Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 26 schools in district

L. A. CHAFFIN JR. HIGH SCHOOL

3025 MASSARD RD, FORT SMITH, AR 72903FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
725
Students
Total enrolled
$15,628
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 9% vs nat'l
13.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 10% vs nat'l
45/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 725 students in grades 06–08 in FORT SMITH, Arkansas.
9% above average funding
District spends $15,628 per pupil, 9% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 45th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

L. A. CHAFFIN JR. HIGH SCHOOL is a large middle in FORT SMITH, Arkansas, serving grades 06–08 with 725 students. The district invests $15,628 per student — 9% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 54% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at L. A. CHAFFIN JR. HIGH SCHOOL

725
Total Students
13.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
54%
Free Lunch
52
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution362 male · 363 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility54%
National avg 52% · 389 students
Student Composition
8%
53%
19%
14%
Asian8%
White53%
Hispanic / Latino19%
Black4%
Multiracial14%
Native American2%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 050633000358

Academic Outcomes at L. A. CHAFFIN JR. HIGH SCHOOL

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
45
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 45th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 58th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 72903

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,628Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$15,628
State avg
$14,269
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,876
Student Support$2,969
Administration$1,875
Operations$2,344
Other$1,563
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $15,628 spent per student, an estimated $6,923 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
44%
35%
State government
44.3%
Local (property tax)
35.4%
Federal programs
20.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
ELMER H. COOK ELEM. SCHOOLJOHN P. WOODS ELEM. SCHOOLSUTTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLSUNNYMEDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
+15 more
↓
Middle
DORA KIMMONS JR. HIGH SCHOOLRAMSEY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLWILLIAM O. DARBY JR. HIGH SCH.
↓
High School
NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOLSOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOLBELLE POINT ALTERNATIVE CENTER
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountySebastian County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictFORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT →
Phone: (479)452-2226
NCES ID: 050633000358
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in FORT SMITH seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in FORT SMITH SCHOOL DISTRICT
High
NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL
2,433 students · 09–12
● 31 opp74% FRL
High
SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL
1,956 students · 09–12
● 45 opp47% FRL
Mid
DORA KIMMONS JR. HIGH SCHOOL
841 students · 06–08
● 35 opp91% FRL
Mid
RAMSEY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
832 students · 06–08
● 31 opp67% FRL
Mid
WILLIAM O. DARBY JR. HIGH SCH.
700 students · 06–08
● 31 opp87% FRL
Elem
ELMER H. COOK ELEM. SCHOOL
500 students · PK–05
56% FRL
Elem
JOHN P. WOODS ELEM. SCHOOL
487 students · PK–05
● 45 opp43% FRL
Elem
SUTTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
470 students · PK–05
● 35 opp91% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
3025 MASSARD RD, FORT SMITH, AR 72903
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.