PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Three Pulaski County Special School District elementary schools are being recognized by the University of Arkansas Office for Education Policy for their recent growth on the ACT Aspire tests.
Chenal Elementary received an award for High Overall Growth Statewide. College Station Elementary received awards for “Beating the Odds” with High ELA Growth Statewide. Pine Forest elementary received an award for High Math Growth Statewide.
These awards are based on growth from the ACT Aspire and how much they were expected to grow considering prior achievement. The ACT Aspire was administered to students in third through tenth grade in April 2023 in Math and ELA courses which include English, Writing, and Reading. Chenal Elementary ranked 19th in the state for overall growth on the ACT Aspire. Meanwhile, Pine Forest Elementary came in at tenth in the state for growth in math.
College Station Elementary’s “Beating the Odds” recognition highlights high-growth in English Language Arts (ELA) for the 2022-23 academic year. Schools who are “beating the odds” must have at least 66% of the student body eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. College Station Elementary ranked tenth in the state and fourth in the central region for ELA growth.
The Office for Education Policy (OEP) is one of several research centers within the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas which includes faculty members, research associates and graduate students who specialize in education research and policy. The University of Arkansas Office for Education Policy report, released annually, recognizes schools with high student academic growth.