Trojans proud of district education
The Hot Springs School District is committed to providing educational excellence for all of its students, offering a world-class education to approximately 3,700 students in prekindergarten through grade 12.
The district is the second-largest in Garland County and one of its leading employers with seven schools, including four magnet-themed elementaries, an intermediate, middle and high school within an area encompassing the majority of the Hot Springs city limits.
The passage of a millage by the voters in the fall of
2016 is providing the revenue for the construction of a new Langston Aerospace and Environmental Magnet School and a Hot Springs Junior High School, as well as many other infrastructural needs. All projects are expected to be completed by the spring of
2020. Once completed, the elementary campuses will be reconfigured for K-6, a 7-9 junior high and 10-12 at the high school. The intermediate and middle school campuses will be absorbed in the new configuration.
The district’s purpose and major commitments are conveyed through its mission statement “to assure that all students have the essential skills to compete in a global society, value and respect diversity and possess the ethical standards of integrity.” This mission defines the district’s core organizational values and is the precursor for its vision of “students graduating college and career ready in order to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.” Both are intertwined and reflect the district’s commitment to its students and community.
The Hot Springs School District is not only accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education, but has the distinction of districtwide AdvancEd accreditation from North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. The accreditation process examines the whole institution — the programs, the cultural context, the community of stakeholders — to determine how well the parts work together to meet the needs of students. It is dedicated to advancing excellence in education worldwide.
Elementaries Langston, Gardner STEM Magnet School, Oaklawn Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School and Park International Baccalaureate Magnet school provide curriculum-based studies to prepare students to be responsible and productive citizens. As magnets, these schools have won numerous awards as recognized by the Magnet Schools of America Organization and the U.S. Department of Education. Park is a two-time nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Hot Springs has the distinction of being Arkansas’ only K-12 International Baccalaureate Programme. This internationally recognized and officially authorized worldclass education is available through all divisions based on grade levels — Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, the Diploma Programme and the Career-related Programme.
The district recognizes each student as unique with many different capabilities, wants, needs and pursuits. Providing an environment in which each child learns best is what makes Hot Springs School District, truly a district of “Choice, Excellence and Opportunity.”
Gardner is the only elementary school in Garland County to offer the EAST initiative to K-4 students. Langston provides staff and students the opportunity to work closely with NASA consultants with an annual culminating trip to Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. Park’s challenging and engaging curriculum includes K-4 Spanish and technology education.
Oaklawn’s annual theater production includes the entire student population and staff. The 2017-18 production will be “Aladdin.”
Hot Springs Intermediate School was the first in Garland County to offer a oneto-one iPad initiative, where all students check out schoolowned devices for daily classroom assignments and lessons. Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese and a full fine arts program are but a few of the many offerings.
Hot Springs Middle School continues to provide seventhand eighth-grade students the IB MYP study. HSMS will become Hot Springs Junior Academy as a district conversion charter school beginning with the 2017-18 school year.
Hot Springs High School became Hot Springs World Class High School as a public conversion charter in August 2016. The school continues to provide the rigorous and comprehensive curriculum needed to prepare its students for the future, while being afforded flexibility through Arkansas Department of Education waivers. Career academics and pathways to reach those careers are encouraged through an innovative class scheduling system, commonly referred to as “flex-mod.”
Hot Springs operates an Alternative Learning Environment program serving both regular and special education students. Established to meet the needs of children and adolescents who cannot learn effectively in a traditional school environment due to varied reasons, ALE offers more flexibility and elements to improve educational experiences.
Research indicates children can benefit from having had art, dance, music or theater instruction. Hot Springs School District is committed to the endeavor of providing quality arts education in its curriculum as a means to inspire tomorrow’s creative thinkers.
The Hot Springs School District encourages and promotes parental involvement through the initiative “Three4me” and “Read to a Child Twenty Minutes a Day.” Research shows that parent involvement in schools improves student achievement. The “Three4Me” initiative, adapted from a PTO outreach program and adopted in 2012, asks a parent to sign a promise card to do at least three hours of volunteering in their child’s school. The district has adopted the “Read to a Child Twenty Minutes a Day” slogan. Research indicates reading to a child for twenty minutes each day promotes academic performance. The district has also participated in the “One District, One Book” and “One County, One Book” initiatives to emphasize the importance of reading to children in the home.
In an effort to help students and assist families achieve success through a support network, the Hot Springs School District has established a Family OutReach Center at 119 Palmetto Street. The Center offers access to assistance in employment and job skills; budgeting, parenting, credit counseling, healthy living and wellness, and other life skill classes; and connections for education, medical and mental health care, recovery and other services.