives progress,” noted a statement from Superintendent Martin Mahan. “By sharing both the 2023 and the 2025 letter grades, we aim to provide the community with a clear understanding of where we are and where we aim to be. I am excited for our schools that have achieved a higher letter grade, which proves the work our incredible staff does each day. We remain committed to supporting every school as we work to ensure our students have the necessary resources to succeed.”

According to the state data, 8.3% of Fort Smith’s facilities received an A grade, below the 11.8% for all schools statewide.

Following are the Fort Smith Public School District facilities that received an improved grade compared with 2023.
• Elementary schools
Ballman: A (up from C in 2023)
Barling: B (up from C in 2023)
Cavanaugh: A (up from C in 2023)
Cook: B (up from C in 2023)
Howard: C (up from D in 2023)
Orr: B (up from D in 2023)
Park: C (up from D in 2023)
Sunnymede: C (up from D in 2023)
Tilles: C (up from D in 2023)

• Middle schools
Darby: C (up from D in 2023)
Kimmons: C (up from D in 2023)

• High schools
Northside: B (up from D in 2023

Following are the Fort Smith Public School District facilities that received a lower grade compared with 2023.
• Elementary schools
Beard: F (down from C in 2023)
Euper Lane: D (down from B in 2023)
Fairview: D (down from C in 2023)
Morrison: F (down from D in 2023)
Woods: B (down from A in 2023)

• Middle schools
Chaffin: B (down from A in 2023)

• High schools
Southside: C (down from B in 2023)

Following are the Fort Smith Public School District facilities that received the same grade compared with 2023.
• Elementary schools
Bonneville: C
Carnall: D
Spradling: D
Sutton: D

• Middle schools
Ramsey: C

“The district views the new ESSA scores as an opportunity to reassess strategies, enhance curriculum, and increase resources to support students and staff,” according to a statement from the Fort Smith Public School District. “FSPS remains committed to transparency and continuous improvement and will use these updated scores to drive instructional planning and support for every school across the district.”

Following is the grade breakdown, including the percentage of the total, for the 1,032 school facilities measured by the state for the 2025 ESSA.
A: 122 schools (11.8%)
B: 291 schools (28.2%)
C: 352 schools (34.1%)
D: 137 schools (13.3%)
F: 130 schools (12.6%)

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