Rogers Public Schools launches Honors Academy

Dylan Moore, a sophomore at Rogers Heritage High, shakes hands with Lance Arbuckle, principal of Rogers New Technology High School, as he walks across the stage to receive his certificate of enrollment Sunday during an induction ceremony for the inaugural class of the Rogers Honors Academy at Rogers High School.
Dylan Moore, a sophomore at Rogers Heritage High, shakes hands with Lance Arbuckle, principal of Rogers New Technology High School, as he walks across the stage to receive his certificate of enrollment Sunday during an induction ceremony for the inaugural class of the Rogers Honors Academy at Rogers High School.

ROGERS -- Students who want to take an active role in forging their path to college now have the backing of Rogers Public Schools.

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Carla Fontaine, director of Rogers Honors Academy, speaks Sunday during an induction ceremony for the inaugural class of the Rogers Honors Academy at Rogers High School.

The Rogers Honors Academy officially launched on Sunday with the induction of more than 200 sophomores into the program.

By the numbers

About 1.3 percent of the district’s graduates go on to enroll in a top-100 national college or university or a top-50 liberal arts school, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. One of the district’s goals for the program is to boost that figure to at least 3 percent for the class of 2018.

Source: Staff report

CORRECTION

The Rogers Honors Academy aims to have at least 40 percent of the program’s participants be racial minorities, English language learners and those who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school. A misspelling in Monday’s story erroneously described those participants.

The program is open to all high school students in the district with a grade point average of at least 3.75 and will provide guidance to those students and their families on college applications, interviews, scholarships, financial aid and more.

The district also aims to have at least 40 percent of the program's participants come from underserved populations: racial minorities, English language learners and those who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school.

Charles Lee, the district's assistant superintendent for secondary curriculum and instruction, said the Honors Academy will help the district's highest performing students excel and transform.

"You will transform not only yourself but your community," Lee said, adding the program was the result of district-wide collaboration and input from an advisory committee made up of teachers, counselors, administrators and a parent.

A group of nine committee members visited seven schools -- including Harvard University and Williams College -- during a three-day trip to Massachusetts the first week of November. The trip helped the committee understand the kinds of things such selective schools offer and how they operate, particularly from an admissions standpoint.

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The program will be overseen by Carla Fontaine, a Springdale native and former teacher at Southwest Junior High School who spent 20 years working for Harvard University.

Fontaine said the program is the beginning of an exciting journey for the district's staff and students.

"Together we'll explore different paths," she said. "Whether you love science, literature, business or the arts, there's a college out there that can help you become one of the leaders in your field."

The School Board approved the Honors Academy in May. Robert Moore, then the district's assistant superintendent for secondary education, introduced the program.

Moore said at the time the purpose of the program was to help the district's best and brightest students. District officials discussed it with the Walton Family Foundation, which agreed to provide nearly $300,000 for it.

Reggie Sanders, whose daughter joined the program on Sunday, said these options weren't available when he was in high school.

"Getting these opportunities is a dream," he said. "This is something I'd envision for my kids."

Sanders' daughter, Aries, is a sophomore at Heritage High School. She said she's excited to be enrolled in the Honors Academy and looks forward to being able to visit college campuses.

For Samuel Cobbs, the one-on-one attention shown by Fontaine drew him to the program.

"She contacted us personally and told us all the cool stuff we were going to do," said Cobbs, a sophomore at Heritage. "I thought that was cool. I hope program can get me help with scholarships and broaden my horizons."

Mayor Greg Hines, a 1994 graduate of Rogers High School, said the creation of the program is a testament to the "talent we grow here in Rogers."

"The program will truly enrich your life and open up doors and opportunities you may not have otherwise been able to experience," Hines said. "This program gives (students) opportunities to visit a campus or even attend a college or university that (they) might not have had the opportunity to do in Rogers in year's past."

NW News on 02/13/2017

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