Under a scorching sun and soaring temperatures, the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts and Lakeside School District welcomed students back to their regular class schedules for their first days of school on Monday.
Monday was not only ASMSA's first official day back in the classroom, but also marked the true starting point for its inaugural cohort of sophomore students in the school's history. Previously, only junior and senior students were admitted.
Now, 20 students, 10 male and 10 female, make up the historic class, as well as being part of the school's 235 total student enrollment. On average, entering sophomores earned an average ACT score of 28.7 as a freshman, according to ASMSA Director Corey Alderdice.
"This first cohort are really students who are really academically, socially and emotionally ready for the ASMSA experience. Historically, these are the people we have told to just wait another year," he said.
However, it was determined that ability, rather than age, was a more important factor for determining admission, Alderdice said.
There are classes specifically tailored to sophomores, but they are also integrated into other classes alongside juniors, and in some cases, even seniors.
"These are students who are clearly in search of a challenge and opportunities," Alderdice said.
"This is the first time in a while, for many of them, to be fully engaged in their learning."
Sophomore students were paired with other sophomores as roommates, while suite mates were carefully selected senior "community leaders," Alderdice said.
"As we undertake this experiment in this first year, we are being very intentional about how they are being paired up with peer support," he said.
Though Monday was the first official day of classes, ASMSA students have been on campus for the past two weeks moving into dormitories, meeting classmates, introducing themselves to faculty and staff and learning the ins and outs of campus life.
"It's very clear that students and teachers are ready to be back in class," Alderdice said.
"Now, we're ready to get down to the usual business of learning."
Monday was Lakeside School District's first day back to learning, as well.
Superintendent Shawn Cook said the first day back was "awesome" with "lots of excitement in the air" for the coming year from both teachers and students.
"I always love the first day of school. I look at it as a new beginning for everyone. It's a clean slate. That's the great thing about being in the school business. You get a clean slate every year," he said.
Cook said all the staff and faculty enjoyed seeing each other again, and it was "like a big family reunion." He also said that observing the primary students gave him special joy.
"Just to see all those little babies starting school, it just gives you a real positive boost and reminds you what we're here for."
Cook said Monday morning's traffic flow was the best he had seen during his time at Lakeside, which he credited to the school's new traffic circle, or roundabout.
All construction projects, including that of a new junior high school, primary and intermediate cafeterias and performing arts building are "on course and on schedule," he said.
Cook anticipates being able to welcome students into the buildings for the 2021-22 school year.
"We're on target to start when we said we were going to start, and we're excited about that," he said.
Local on 08/20/2019