- Enrollment
- 2,231
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fort Smith, AR
Howard Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Howard Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050633000364
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Howard Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Arkansas schools.
- #4 of 18
- schools in Fort Smith · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.9:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 81.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Howard Elementary School has class sizes larger than 95% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Elementary School ranks #4 of 18 schools in Fort Smith, AR.
School address
District: Fort Smith School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050633000364 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Howard Elementary School held near 253 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 15.7 → 14.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 050633000364 · Fort Smith, AR Other · SMALL · TRAD
299 enr · 19.9:1 · 81.7% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (2,231 students)
Howard Elementary School held near 253 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 15.7 → 14.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Howard 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 299
Howard Elementary School
299 students
What this shows Howard Elementary School reports 299 students on the CCD universe file.
How Howard Elementary School compares
Howard Elementary 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 | 19.9:1 | ▲ 46% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.7% | ▲ 38% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 299 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.9:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
299
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
81.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.9:1
students per teacher
- 46% above state mean
Top 95% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.4%
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 63.2%
White 16.7%
African American 10.0%
Two or More 9.7%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.3, Howard 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 Howard Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ramsey Junior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dora Kimmons Jr. High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Howard 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 (~299 students)
Frequently asked questions about Howard Elementary School
How many students attend Howard Elementary School?
Howard Elementary School has 299 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fort Smith, AR. CCD year-over-year: 263 (2022-23) → 253 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard Elementary School is 19.9:1, which is 46% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Howard Elementary School?
81.7% of students at Howard Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Howard Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Howard Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 63.2% of enrollment, in Fort Smith, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Howard Elementary School?
Howard Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Howard Elementary School rank among schools in Fort Smith?
By Resource Investment Index, Howard Elementary School ranks #4 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 Howard 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.