Fort Smith Public Schools is now accepting applications for students wishing to participate in the School Choice program. School Choice is the program authorized by the Arkansas General Assembly in The Public School Choice Act of 2015, which allows parents to apply for their child’s admission to participating school districts other than the one in which they reside. The Fort Smith Public Schools District will accept eligible students from other school districts under the School Choice program during the 2024-25 school year.

School Choice Applications only apply to students outside the Fort Smith Public School District. The FSPS Student Services Department processes in-district transfer requests as part of its attendance area exception program. Individuals living within the school district and interested in transferring from one FSPS school to another FSPS school may contact the FSPS Student Services Department for information about attendance area exceptions.

Individuals may obtain a School Choice Application by visiting the Office of the Director of Student Services, Fort Smith Public Schools, 3205 Jenny Lind Road, Fort Smith, AR 72902-1948.  

IMPORTANT: ALL SCHOOL CHOICE APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE May 1, 2024. APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DEADLINE OF MAY 1, 2024.

Alternatively, parents/guardians may download the 2024-25 School Choice Application and return the completed document to the FSPS Student Services Department in one of two ways:

1.  Email the completed application to Karen Donovan, kdonovan@fortsmithschools.org.
   
   

2. Mail the completed application to: 

     Fort Smith Public Schools

     Attention: Dr. Michael Farrell, Executive Director - Student Services

     C/O FSPS Student Services Department

     PO Box 1948

     Fort Smith, Arkansas 72902

Parents/guardians may indicate a school preference in the application. However, FSPS staff make determinations based on space and program availability. 

School choice students entering high school may currently select which high school they want to attend - either Northside High School or Southside High School.  Elementary and middle school students may choose a school based on capacity and program availability. 

FSPS staff will notify applicants of their acceptance or rejection by July 1, 2024. Students living outside the state of Arkansas or currently expelled from school for a drug or weapon violation are not eligible for participation.

If you have a question about the School Choice program, please contact the Department of Student Services at 479-785-2501.