- Enrollment
- 2,231
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fort Smith, AR
Ballman Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Ballman Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050633000351
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ballman Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #7 of 18
- schools in Fort Smith · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 55.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Ballman Elementary School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ballman Elementary School ranks #7 of 18 schools in Fort Smith, AR.
School address
District: Fort Smith School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050633000351 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-60 students YoY
Ballman Elementary School shrank from 344 students in 2022-23 to 284 in 2023-24 (-17.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 19.6 → 16.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-60 students YoY 050633000351 · Fort Smith, AR Other · SMALL · TRAD
286 enr · 15.1:1 · 55.8% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (2,231 students)
Ballman Elementary School shrank from 344 students in 2022-23 to 284 in 2023-24 (-17.4%). Teacher FTE lost 19.6 → 16.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Ballman Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Northside High
Northside High School
2,231 students
- Southside High
Southside High School
2,053 students
- Ramsey Junior 801
Ramsey Junior High School
801 students
- L. a. Chaffin 753
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School
753 students
- Dora Kimmons J 753
Dora Kimmons Jr. High School
753 students
- This school 286
Ballman Elementary School
286 students
What this shows Ballman Elementary School reports 286 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ballman Elementary School compares
Ballman Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▲ 11% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.8% | ▼ 6% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 286 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
286
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
55.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% below the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 61% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 39% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
30.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,459
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,818
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.9 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 50.3%
Hispanic or Latino 27.6%
Two or More 13.3%
African American 7.0%
Asian 1.7%
Largest group: White at 50.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.8, Ballman Elementary School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fort Smith School District reports $12,459 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ballman Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ramsey Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dora Kimmons Jr. High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ballman Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,053
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 801
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 753
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 753
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~286 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ballman Elementary School
How many students attend Ballman Elementary School?
Ballman Elementary School has 286 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fort Smith, AR. CCD year-over-year: 344 (2022-23) → 284 (2023-24), down 60.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ballman Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ballman Elementary School is 15.1:1, which is 11% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ballman Elementary School?
55.8% of students at Ballman Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ballman Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Ballman Elementary School is White at 50.3% of enrollment, in Fort Smith, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ballman Elementary School?
Ballman Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ballman Elementary School rank among schools in Fort Smith?
By Resource Investment Index, Ballman Elementary School ranks #7 of 18 schools in Fort Smith, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Fort Smith on the city page.
What other schools are in Fort Smith School District?
Besides Ballman Elementary School, Fort Smith School District also operates Northside High School (2,231 students), Southside High School (2,053 students), and Ramsey Junior High School (801 students). See the Fort Smith School District district page for the complete list.