BusIness GuIde

Public, Private Institutions Offer CentralArkansans Lifetime of LearningEDUCATIONLIFESTYLECentral Arkansas schools provide an array of learning opportunities, from pre-K through post-graduate education.Pre-K Through 12Little Rock School DistrictNearly 26,000 students are enrolled in the LittleRock School District. Many of last year’sgraduates continued their education at someof the nation’s most prestigious colleges anduniversities, including the University of Arkansas,Hendrix, Yale, Harvard, Vanderbilt,Wellesley, U.S. Military Academy-West Point,Duke, Notre Dame, Stanford, Washington& Lee, Emory, Bryn Mawr and many more.Hall High School is in its third year of the applicationprocess for a challenging new curriculumcalled the International Baccalaureate (IB)program. This internationally recognizedcurriculum engages students in active learningwith teachers who receive specialized training.Next year, program graduates from the classof 2010 will receive the first IB diplomas everawarded in the Little Rock School District.The district’s alternative education programsprovide self-paced learning using the latesttechnology while keeping students in a classroomsetting.As a provider of public education, the LittleRock School District will continue to focuson meeting the needs of the greater LittleRock community, preparing students to becomeknowledgeable employees, future businessleaders and contributing members ofsociety, and continuing to have a positive impacton the local economy.The Little Rock School District fulfills muchmore than just its important role as educationprovider to the city’s students. In fact, the LittleRock School District is a $300 millionbusiness with over 4,000 full-time and part-timeemployees. Annual payroll of $176 million ranksit as one of the leading employers in the greaterLittle Rock area.Each year, the district purchases goods and servicesfrom local retail businesses and professionalservice providers, helping contributeto Little Rock’s economy. District officialsvalue the importance of their contributions tothe business community and recognize thestrong partnerships the Little Rock SchoolDistrict has formed with local businesses,both large and small.Another area where the Little Rock SchoolDistrict contributes to the community isin work force development. The district’sstudents are future accountants, radiologytechnicians, bankers and real estateagents. School programs such as those atthe Metropolitan Career-Technical Center,Job Shadowing and Arkansas Scholars addvalue to the traditional classroom educationthe schools provide to students. This year,more than 9,000 students are taking part incareer and technical programs that will furtherprepare them to take their place in thelocal and state work force.In 2007, Newsweek magazine ranked LittleRock’s Central High School the 36th bestpublic high school in the nation.Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business Guide 31