Ouachita School District
Ouachita School District is located along Hwy. 67, at 166 Schoolhouse Rd. in Donaldson. In 1951, the communities of Donaldson and Friendship consolidated to form the new Ouachita SD, with a graduating class comprised of 27 students. The Class of ’51 would not graduate on the new campus, as the building that would house the co-joined student body was not complete until 1952.
“The mission of Ouachita Public Schools is to provide, in a safe and nurturing environment, each student with equitable opportunities to become independent,” as stated on their website. “Ouachita School District will involve teachers, students, parents, and community members in the total education process.”
The district is served by
Superintendent, Larry Newsom; Elementary Principal, Lyn Mcdade; Chris Clinton, High School Principal; Ellen Phipps, Director of Curriculum & Instruction; and Jill Williams, District Treasurer. Current Board of Education Members are Eli Maynard, Jared Kyzer, Cathy Boyett, Doug Burnett, and Pee Wee Strother, Jr.
The district consistently hovers at or above state averages in standardized test scores, and the high school was voted as a 2021 Best High School in rankings from U.S. News and World Report. Teachers and administrators in the Ouachita School District care deeply about offering superior learning in a safe, encouraging, and inclusive environment.
The district offers various Advanced Placement and G/T classes to propel their brightest students to the peak of academic performance.
Programs and clubs offered in the district include Art, Band, SR Beta Club, JR Beta Club, Choir, Drama, FFA, FCCLA, Gifted and Talented, Journalism, Music, SR Student Council, JR Student Council, SR Quizbowl, and JR Quizbowl.
Ouachita SD administrators said the dedication shown by their employees for the students and the community is what makes the district such a success. Parental involvement in all aspects of their children’s educational journey at OSD also adds to the integrity and future success of students as they transition from the small pond at Ouachita to the big ocean of life beyond high school.
Faculty, students, and parents alike have settled into the regular routine of the four-day school week they adopted in 2021. More recent developments on campus include an elementary pavilion, which was built and enclosed, to be used for multiple purposes. No immediate plans for expansion are on the table, currently.