Dear Little Rock, You're Welcome. Love, Arkansas

Dear Little Rock, You’re Welcome. Love, Arkansas

November 7, 2017

Dear Little Rock,

Tough love is, well, tough. But true love isn’t a feeling which comes and goes; it’s unwavering action.

Since our intervention on January 28, 2015:

2015-16

Academics
- A-B Schools
  - A School (285 of 300; 2nd in Arkansas) – Forest Park Elementary
  - B School (269 of 300; Tied for 7th in Arkansas) – Roberts Elementary
  - B School (265 of 300; Tied for 10th in Arkansas) – Parkview High School
- Reward Schools (18 – Most in District History)
  - Top 5% Performing in Arkansas – Forest Park Elementary
  - Top 5% Performing in Arkansas – Gibbs Elementary
  - Top 5% Performing in Arkansas – Jefferson Elementary
  - Top 5% Performing in Arkansas – Roberts Elementary
  - Top 5% Performing in Arkansas – Williams Elementary
  - Top 6-10% Performing in Arkansas – Forest Heights STEM Academy K-8
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Forest Park Elementary
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Cloverdale Middle
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Forest Heights STEM Academy K-8
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Forest Park Elementary
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Gibbs Elementary
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Mabelvale Middle
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas) – Mann Middle
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansa – Pulaski Heights Middle
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Roberts Elementary
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Williams Elementary
  - Top 6-10% Growth in Arkansas – Henderson Middlle
  - Top 6-10% Growth in Arkansas) – Jefferson Elementary
Extra-curricular
- State Championship
  - Boys Basketball – McClellan
Administration
- Cut licensed staff (which includes administrators) by 166 (22%)
Equity
- Lowest loss of White students on recent record (12 years): -99

2016-17

Academics
- Baseline Elementary removed from Academic Distress
- Reward Schools
  - Top 5% Performance in Arkansas – Fair Park Elementary
  - Top 5% Performance in Arkansas – Roberts Elementary
  - Top 6-10% Performance in Arkansas – Forest Heights STEM Academy K-8
  - Top 6-10% Performance in Arkansas – Gibbs Elementary
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Fair Park Elementary
  - Top 5% Growth in Arkansas – Roberts Elementary
  - Top 6-10% Growth in Arkansas – Gibbs Elementary
Extra-curricular
- State Championship
  - Boys Basketball – Parkview
Student Facilities
- Pinnacle View Middle School opens sixth grade
Equity (more)
- Lowest enrollment gap between African-American and White students on recent record (13 years): 10,549
- Lowest loss of White students on recent record (13 years): – 11

2017-18

Academics
- Fair, McClellan High Schools removed from Academic Distress
- One of twelve districts, charters in Arkansas to improve in all grades on ACT Aspire; only second time on recent record (14 years) (more)
- U.S. Department of Education names Roberts Elementary National Blue Ribbon School
Student Facilities
- Low-enrollment Franklin, Wilson, Hamilton, Woodruff closed
- Pinnacle View Middle School opens as largest building in district
- Second lien bonds approved to build, refurbish student facilities
- Ground broken for Little Rock Southwest High School
Administration
- Highest projected revenue in history: $351,033,566 (more)
Equity (more)
- Lowest loss of students to other schools on recent record (14 years): -334 (13-year average annual loss: -778)
- Lowest enrollment gap between African-American and White students on recent record (14 years): 10,069
- Narrowed percentage gap between African-American and White students for first time on recent record (14 years)
- Second lowest loss of White students on recent record (14 years): -83
- Cut historically highest exodus of students between fifth and sixth grades in half, from -368 to -185
- Replacing attendance zone with elementary feeder schools, Pinnacle View opened as most demographically balanced school in district (2 or more races 1.2%, Asian 8.2%, Black 42%, Hispanic 4.7%, Native American/Native Alaskan .2%, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander .2%, White 43%)