NWA Life

making the grade education: 12 • nwa life • 3.29.2020 Education is a top priority in any community. Ensuring all children have a level playing field with equal opportunities to absorb, be challenged, and grow intellectually is a goal worth striving for. For families, choosing a school system to entrust with their child's education is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a place to call home. In Northwest Arkansas, the choice is made a little easier because of the region's strong commitment to providing access to excellent education, and because of the high standards to which every school is held. According to the above average scores on standardized tests that NWA students continue to yield, the region's schools are meeting or exceeding those standards. School report cards make it a little easier for parents to access and compare school data enabling choices to be made with the student in mind. With the current population influx to Northwest Arkansas, parents and guardians may be well served to check with the schools for district maps for any relocation. When looking at how Northwest Arkansas school districts compare to other schools around the state; clearly, student education is a top priority. The accolades go to the school boards, administrators and teachers in Northwest Arkansas for quality education. The website for School Report Cards is https://myschoolinfo.arkansas.gov/SRC Public Schools At the heart of the Northwest Arkansas school system are free public schools in which students are assigned to schools based on their home address. Students may apply for transfer to another school within their assigned school district, or to a school in a different district. Districts may accept or reject transfer requests. "The heart of our work is that nearly 3,000 staff members are committed to taking care of not only the academic needs but also the whole child needs of our students so they may have a great public school experience," stated Dr. Jim Rollins, Superintendent of Springdale Public Schools. Public school is the cornerstone of providing for the prosperity of a town, which is why it is so crucial to nurture not just a student's mind, but their whole person and NWA districts know this to be true. This mindset is why students who graduate from Northwest Arkansas high schools are better prepared for college than their peers, and it shows. "Scholarships for our senior classes have exceeded $20 million in each of the last four years, including nearly $27 million last year," said Dr. Rollins, "that is a tribute to our students and is the highest total in the state of Arkansas." Not only are NWA students raking in the money for college, but many are also earning dual credits in advanced placement courses during their high school career. Advanced placement courses are offered in every public high school in Northwest Arkansas, giving students the opportunity to graduate with up to 20 college credits. "Having our students college ready, career ready, is an enormowus focus," says Dr. Rollins. "In addition to the academic record of those who go to college, our educators are focused on student learning that allows H 90% (Office For Education Policy, 2019) High School Graduation Rate 6 Open Enrollment Charter Schools in NWA (2017-18) 16 Districts in Northwest Arkansas 61% Advanced Placement Participation Rate (Office For Education Policy, 2019) 5,787 Certified Teachers Employed by NWA Schools (2017-18) 4,219 Average District Enrollment (2017-18) 8 Public High Schools That Rank in the TOP 10% IN THE NATION (U.S. News & World Report) 50 National Merit Semi-Finalists in the Class of 2018 CONTINUED ON 14 " " Having our students college ready, career ready, is an enormous focus Dr. Jim Rollins Superintendent of Springdale Public Schools

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