It’s Open Enrollment season, and the Little Rock School District is ready to welcome your family! With a wide range of innovative programs, dedicated educators, and opportunities tailored to help every student thrive, LRSD is committed to shaping bright futures. Whether you’re looking for specialized programs, supportive learning environments, or schools that feel like a community, you’ll find it all here. Don’t wait—secure your child’s spot today and take the first step toward a successful educational journey with LRSD! Enroll here.
Reminder: Open Enrollment is for new students to the district or students interested in attending one of our magnet or specialty schools. Current LRSD students who aren’t switching schools will automatically roll up to attendance zone school based on their address of record.
Early Childhood Program
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The Little Rock School District’s Early Childhood Program provides high-quality education for children ages 3 and 4, laying the foundation for lifelong success. Focusing on cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, our program ensures students are ready for kindergarten and beyond. Families can expect a nurturing, supportive environment where every child thrives. Enroll today and give your child the best start to their educational journey!
Parkview Football Players Sign
College Commitments Ahead of
5A State Championship
What a week for the Parkview Patriots! We celebrated four incredible student-athletes as they signed their letters of intent to play football at Division 1 colleges: Cameron Settles, Quentin Murphy, Monterrio Elston, Jr., and Omarion Robinson! Their hard work, talent, and dedication have paved the way for this exciting next chapter in their journeys. Please join us in congratulating these outstanding Patriots on this amazing achievement! Let's continue to show our #ParkviewPride as they take the field tonight in the 5A State Championship at War Memorial Stadium. Let's pack the stands! Get your tickets here.
William Elamin Joins LRSD as
Safety and Security Director
The Little Rock School District is pleased to welcome William Elamin as the new Safety and Security Director. Mr. Elamin brings valuable expertise to the role and is excited to help ensure the safety of our students, staff, and schools.
Central's Grady Rogers Earns Prestigious
2025 Air Force
JROTC Flight Academy Scholarship
Congrats to Little Rock Central High Cadet Grady Rogers who was selected to receive the 2025 Air Force JROTC Flight Academy Scholarship! This highly competitive honor is awarded to only three students in Arkansas. It covers an eight-week program valued at $27,000, during which Grady will work toward earning his private pilot’s license. This incredible achievement is a source of pride for the entire LRSD community! Join us in celebrating this milestone and cheering Grady on as he takes flight—literally!
Returning Board Members
The Little Rock School District Board recently swore in three members, including one returning member and two new faces. Evelyn Callaway (Zone 3) begins a new term, while Osyrus Bolly (Zone 2) and Tony Rose (Zone 4) join as new board members. LRSD looks forward to their leadership and collaboration in supporting our students and community.
LRSD Secures An Impressive $52M + in Grants
for 2024!
The Little Rock School District has been awarded an incredible $52,183,631 in grants this year. These funds will support various programs, including energy efficiency, high-impact tutoring, school safety, mentoring, and more. This milestone reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in securing these resources for our schools and students. A special shout out to LRSD grant department director Linda Yong for her amazing work in helping secure this impressive total!
Help Make the Holidays Brighter with
Santa's Holiday Gift Drive
The Little Rock School District is partnering with KARK/Fox 16 for Santa's Holiday Gift Drive this holiday season. The drive is collecting new, unwrapped gifts for children up to 18 years old to spread joy to local families in need. Donations can be dropped off at the LRSD Administration Building, 810 W. Markham, until December 13. Together, we can make the holidays brighter for those who need it most!
Spreading Holiday Cheer: LRSD Parent and Employee Enjoy Walmart Shopping Spree
As part of Santa’s Holiday Gift Drive, an LRSD parent and employee each received a $500 Walmart shopping spree. They were able to purchase gifts for their families and take care of other important needs this holiday season. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this special opportunity possible! Your generosity is spreading joy throughout our community.
Holiday Performances
The Little Rock School District invites you to experience the season's magic with Holiday Performances by our students from December 9 to 20 at the LRSD Administration Building, 810 W. Markham. These festive showcases highlight the incredible talents of our students, from choirs to jazz bands and more. While enjoying the performances, you can make a difference by participating in Santa’s Holiday Gift Drive!
at Williams Magnet
Williams Magnet Elementary’s 2nd graders enjoyed a festive treat in the library today! Craig O'Neill and his friends stopped by on their reading road trip to share How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The visit brought plenty of smiles and holiday spirit as students listened intently to the classic story. LRSD appreciates these special guests for encouraging a love of reading in our young learners.
6th & Goal Champions
The Horace Mann Arts & Science Magnet Middle School Bearcats have been named 6th & Goal Champions! This achievement was made possible through the dedication of the students, volunteer coaches, and supportive parents. The 6th & Goal - Model Up Football Program, led by Dr. Fitz Hill, focuses on fostering positive development in boys through football. Congratulations to the Bearcats on this outstanding accomplishment!
This week, the Optimizing LRSD 2.0 "Recommendations" Community Meeting occurred at The Centre at University Park. LRSD Board Members Vicki Hatter and Norma Johnson, along with City Director Andrea Hogan Lewis, cohosted the meeting. Childcare, refreshments, and Spanish interpretation were provided to ensure accessibility for all. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the conversation! See the flyer below for additional community meetings.
LRSD Students Color their Way to Victory in the Gingerbread Extravaganza Coloring Contest
Congratulations to our talented LRSD students who earned top honors in the Gingerbread Extravaganza Coloring Contest! Students from Forest Park, Otter Creek, and Don Roberts Elementary Schools demonstrated incredible creativity, with winners from each grade category receiving well-deserved recognition. Great job to all who participated!
Central High Tenor/Bass Choir
Spreads Joy to Local Nursing Homes
Performance at the Blossoms - Midtown
This morning, the Little Rock Central High Tenor/Bass Choir brought smiles and beautiful music to residents at Presbyterian Village, The Blossoms at Midtown Rehab, and The Blossoms at Cumberland. Their heartfelt performances were a hit, making the visits a memorable experience for everyone involved.
20 Years of Service in LRSD
City Year Little Rock recently celebrated 20 years of partnership with the Little Rock School District. Over the past two decades, hundreds of AmeriCorps members have been student success coaches, supporting teachers, mentoring students, and leading after-school programs in 16 schools. LRSD is grateful for City Year’s dedication and looks forward to continuing this collaboration.
LRSD Hosts Arkansas' Largest Quiz Bowl Tournament at Southwest High School
On Saturday, the Little Rock School District will host the largest Quiz Bowl tournament in Arkansas at Southwest High School. Nearly 1,000 students from 100 teams will compete in academic challenges, testing their knowledge in history, science, literature, and more. The event is free to the public, and LRSD is excited to welcome these talented students to our community. Good luck to all the teams competing!
Join ESS to Support Student Achievement!
ESS is now hiring substitute teachers to help support student success in the Little Rock School District. With flexible schedules, no nights or weekends, and ongoing training, ESS offers great opportunities for those looking to make a difference. Apply now at ESS.com!
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.
We're taking our ticket game to the next level! LRSD is teaming up with GoFan to provide a seamless, paperless experience at all athletic events. Fans can now purchase tickets online or on their phone by visiting GoFan.co, searching for their school, and selecting the event. Paper tickets will no longer be available for purchase at the events. See you at the games! Read more in this article.
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/
The HERCloset Community Giveaway will be held on December 7, 2024, at Mabelvale Middle School at 10:00 AM. This free event will provide new and gently used clothing, shoes, toys, food, home decor, and more to families in Central Arkansas, helping to spread holiday cheer and support the community. The giveaway is organized by HERHaven Mental Health Resource Center.
The Arkansas Children’s Business Fair will take place on January 4, 2025, at the Glenview Community Center. This exciting event provides kids aged 6-18 the chance to showcase their businesses, sell their products, and earn their own money in a real marketplace setting. It's a unique opportunity to support and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs!
Parade & Tree Lighting
Join the community on Saturday, December 7, 2024, for a festive holiday season celebration! The BIG Little Rock Holiday Parade will start at 4 p.m. and wind through downtown, leading to the 86th annual Christmas tree lighting at the Arkansas State Capitol at 6:15 p.m. After the parade, bring the family to meet Santa Claus at the Statehouse Convention Center for a magical experience. Yes, LRSD students will be front and center at the parade!
The Nutcracker Spectacular, Arkansas’s largest and longest-running holiday production, returns to the Robinson Center from December 13-15, 2024. Presented by Ballet Arkansas and featuring live music from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, this enchanting performance offers stunning choreography, costumes, and sets. Public performances with a special community cast of performers will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Don’t miss the Nutcracker Boutique and Santa’s Photo Booth for festive keepsakes! Get tickets here.
This holiday season, the Little Rock Zoo invites you to experience GloWILD! Explore spectacular light displays and immersive lantern exhibits from November 7, 2024, to January 5, 2025. Discover three new themed sections—Mystical Marvels, Animal Kingdom, and Under the Sea—with breathtaking visuals. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable event, which is perfect for creating new family traditions. Tickets are available now, with special pricing and events, including a Sensory Night and New Year’s Eve celebration.
For info and tickets, click here.
The Little Rock Zoo’s "Zoo for All" program offers reduced admission of just $2 per person for SNAP/EBT cardholders. This initiative helps make the zoo accessible to more families. For more details, visit the Little Rock Zoo's website here.
The Little Rock Zoo is collecting old holiday lights starting November 1, 2024, as part of a recycling program that helps keep copper wire out of landfills. Donated lights and extension cords will also support African lion conservation. Donations will be accepted through January 31, 2025, so gather your old lights and give back this holiday season!
Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday at noon.
