The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Science. The lowest is 18% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Harry C. Morrison Elementary School
Harry C. Morrison Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as part of the Fort Smith School District. It is a traditional public elementary school, not a charter or magnet. Enrollment is moderate for its grade band, and the student body is diverse: Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by White, Black, and multiracial students, with smaller numbers of Asian and American Indian students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic circumstances of the surrounding neighborhood.
Academic performance on the state’s ATLAS assessments, which are the current standards-aligned tests, shows a pattern that parents will want to weigh carefully. Across mathematics, English language arts, and science, the share of students meeting proficiency benchmarks in grades three through five was modest, and in several grade-subject combinations it was notably low. The highest observed proficiency was in fifth-grade science and fifth-grade ELA, where roughly a quarter of students scored at the proficient level or above. In other grades and subjects, the proportion was lower, particularly in fourth-grade ELA, where only a small number of students reached the bar. When stacked against other school districts in Sebastian County, this school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. A parent considering this school may want to ask about the specific instructional supports in place, especially in literacy and math, and whether there have been recent changes to curriculum or intervention strategies.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism and discipline were not available. The school’s staffing numbers and course access details are also absent from the data we have, so a complete picture of class sizes, teacher experience, or enrichment offerings cannot be drawn here.
The school sits in the Fort Smith area, a broadly car-dependent city that functions as a regional economic hub for western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Major employers include manufacturing plants, healthcare systems, the school district itself, and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. The city has seen modest population growth in recent years, and housing values in the school’s ZIP-code area are below typical state and national levels, with rents also relatively modest. This makes the general Fort Smith market more affordable than many parts of the country, a factor that could matter for families relocating into the attendance zone.
At the district level, Fort Smith School Board actions have directly affected residents’ tax burden. Voters approved a millage increase in 2021 to raise teacher salaries, upgrade technology, and improve facilities, and then the board rolled the rate back slightly in 2023, easing the property tax load while maintaining operations. The district also opened the Peak Innovation Center in 2022, a career and technical education facility serving high school students, though that does not directly affect the elementary experience. These moves indicate a district that has been willing to invest in schools and adjust tax policy accordingly, which may give some confidence about long-term stability.
In sum, Harry C. Morrison Elementary is a neighborhood school with a high-needs student body and academic results that are below typical levels for the county. Families who rely on strong academic foundations may want to investigate what interventions, tutoring, or extended learning opportunities are available. The surrounding community offers a moderate cost of living within a mid-sized manufacturing and service city, and the district has shown recent financial commitment to its schools. The peer environment is shaped by a diverse, predominantly low-income population; that is a plain characteristic, not a value judgment, and will suit some families and not others. A visit to the school and a conversation with the principal about how the school addresses gaps in core skills would be a wise next step for any parent considering this option.
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