Students score above average

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

— Pea Ridge High School and Middle School are garnering recognition for excellence in academics.

The high school was one of two schools in the state recognized by the 2011 College Readiness Award for significantly increasing ACT composite scores over the past five years.

Pea Ridge Middle School’s sixth-grade test scores of 96 in math is among the highest in the state and above the major schooldistricts in northwest Arkansas, according to Dr. Roland Smith, interim school superintendent.

“That’s exceptional,” Smith said. “Pea Ridge is doing a great job educating its students.”

In addition, Pea Ridge students in fourth and fifth grades scored above regional and state averages. The sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade math scores are some of the highest in the state, Smith said. Students at both the Intermediate and Middle schools scored above regional and state averages in literacy. Fifth- andseventh-grade scores in science were above state and regional averages, according to Benchmark test scores.

The ACT program recognized Pea Ridge High School among the 19 Arkansas school districts to be noted for increasing or maintaining participation in the ACT and improving student college readiness.

Dr. Roland Smith, interim superintendent in Pea Ridge, said schools in Pea Ridge are “making sure students are involved in advanced courses and scoring well.

This represents definite improvement.”

Pea Ridge has an enrollment of about 1,700 students, about 45 percent of whom are enrolled in Advanced Placement courses at the high school or pre-Advanced Placement courses at the middle school, Smith said. The high school offers nine Advanced Placement courses, he added.

The high school literacy program is on alert this year, according to the State Department of Education, but Smith said teachers are targeting literacy.

News, Pages 1 on 10/26/2011