North Little Rock School District
September 18, 2026
The North Little Rock School District surged from an “F” to a “C” in its district letter grade. This change was driven by nine of thirteen schools demonstrating an increased improvement in their letter grades, according to 2026 accountability results released today by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Letter grades are largely determined by performance on the Arkansas ATLAS exam, which measures student proficiency in English Language Arts, math, and science, year-over-year academic growth, and graduation rate.
Congratulations to all of the schools for working hard and showing improvement! We are so thankful to all of our administrators, teachers, staff, students, and families for allowing us to witness this improvement, as it truly takes a team effort.
The North Little Rock School District is hosting three Let's Talk nights with our Superintendent, Dr. Gregory J. Pilewski. During these nights there will be town hall-style sessions to collect feedback, clarify information, and answer questions regarding your child's education.
This Monday, September 21 will be hosted at NLR 6 Academy of Agricultural & Veterinary Sciences and is intended for families and community members zoned for NLR 6 Academy of Agricultural & Veterinary Sciences, Amboy Elementary, Boone Park Elementary, North Little Rock High School, and North Little Rock Center of Excellence.
Each "Let's Talk" night will be between 5:30-6:30PM. We hope to see you there!
The Charging Wildcat JROTC Color Guard and Raider Team took part in the annual Watson Chapel JROTC Competition in Pine Bluff. The Charging Wildcats competed against six JROTC programs across Arkansas. The Charging Wildcat JROTC Color Guard and Raider Team took home four trophies from the competition!
- Female Raider Team won 1st place in the physical fitness competition.
- Male Raider Team won 2nd place in the physical fitness competition.
- Female Color Guard Team won 2rd place.
- Coed Color Guard Team won 2rd place.
The Next JROTC Competition will be at Wilbur D. Mills University Studies High School on October 3, 2026.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, and Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism, has officially launched the "My Natural State Story" essay contest.
We want to encourage all students ages 10–17 across every school in our district to participate, get outdoors, and share their experiences!
Sixteen total winners across two age groups (10–13 and 14–17) will be selected, and every single winner receives a dinner invitation to the Governor’s Mansion!
The prize packages include:
- Top Award – "My Natural State Story of the Year": An Arkansas Game & Fish Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License plus a $500 experience/gift package!
- Fishing Category Winner: A $1,000 PRADCO Fishing prize package.
- Camping Category Winner: A 2-night stay at an Arkansas State Park campground/camper cabin, plus a brand-new tent and sleeping bag.
- Cycling Category Winner: An Ozark Trail mountain bike, an OZ Trails Bike Park family pass, and a USA Cycling package.
- Hiking Category Winner: A Gearhead prize package and a 4-person family pass to Crater of Diamonds State Park.
- Climbing Category Winner: A 2-night stay at an Arkansas State Parks lodge plus 2 passes for a guided climb/via ferrata.
- Boating/Paddling Category Winner: Official Arkansas Canoe Club safety gear and River School opportunities for 2 participants.
- Hunting Category Winner: A specialized Banded prize package.
Contest Overview
- Who Can Enter: Students ages 10–13 and 14–17.
- Prompt: Students write about an outdoor experience in Arkansas in one of 7 categories: Hunting, Fishing, Boating/Paddling, Climbing, Cycling/Mountain Biking, Camping, or Hiking. They should describe where it took place, what they did, and why it mattered to them.
- Deadline: Submissions close on Monday, October 12.
Please encourage your students and children to log off their screens, enjoy the Arkansas outdoors, and put their stories on paper!
North Little Rock School District
Email: barnesd@nlrsd.org
Website: nlrsd.org
Location: 2400 Willow Street, North Little Rock, AR, USA
Phone: (501) 771-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nlrsd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nlrsd
Twitter: @nlrsd