Schools Grow to Accommodate Northwest Arkansas

Enrollment is booming this year at both public and private schools in Northwest Arkansas.

rPublic schools in Washington and Benton counties serve an enrollment of 48,712 students, up 9 percent from 44,686 in 1998. Private schools follow with 2,623 students, up 8.8 percent from 2,411 in 1998.

rFarmington’s school district grew more than any other with an increase of 15 percent over the last three years. rSuperintendent Michael Gray said the three schools in the district have been preparing for the growth. A new middle school opened its doors to students this year, granting more classroom space and a student-to-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.

rPlans for further expansion have begun, Gray said, citing a major renovation on an older part of Farmington High School. Depending on school board approval, the renovation would ultimately allow for a new cafeteria and kitchen, more media centers and more classrooms, he said.

rFarmington’s population growth prompted the school’s expansion. Gray said many people choose where they want to live because of the school system. Brochures and the school’s Web site, www.farmington.k12.ar.us, help showcase the district to potential students and their parents.

rWith 11,393 students filling the halls, Springdale has the largest public school system in Northwest Arkansas. If every student from Winslow, Decatur, Lincoln, West Fork, Pea Ridge, Gentry, Gravette, Farmington and Siloam Springs consolidated, Springdale would still have 230 more students than than all of those combined.

rSpringdale school district employees outnumber the population of many small towns in Arkansas with 1,151 staff members.

rSince 1998, Springdale increased student enrollment by 12.5 percent, and the budget for 2000-2001 included $55.6 million.

rFinishing the top three listings of public schools, Rogers tailed Springdale with a difference of less than 400 students at 11,000, and Fayetteville enrolled 8,100 students.rSpringdale was also the home of the largest private school in the area — Shiloh Christian School. Shiloh has 875 students, up from 700 in 1998-1999. The school charges between $2,060 and $3,940 for annual tuition.

rHowever, the largest percentage increase for enrollment was at Oaks Christian Academy in Rogers, with 66.6 percent more students than three years ago. Founded in 1992, the school has 25 students this year, up from 15 students in 1998.

rSecond on the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal private school listing is Fayetteville’s The New School. Servingrchildren from preschool to fifth grade, the school saw a 3.5 percent increase to 326 enrolled students. Tuition for the institution ranges between $5,450 and $5,700.

rContrasting the overall growth of private institutions, Immanuel Christian Academy in Rogers saw enrollment drop by 46.4 percent since 1998. Superintendent Jody Bricker attributed the decline to several factors, including the recent popularity of home schooling and the development of other Christian schools in Northwest Arkansas.

rTo curb the decline and increase future enrollment, Bricker said the school began an advertising campaign affiliated with Immanuel Baptist Church.

rPromoting the school’s Web site, www.icarogers.org, and word of mouth from satisfied students also contribute to the effort, she said.

rCurrently, Immanuel Christian Academy offers a student-to-teacher ratio of 12 to 1, and annual tuition for the school is $2,300.