- Enrollment
- 2,231
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Fort Smith, AR
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School
Federal NCES profile for L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 050633000358
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #1 of 4
- middle schools in Fort Smith · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.5:1
- students per teacher
- 39.0%
- free-lunch eligible
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School ranks #1 of 4 middle schools in Fort Smith, AR.
School address
District: Fort Smith School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050633000358 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-34 students YoY
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School held near 691 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-34 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 52.3 → 52.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-34 students YoY 050633000358 · Fort Smith, AR Middle · MID · TRAD
753 enr · 14.5:1 · 39.0% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (2,231 students)
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School held near 691 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-34 headcount). Teacher FTE held 52.3 → 52.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High 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
- This school 753
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School
753 students
- Dora Kimmons J 753
Dora Kimmons Jr. High School
753 students
- William O. Dar 711
William O. Darby Jr. High Sch.
711 students
What this shows L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School reports 753 students on the CCD universe file.
How L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School compares
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High 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 | 14.5:1 | ▲ 7% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.0% | ▼ 34% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 753 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.5:1
Leaner classes than 52% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
753
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
39.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% below the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.5:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 56% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 44% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.8%
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 251 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
118
in-school suspensions + 103 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 29.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.7%
Two or More 14.9%
Asian 7.2%
African American 5.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 55.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.8, L. a. Chaffin Jr. High 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 L. a. Chaffin Jr. High 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 | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ramsey Junior High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dora Kimmons Jr. High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| William O. Darby Jr. High Sch. | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to L. a. Chaffin Jr. High 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
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 711
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~753 students)
Frequently asked questions about L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School
How many students attend L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School?
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School has 753 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Fort Smith, AR. CCD year-over-year: 725 (2022-23) → 691 (2023-24), nearly flat (-34).
What is the student-teacher ratio at L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School?
The student-teacher ratio at L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School is 14.5:1, which is 7% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 8% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School?
39.0% of students at L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School?
The largest demographic group at L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School is White at 55.1% of enrollment, in Fort Smith, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School?
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School rank among middle schools in Fort Smith?
By Resource Investment Index, L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School ranks #1 of 4 middle 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 middle schools in Fort Smith on the city page.
What other schools are in Fort Smith School District?
Besides L. a. Chaffin Jr. High 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.