The Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate recognized the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts during their respective sessions on Jan. 27.
Separate resolutions in the House and Senate recognized ASMSA for the national recognition the school earned last year in The Daily Beast’s ranking of “America’s Top High Schools.” The news website ranked ASMSA No. 10 in the nation in its annual survey of the nation’s best high schools in August 2014. The Daily Beast also ranked ASMSA as the fifth-best high school in the South and No. 1 high school in Arkansas.
The survey uses several factors to rank and compare schools, including graduation rates, college acceptance rates, college-level course offerings and exams, percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and scores on college placement exams.
State Reps. Bruce Cozart of Hot Springs and John Vines of Hot Springs sponsored the resolution in the House while state Sen. Bill Sample of Hot Springs sponsored the Senate version. State Sen. Alan Clark introduced the Senate version for a vote on the floor.
A delegation of ASMSA students, teachers and administrators were recognized by each chamber during their respective sessions. Students also took time to visit with individual legislators while at the State Capitol.
The resolutions cite that the national recognition is a positive reflection of the hard work of educators and administrators across Arkansas, including the preparation and experiences ASMSA students received in their home districts. This year, ASMSA’s enrollment includes students from 59 of Arkansas’ 75 counties. Over the past five years, ASMSA students have represented 73 counties. At least one student from each county has attended ASMSA since it opened in 1993.
ASMSA is one of 16 residential public high schools specializing in advanced mathematics and science instruction in the nation. The Arkansas General Assembly established the school in 1991, and it became part of the University of Arkansas System in 2004.
The purpose of the school is to educate gifted and talented math, science, and fine and performing arts students in the state as well as to develop curricula and materials to improve instructions in those subjects for all students in the state.
To view the resolutions, visit http://asmsa.me/asmsaresolutions. To view photos from the day, visit http://asmsa.me/arleg15visit.