- Enrollment
- 2,231
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fort Smith, AR
Sutton Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Sutton Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050633000376
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sutton Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #6 of 18
- schools in Fort Smith · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 77.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Sutton Elementary School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sutton Elementary School ranks #6 of 18 schools in Fort Smith, AR.
School address
District: Fort Smith School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050633000376 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-54 students YoY
Sutton Elementary School shrank from 470 students in 2022-23 to 416 in 2023-24 (-11.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.7 → 28.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-54 students YoY 050633000376 · Fort Smith, AR Other · SMALL · TRAD
411 enr · 14.7:1 · 77.7% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (2,231 students)
Sutton Elementary School shrank from 470 students in 2022-23 to 416 in 2023-24 (-11.5%). Teacher FTE lost 28.7 → 28.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Sutton 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 411
Sutton Elementary School
411 students
What this shows Sutton Elementary School reports 411 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sutton Elementary School compares
Sutton Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.7:1 | ▲ 8% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.7% | ▲ 31% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 411 | top 47% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
411
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% 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
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 57% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
30.4%
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
Counselors1.3 FTE
Per 316 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 32 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 57.4%
White 16.3%
African American 9.7%
Two or More 9.7%
Asian 6.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 57.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.1, Sutton 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 Sutton 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dora Kimmons Jr. High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sutton 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 (~411 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sutton Elementary School
How many students attend Sutton Elementary School?
Sutton Elementary School has 411 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fort Smith, AR. CCD year-over-year: 470 (2022-23) → 416 (2023-24), down 54.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sutton Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sutton Elementary School is 14.7:1, which is 8% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sutton Elementary School?
77.7% of students at Sutton Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sutton Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Sutton Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 57.4% of enrollment, in Fort Smith, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sutton Elementary School?
Sutton Elementary 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 Sutton Elementary School rank among schools in Fort Smith?
By Resource Investment Index, Sutton Elementary School ranks #6 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 Sutton 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.