- Enrollment
- 2,231
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fort Smith, AR
Beard Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Beard Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050633000353
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Beard 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
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 57.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Beard Elementary School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Beard Elementary School ranks #7 of 18 schools in Fort Smith, AR.
School address
District: Fort Smith School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050633000353 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Beard Elementary School shrank from 309 students in 2022-23 to 287 in 2023-24 (-7.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 20.1 → 19.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-22 students YoY 050633000353 · Fort Smith, AR Other · SMALL · TRAD
297 enr · 14.8:1 · 57.3% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (2,231 students)
Beard Elementary School shrank from 309 students in 2022-23 to 287 in 2023-24 (-7.1%). Teacher FTE lost 20.1 → 19.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Beard 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 297
Beard Elementary School
297 students
What this shows Beard Elementary School reports 297 students on the CCD universe file.
How Beard Elementary School compares
Beard 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 | 14.8:1 | ▲ 9% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.3% | ▼ 3% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 297 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
297
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 58% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.7%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 297 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 45.8%
Hispanic or Latino 18.2%
Two or More 17.8%
African American 10.8%
Asian 6.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: White at 45.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.0, Beard 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 Beard 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 Beard 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 (~297 students)
Frequently asked questions about Beard Elementary School
How many students attend Beard Elementary School?
Beard Elementary School has 297 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fort Smith, AR. CCD year-over-year: 309 (2022-23) → 287 (2023-24), down 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Beard Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Beard Elementary School is 14.8:1, which is 9% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Beard Elementary School?
57.3% of students at Beard Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Beard Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Beard Elementary School is White at 45.8% of enrollment, in Fort Smith, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Beard Elementary School?
Beard 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 Beard Elementary School rank among schools in Fort Smith?
By Resource Investment Index, Beard 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 Beard 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.