Pinnacle View Middle School student Sara Chen competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week, representing the Little Rock School District with excellence. Sara won the State Spelling Bee after correctly spelling "zdarsky tent," advancing to the national stage. Way to go, Sara — you’ve made your school, your city, and all of LRSD proud!
Congratulations to Sohan Jayappa from Little Rock Central High School for representing Arkansas at the 2025 USA Brain Bee Championship held this week at Rutgers University. Being the sole representative from our state is a remarkable achievement and a testament to his hard work and dedication. We're proud of you, Sohan!
LRSD is also proud of Madison Robinson, a 2025 graduate of Little Rock Central High School and dance alum of Horace Mann Arts & Science Magnet Middle School! Madison is rising to new heights as she joins The Alvin Ailey School in New York City to pursue her passion for dance! Way to go, Madison—your LRSD family is cheering you on every step (and pirouette) of the way!
Williams Magnet Destination Imagination team joined Gibbs Magnet School in representing LRSD at Globals in Kansas City last weekend! Students, your creativity, teamwork, and dedication are truly inspiring. We’re so proud of you—congratulations, Wildcats (and Snow Leopards)!
After more than 30 years of dedicated service to the students and families of LRSD, Dr. IJ Routen is retiring. At a special celebration held in her honor, colleagues and friends shared heartfelt stories that highlighted her lasting impact—especially in championing fine arts education. Dr. Routen’s legacy of passion, leadership, and care will continue to inspire for years to come. We wish you well, Dr. Routen!
The Little Rock School District is proud to celebrate several student artists featured in the 64th Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, on display through August 10, 2025. This annual exhibit showcases outstanding artwork from students across Arkansas, and LRSD is well represented! The featured artists include:
- Tristan S. (1st Grade), "Alebrije – A Mythical Creature", Gibbs International Magnet Elementary
- Shayla B. (3rd Grade), “Mixed Emotions”, Gibbs International Magnet Elementary
- Peyton B. (9th Grade), "Self-Portrait", Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School
- Louise E. (9th Grade), "Vanitas", Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School
- Aleksandra B. (11th Grade), "Self-Portrait", Little Rock Central High School
- Luis V. (11th Grade), "Youthful Imagination", Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School
- Levi J. (12th Grade), "Joyful", Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School
- Leah M. (12th Grade), "Untitled", Little Rock Central High School
Throughout May, several LRSD schools conducted Project Adam drills to help maintain their Cardiac Safe School designation. These drills, required every two years, ensure staff and students are prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies. Special thanks to our community partners—Arkansas Children's, MEMS, and the Little Rock Fire Department—for their continued support in making our schools safer.
Students at Central High School recently had the chance to take part in a special feature for Arkansas NEXT, a magazine focused on life after high school. During the visit, students participated in interviews, a photo shoot, and a focus group to share their interests and future plans. The feature will be included in the magazine’s Fall 2025 issue. We’re excited to see our students represent LRSD!
Earlier this month, the Little Rock School District hosted an end-of-year stakeholder event at Stephens Elementary to celebrate its partnership with Communities In Schools (CIS). The gathering highlighted the impact of CIS across LRSD, showcased the integrated support model in action, and encouraged continued engagement to support student success. Learn more about CIS at LRSD: https://www.lrsd.org/page/commiunities-in-schools.
Every child deserves access to books that spark imagination and inspire a lifelong love of reading. That’s the focus of the Reading in the Rock initiative, combined with improving literacy rates - in partnership with the City of Little Rock. The goal is to provide elementary students with books over spring break and into the summer, helping to build home libraries and prevent the summer slide. The community is encouraged to help us provide more books by making a financial donation. No amount is too small—every contribution helps put books in the hands of our students. Thank you in advance for your support!
Here is the kickoff news conference:
or Mail a check to:
The Arkansas Community Foundation
5 Allied Drive, Suite 51110, Building 5, 11th Floor
Little Rock, AR 72202
(Memo: "LRSD Promise for the Future Fund")
As the school year wrapped up, our youngest learners at Rockefeller Early Childhood Center were already diving into their Reading In The Rock summer books! It was a joy to see their enthusiasm for reading and a great start to building strong habits over the summer. Families are encouraged to keep the momentum going and track their child's reading progress here: Summer Reading Log. Keep reading, LRSD!
LRSD is proud to partner with the City of Little Rock Food Commission on the new "Lunch On Us" initiative, which raises awareness and support to help eliminate school lunch debt across the district. Together, we can ensure all students have access to healthy meals—because no child should have to learn on an empty stomach.
Make a difference by donating today: https://ar.accessgov.com/.../treasury.../lr-cares-donation/0
If your child attended a Head Start or Early Head Start program during the 2024–2025 school year, they may be eligible for Summer EBT benefits to help cover the cost of food during the summer months. This year, families must submit an application to receive benefits. Apply online at www.ar.gov/summerebt or pick up a paper application at your local DHS office.
LRSD is committed to providing students with more choices to help them thrive. From innovative career and technical programs to strong academics and arts, LRSD is opening doors to a brighter future. Watch our new video to see how LRSD is preparing students for success—no matter their path!
Show your team spirit with our One Team One Dream short-sleeve shirts! Available in red, green, gray, and pink, these shirts are a great way to represent LRSD. Click the highlighted links to order yours today!
The Little Rock School District invites non-profits to join as Community Service-Learning partners. With community service hours now a graduation requirement for Arkansas high school students, LRSD aims to connect students with meaningful volunteer opportunities. Non-profit organizations can apply to become approved partners, allowing students to support their events and initiatives. Apply today at lrsd.org/community-service-learning or contact Stefanie Vestal at Stefanie.Vestal@lrsd.org for more information.
Did you see LRSD's latest Community Report? It features lots of LRSD highlights and the
2023-34 annual report. Read here.
As we finish out the 2024–25 school year, now is the perfect time to schedule your child’s physicals, sports physicals, and immunizations for next year. LRSD’s school-based health clinics reopen the week of July 14, 2025, and appointment slots are already filling up. These services are available to all LRSD students and their siblings. Don’t wait—beat the back-to-school rush and check the flyers for clinic hours and contact info!
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine invites families to the “Give Kids a Smile” event on July 18 from 9 AM to 12 PM at 5 Allied Drive, Little Rock. Children will receive free dental screenings and fluoride applications—no appointment needed! Enjoy storytime with the Tooth Fairy, a DJ dance party, face painting, and more. Don’t miss this fun-filled day promoting healthy smiles!
Interested in becoming a substitute teacher? ESS is hiring and will host an informational session and training on Tuesday, June 2nd, to help guide applicants through the process. Whether you're just starting or need assistance with your application, this is a great opportunity to get support. Start your application at ESS.com and be sure to register here to attend the session.
If you are a family in transition, whether staying with friends, in a shelter, motel, or other temporary locations, your child may qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Act. LRSD provides resources like immediate school enrollment, transportation, and educational support to help ensure your child’s uninterrupted learning. For assistance, contact one of our liaisons or complete the Residency Form.
The Little Rock School District offers a robust Advanced Placement (AP) program, allowing students to take college-level courses in high school. With 38 courses across 20 subjects, students can earn college credit by scoring 3 or higher on the national AP exams. AP classes not only provide academic challenges but also enhance college applications.
LRSD supports gifted and talented students beyond elementary school through advanced class offerings, monthly affective needs meetings, and competitions. For more information, contact your school's Gifted Facilitator or visit the LRSD Advanced Academics webpage.
The Little Rock School District is excited to announce a new partnership with UA Little Rock to streamline the college admissions process for our students. This collaboration offers waived application fees, direct transcript submissions, and automatic financial aid consideration, making it easier than ever for LRSD seniors to pursue higher education and achieve their academic goals. Learn more about this fantastic opportunity here: https://ualr.edu/admissions.
LRSD is excited to partner with UA-Little Rock to provide opportunities for our employees to start or finish an undergraduate degree while continuing their careers. Click on the link below to learn more.
https://ualr.edu/admissions/little-rock-school-district/
Join the community for Little Rock Recycles Day on Saturday, June 7, from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Little Rock Zoo's East Parking Lot (Zoo Drive & Monroe). Bring your clean, dry recyclables—including paper, plastics, electronics, glass, and even old bikes—and help keep our city beautiful. Hosted by the Sustainability Office, Keep Little Rock Beautiful, and the Little Rock Zoo, this free event makes it easy to recycle responsibly.
Join the fun on June 7, 2025, as the Little Rock Zoo marks its 100th anniversary with a special Centennial Celebration! From 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, enjoy a full day of family-friendly activities, wildlife wonders, and community joy. Admission is just $2 with $1 parking, thanks to Southern Bancorp Community Day. Don’t miss this unforgettable event as we honor the past and look forward to the next 100 wild years!
"Me and the Devil"
Tickets are on sale now for the first production of The Rep's 2025 Summer Stage season, Me and the Devil. The world-premiere play with music is written and directed by The Rep's new Artistic Director, Little Rock-native and Broadway Director, Steve H. Broadnax III, who is also an LRSD alum. Parkview Patriot in the house!
Looking for a fun and inclusive way to spend your Saturday? Head to the SoMa district on June 7 for SoMa Pride 2025! From 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM, enjoy a lively Pride Parade at noon, followed by an all-day street festival packed with music, food, art, and family-friendly activities.
Join the Little Rock Winds for their annual Flag Day Concert on June 8, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at MacArthur Park. Enjoy a free evening of patriotic music, ice cream from Bluebell Creameries, water from Central Arkansas Water, and American flags from Woodmen Life. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and soak in the sounds of summer with family and friends!
Juneteenth in Da Rock 2025
Join the Little Rock community on June 21, 2025, for Juneteenth in Da Rock, a vibrant celebration of freedom, culture, and unity. Held in the Historic 9th Street District, this family-friendly festival features live music, a 5K run, food, art, and more. Learn more about the event here.
Little Rock is set to turn up the volume this summer as Rock The Country, a two-day music festival, rolls into town June 20–21. This event is part of a 10-city tour featuring a mix of country and rock favorites, with headliners Nickelback and Kid Rock leading the charge. From legends like Hank Williams Jr. and Travis Tritt to crowd-pleasers like Shenandoah, Afroman, and the Ying Yang Twins, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss this community celebration of music and good times! Get tickets here.
The Little Rock Farmers Market has opened its doors for another season, welcoming visitors to the River Market with its farm-fresh produce, locally crafted foods, and handmade arts and crafts. As it has since 1996, the market invites SNAP beneficiaries, offering tokens purchasable on-site and participating in the Double Up Food Bucks program. Free parking, including spaces for seniors and handicapped individuals, ensures convenient access for all patrons.
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