- Enrollment
- 2,231
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Fort Smith, AR
Southside High School
Federal NCES profile for Southside High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 050633000373
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southside High School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Arkansas schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arkansas.
- #3 of 4
- high schools in Fort Smith · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.1:1
- small classes for Arkansas
- 36.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Southside High School has class sizes smaller than 72% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southside High School ranks #3 of 4 high schools in Fort Smith, AR.
School address
District: Fort Smith School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050633000373 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Southside High School held near 1,970 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 185.9 → 191.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 050633000373 · Fort Smith, AR High · LARGE · TRAD
2,053 enr · 11.1:1 · 36.1% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (2,231 students)
Southside High School held near 1,970 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 185.9 → 191.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Southside High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Northside High
Northside High School
2,231 students
- This school
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
- William O. Dar 711
William O. Darby Jr. High Sch.
711 students
What this shows Southside High School reports 2,053 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southside High School compares
Southside 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 | 11.1:1 | ▼ 18% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.1% | ▼ 39% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,053 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
2,053
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 28% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
29.0%
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 411 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
275
in-school suspensions + 151 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 52.5%
Hispanic or Latino 22.5%
Two or More 9.8%
Asian 7.4%
African American 6.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: White at 52.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.4, Southside High School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
AP courses offered 10
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 Southside High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ramsey Junior High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dora Kimmons Jr. High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William O. Darby Jr. High Sch. | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southside High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 711
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Nationwide high 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 (~2,053 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southside High School
How many students attend Southside High School?
Southside High School has 2,053 students enrolled. It is a high school in Fort Smith, AR. CCD year-over-year: 1,956 (2022-23) → 1,970 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southside High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southside High School is 11.1:1, which is 18% lower than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 29% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southside High School?
36.1% of students at Southside High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southside High School?
The largest demographic group at Southside High School is White at 52.5% of enrollment, in Fort Smith, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southside High School?
Southside High School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Southside High School rank among high schools in Fort Smith?
By Resource Investment Index, Southside High School ranks #3 of 4 high 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 high schools in Fort Smith on the city page.
What other schools are in Fort Smith School District?
Besides Southside High School, Fort Smith School District also operates Northside High School (2,231 students), Ramsey Junior High School (801 students), and L. a. Chaffin Jr. High School (753 students). See the Fort Smith School District district page for the complete list.