Gravette High School named top 10% statewide; district awards staff and secures $10,000 career-tech grant

Gravette School District trustees on Monday recognized Gravette High School’s placement in the top 10% of Arkansas high schools for overall academic performance and thanked staff whose instructional work helped raise student outcomes. Superintendent remarks highlighted that only 14 public high schools reached that level on key indicators used in the state’s grade card.

Teachers credited a schoolwide effort, deeper alignment to standards and new curriculum materials for gains. English, history, math and science teachers described strategies including giving teachers autonomy to select engaging texts and 'building thinking' classroom practices that put students at the board and emphasized discussion, as well as hands-on activities in science classes. Holly Duncan, a biology teacher, and others said classroom-level choices and sustained staff collaboration helped students perform under testing conditions.

The district also announced a $10,000 grant from the Build My Future organization — the largest award in Northwest Arkansas this cycle — to purchase welders and related equipment for the agricultural and career-technical programs. The grant application was led by the district’s ag department and Miss McCloud. The Build My Future event in April, now moved to Embassy Suites because of growth, will connect students with industry sponsors and employers and give seniors exposure to trades and potential employment paths.

Board members said the recognition and grant reflect multi-year instructional work and partnerships with local industry. The district plans to continue investing in career-path offerings during upcoming planning sessions in January.