For parents with school-age children, decisions about where to live often revolve around what schools their kids would attend in a new neighborhood.  Fort Smith has a number of good schools where students can receive the knowledge they need to move up through the educational system.  Five schools, in particular, stand out.

In Fort Smith, public schools are rated between 1 and 10, with 10 being best, based on test scores of their students.  GreatSchools.org has recognized five of our schools with ratings of 8 and above.

L.A. Chaffin Junior High School – rank 9

This is one of the few junior high schools in Arkansas to be given a GreatSchools rating of 9 out of 10.  Chaffin scored a school community rating of 3 out 5 stars, based on school community members’ reviews.  It is located at 3025 Massard Road and serves grades 7 through 9.  There are 767 students.

Cavanaugh Elementary School

This and the other three elementary schools on this list are among the few grade schools in Arkansas to receive a distinguished GreatSchools rating of 8 out of 10.  School community reviews gave Cavanaugh 5 out of 5 stars.  It is located at 1025 School St. and serves grades K through 6.  There are 195 students.

Elmer H. Cook Elementary School

Cook elementary has earned a distinguished GreatSchools rating of 8 out of 10.  It received 4 out of 5 stars based on school community reviews.  It is located at 3517 Brooken Hill Drive and serves grades K through 6.  There are 623 students.

Euper Lane Elementary School

This school received a distinguished GreatSchools rating of 8 out of 10.  School community reviews give it 4 out of 5 stars.  It is located at 6601 Euper Lane and serves grades K through 6.  There are 455 students.

John P. Woods Elementary School

The final school on our list has a GreatSchools rating of 8 out of 10.  It has earned a school community reviews rating of 4 out of 5 stars.  It is located at 3201 Massard Road and serves grades K through 6.  There are 480 students.

We’re proud of these schools and the faculty members who work there.  And the students.  It’s true that sometimes a school will have academic struggles, but those struggles can be reversed, so we hope that someday every school in Fort Smith can be known as “distinguished.”

A note to parents: this post is not to say that these are the only good schools in Fort Smith.  A school is about much more than just its academic ranking.  When searching for a new home and a new school for your kids, do some research – including visiting prospective schools – to make sure you know all you need to before settling on a neighborhood.

Education is important.  Choose well for your kids.

Nick & Ellie