Area schools will receive reward funding through the Arkansas Department of Education's Arkansas School Recognition Program.
Park Magnet Elementary School was named among 51 other schools in the top 5 percent based on Every Student Succeeds Act scores released by the ADE. Lakeside Primary and Intermediate schools were recognized in the top six to 10 percent among Arkansas schools.
The education department and Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced that $6,999,963.62 will be awarded to 175 public schools through the Arkansas School Recognition Program, which provides awards to the top 10 percent of Arkansas schools based on ESSA ratings and criteria.
Park Magnet, an International Baccalaureate World School, will receive $26,381.88 in Arkansas School Recognition Program funds based on the 2017-2018 student enrollment of 269 students to support the maintenance and growth of these excellent standards, according to a news release from the district.
Lakeside Intermediate will receive $38,374.92 while Lakeside Primary will receive $26,079.08.
According to the release, ESSA School Index Scores in Arkansas are measurements of school performance based on student achievement, growth in student achievement, general school quality, student success, and other criteria.
"I couldn't be more proud of our dedicated teachers and staff, and our wonderful students," Park Magnet Principal Sarah Oatsvall said in the release. "It takes a commitment to excellence every single day to maintain this status. Educators are here early and stay late to ensure that students are receiving all opportunities to master skills, learn critical thinking, and go above and beyond classroom standards.
"Thank you to our community and families for supporting our curriculum and special programs that reinforce the value of the highest learning standards possible."
Stephanie Nehus, superintendent for Hot Springs School District, said the district "is doing amazing things in maintaining excellence and growing opportunities.
"Test scores do not begin to define the many ways our students are growing, learning, and contributing to our community," Nehus said in the release. "Park Magnet is a leader in our district, Garland County, and the state for test scores, and we could not be more proud of our staff and students that make this happen."
Principals at Lakeside Primary and Intermediate both told The Sentinel-Record the recognition is a direct reflection of the work staff and students are doing.
"It demonstrates the efforts of our teachers to provide a quality education for all of our students," said Sandy Hawkins, intermediate principal. "This not only represents our students' high test scores but their growth and attendance."
Julie Burroughs, primary principal, said this represents the "high rigor and expectations of faculty, staff and students. I am very proud of our school."
Burroughs said her school plans to use the funding to purchase more resources for teachers and students to use in the classroom, such as decodable texts.
"We will discuss needs with teachers, students and parents and decide how to best utilize these funds," she said.
Hawkins said his school will use funds to give back and reward students while also funding more tutoring opportunities for students struggling in specific areas.
"I'm just so excited for my staff at the Intermediate," he said. "We ask so much of them and they came through with flying colors once again. This is just affirmation that their efforts are paying off. I'm so proud to come to work with each and every one of them. Our students take pride in their work and want to be successful because that is the culture here at Lakeside."
Local on 11/09/2018