Parents moving into Northwest Arkansas can rest assured that the area has some of the top public school districts in the state.
Advanced-placement classes, programs for the gifted and talented, math and science advancement programs, and modern physical education programs are plentiful in Northwest Arkansas schools, along with traditional activities including athletics, band and choir.
Bentonville Public School District boasts a graduation rate of 91 percent and an average ACT score of 23.4. More than 80 percent of Bentonville students ranked proficient or advanced in literacy and math on the 2010 Arkansas Benchmark exams.
“We have a community here that understands the relationships between schools, jobs and community,” said Superintendent Gary Compton. “We have the best facilities in the state. They rival any Division II college.”
Those facilities include a 21,000-book electronic library at Bentonville High School, classrooms that feature the latest technology and online grade books, and downloadable lessons that are available to students — and parents — at home or at school.
The district’s interactive approach to learning particularly impresses Michelle Stephens, executive director of the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center and the mother of an 11-year-old Bentonville student.
“I like the fact that there are opportunities for my child to learn hands-on,” she said. “She’s working on a marketing program right now for math. They had parents come in and talk about how they use math in life, so my husband came over from McKee Foods in Gentry and the kids actually made granola bars.
“I feel like [my daughter] is getting a solid education and will be well prepared for her college career.”
Parents in Fayetteville School District also can be sure their children will be prepared for college. Benchmark test scores are comparable with Bentonville, and the average ACT score is 24.3. Fayetteville also offers the most advanced-placement courses in the state, and 80 percent of Fayetteville graduates go on to attend college.
The district offers a unique educational environment because of the presence of the University of Arkansas.
“Because of that proximity,” said Alan Wilbourn, public information officer for Fayetteville schools, “there is a steady influx of new ideas and new people into Fayetteville.”
While newcomers range from highly educated UA professors to construction workers, “education is important in every household,” Wilbourn said. “There is an expectation of excellence from the community.”
For parents, both academics and Fayetteville’s welcoming attitude are part of the draw of the district.
“I liked that they have a gifted-and-talented program that starts at a young age,” said Rachel Busch, a mother of two Leverett Elementary School students. “The people we met at the schools gave us a warm welcome and answered all of our questions. They seemed enthusiastic to have our kids and took an interest in them.”
With 8,000 students, Fayetteville is considered the smallest “big city” district in Northwest Arkansas. Neighboring Springdale has more than 18,000 students — second in the state only to Little Rock School District — and is predicted to be the largest by 2015.
In spite of that growth, Benchmark test scores at Springdale are above average in the state. In fact, the district produced three National Merit Scholarship finalists and 65 AP Scholars in 2009.
With the largest Marshallese population outside of the Marshall Islands and a student population that is more than 40 percent Hispanic, Springdale also has implemented the Toyota Family Literacy Program to help immigrant parents learn English along with their children.
“We try to make every kid feel comfortable in our schools,” said district spokesman Rick Schaeffer. “We teach them all. We teach students who are learning English as a Second Language, and we teach high achievers as well.”
Like the other three large school districts in Northwest Arkansas, Rogers ranks among the best in the state academically. Its high school was the first in the state to receive the Arkansas Quality Award, and two middle schools were recognized as the state’s most outstanding middle school in recent years.
Seven students from Rogers and Rogers Heritage high schools were named National Merit Scholarship finalists this year. Rogers schools also offer gifted-and-talented programs, language programs to help non-English speakers and athletics ranging from track and soccer to football and baseball.
Wilbourn is among those who believe there isn’t much of a gamble regarding education for those considering moving to the area.
“Of the big four [school districts] in Northwest Arkansas, you can’t make a bad decision,” he said.