Fort Smith Public Schools Accepting School Choice Applications Through May 1, 2022

Press release from the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce:

February 8, 2022

The 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 districts under the School Choice program during the 2022-2023 school year.

Note: School Choice Applications only apply to students who live outside the Fort Smith Public School District. In-district transfers are handled through attendance area exceptions. Contact Student Services for information about attendance area exceptions.

Application forms are available at the Office of the Director of Student Services, Fort Smith Public Schools, 3205 Jenny Lind Road, Fort Smith, AR 72902-1948, when completed on or before May 1, 2022. No application may be accepted beyond this deadline.

You can also download the 2022-2023 School Choice form and send it to the Office of Student Services through mail or email.

Mailing Address
Fort Smith Public Schools Attention: Student Services PO Box 1948
Fort Smith, Arkansas 72902

Email Address
Darian Layes, Executive Director - Student Services dlayes@fortsmithschools.org

Parents may indicate a school preference, however, assignments will be made on the basis of space availability and program availability. Secondary school choice students entering Fort Smith Public Schools will be assigned to Northside High School or Southside High School. Elementary and middle school students will be assigned to schools based on capacity. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance or rejection by July 1, 2022. Students

who reside outside the state of Arkansas or who are currently expelled from school for a drug or weapon violation are not eligible for participation.

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

This press release was produced by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.