LITTLE ROCK — State has 468,066
in public schools
A total of 468,066 students in kindergarten through 12th grade are enrolled in the state’s public schools this year, according to data released last week by the Arkansas Department of Education.
That’s up from 465,801 just two years ago.
There are 225,497 elementary pupils this year, 104,822 students in middle and junior high schools, and 137,747 more in the high schools.
Bentonville High is the state’s largest high school, with 3,495 students. Little Rock Central is second with 2,456 students. The thirdlargest is Bryant High, which has 2,319 students.
In the elementary category, Valley View Elementary in the Jonesboro area reported 1,300 pupils, William Jefferson Clinton Elementary in Hope had 1,063 pupils and Bryant Elementary had 1,032 pupils.
Specialist to lend
2 schools a hand
Little Rock’s Central High and Pulaski Heights Middle schools will share the services of a school-improvement specialist.
The new specialist, who will become the fifth in the state’s largest district, will be responsible for providing advice and assisting the principals in improving student achievement.
The Little Rock School Board voted 5-2 last week to authorize the new position.
Central and Pulaski Heights are on the state’s list of schools that have failed to meet state achievement standards on End of Course and Benchmark exams for at least five or six years.
As a result, under the federal No Child Left Behind Act and the state’s Smart Accountability program, the schools are candidates for some form of “restructuring.”
That requires taking steps such as replacing long-term principals, hiring a schoolimprovement consultant company or bringing onboard an improvement specialist.
Schools can be placed on the state improvement list even if only one subpopulation of students fails to meet minimum state achievement scores.
J.A. Fair High, Dunbar Middle, Henderson Middle, Cloverdale Middle and Forest Heights Middle are some of the other Little Rock School District schools with improvement specialists.
Paragould voters to weigh in on tax
PARAGOULD - The Paragould School District will ask voters for a school tax increase on Feb. 8 that wouldhelp pay for a new primary school and renovations at four campuses.
Now, the school tax rate is 32.67 mills. The district will ask voters for an additional 4.95 mills.
If voters pass the new school tax rate, the district would carry out plans to build a new primary school for pre-school, kindergarten and first-grade pupils; tack on a 53,000-square-foot addition to Oak Grove Middle School; and complete four renovation projects.
The renovation projects involve remodeling at three elementary schools and the high school.
Aaron Hosman, Paragould’s superintendent, said the total estimated cost of all six projects would be about $20 million, with $7.8 million coming from the state - if the millage proposal passes.
In September, voters defeated a similar millage proposal by 28 votes.
Arkansas, Pages 21 on 11/21/2010