Enrollment
753
Arkansas · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
52.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.5:1
vs 13.6:1 Arkansas avg
+7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
39.0%
vs 59.2% Arkansas avg
-34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School compares with Arkansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School is a large middle school in Fort Smith, Arkansas, enrolling 753 students.
At 14.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Arkansas median, within a few percentage points of the 13.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 39.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arkansas, bigger than 90% of state schools at 753 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,066 scored Arkansas schools.
Against 183 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #34.
Its student body is led by White (55%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 251 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 24.8% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 20.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 221 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 753 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Fort Smith School District also operates Northside High School (2,231 students) and Southside High School (2,053 students) alongside L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School compares
L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$12,206
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,251
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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fort Smith School District, which includes L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School.
$12,206
Per student
0%
vs Arkansas
Avg $12,251
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.4%
State 44.3%
Federal 20.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
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
- 2,231
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- 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
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arkansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~753 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School's federal record.
- Compare L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School against another school. Compare schools
- Fort Smith School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School a good school?
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. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.