- Enrollment
- 2,231
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fort Smith, AR
Elmer H. Cook Elem. School
Federal NCES profile for Elmer H. Cook Elem. School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050633000359
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Elmer H. Cook Elem. School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Arkansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #5 of 18
- schools in Fort Smith · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.4:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 46.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Elmer H. Cook Elem. School has class sizes larger than 88% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Elmer H. Cook Elem. School ranks #5 of 18 schools in Fort Smith, AR.
School address
District: Fort Smith School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050633000359 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Elmer H. Cook Elem. School held near 494 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 25.5 → 25.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 050633000359 · Fort Smith, AR Other · SMALL · TRAD
459 enr · 18.4:1 · 46.4% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (2,231 students)
Elmer H. Cook Elem. School held near 494 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE held 25.5 → 25.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Elmer H. Cook Elem. 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 459
Elmer H. Cook Elem. School
459 students
What this shows Elmer H. Cook Elem. School reports 459 students on the CCD universe file.
How Elmer H. Cook Elem. School compares
Elmer H. Cook Elem. School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.4:1 | ▲ 35% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.4% | ▼ 22% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 459 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.4:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
459
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
18.4:1
students per teacher
- 35% above state mean
Top 88% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
26.1%
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
Counselors1.7 FTE
Per 270 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 52.7%
Two or More 20.5%
Hispanic or Latino 14.4%
African American 7.8%
Asian 3.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 52.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.2, Elmer H. Cook Elem. 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 Elmer H. Cook Elem. School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | Larger | Higher 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 | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dora Kimmons Jr. High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Elmer H. Cook Elem. 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 (~459 students)
Frequently asked questions about Elmer H. Cook Elem. School
How many students attend Elmer H. Cook Elem. School?
Elmer H. Cook Elem. School has 459 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fort Smith, AR. CCD year-over-year: 500 (2022-23) → 494 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Elmer H. Cook Elem. School?
The student-teacher ratio at Elmer H. Cook Elem. School is 18.4:1, which is 35% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Elmer H. Cook Elem. School?
46.4% of students at Elmer H. Cook Elem. School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Elmer H. Cook Elem. School?
The largest demographic group at Elmer H. Cook Elem. School is White at 52.7% of enrollment, in Fort Smith, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Elmer H. Cook Elem. School?
Elmer H. Cook Elem. School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Elmer H. Cook Elem. School rank among schools in Fort Smith?
By Resource Investment Index, Elmer H. Cook Elem. School ranks #5 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 Elmer H. Cook Elem. 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.