ROGERS — Bellview Elementary School joined the ranks of National Blue Ribbon Schools on Thursday, becoming Rogers’ first school to earn the distinction.
“It’s just wonderful news,” said Janie Darr, the district superintendent. “It is going to be not just good for Bellview, it will be good for all of our elementary schools, for our secondary schools and for our community.”
The List
Blue Ribbon Schools
Arkansas National Blue Ribbon Schools, 2011
• Bellview Elementary School, Rogers
• Forest Heights Elementary School, Harrison
• Jim Stone Elementary School, Conway
• Richland Elementary School, West Memphis
Arkansas National Blue Ribbon Schools, 2003-10
• Arnold Drive Elementary School, Jacksonville
• Batesville High School, Batesville
• Bentonville High School, Bentonville
• Calico Rock Elementary School, Calico Rock
• College Hill Elementary International Studies, Texarkana
• Kingston Elementary School, Kingston
• KIPP Delta College Preparatory School, Helena
• Mount Pleasant Elementary School, Mount Pleasant
• Park International Magnet School, Hot Springs
• Salem Elementary School, Salem
• Vandergriff Elementary School, Fayetteville
• William Jefferson Clinton Elementary Magnet School, Sherwood
Source: U.S. Department Of Education
The U.S. Department of Education gives the awards to recognize schools with high student achievement and schools that improve student performance and have a high percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Bellview has some of the highest test scores in the state, administrators said. More than 90 percent of Bellview students scored proficient or advanced on state tests in fourth- and fifth-grade literacy, third-, fourth- and fifth-grade math and fifth-grade science in 2011.
Three other Arkansas schools became National Blue Ribbon Schools this year, none of them in Northwest Arkansas. The award lasts for the lifetime of a school.
Dan Cox, the school’s principal, came to the school this year from a position in central administration.
He attributed the school’s selection to hard work from teachers and students and support from parents and administrators.
Scott Bader, a fourth-grade teacher at the school, stepped outside his classroom Thursday to discuss the award. Like many of the teachers, he was wearing blue in honor of the announcement.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “It shows that our efforts have paid off.”
However, Bader said he didn’t think the award would change much except for a boost to already high morale.
“We would have kept doing the best we could anyway,” he said.
Kathryn Fordyce, a first-grade teacher who was also wearing blue, said she thinks the award will motivate teachers to work even harder.
“It’s just amazing,” she said. “But I’m not really surprised. We have an excellent school.”
Deb Ellis, the parent of a fourth-grader at Bellview and a sixth-grader who went to Bellview, said she moved to the area specifically for the school.
She said she was impressed the school was named a National Blue Ribbon School.
“The school obviously has a record of academic achievement,” she said. “The teachers and staff are fantastic.”