Arkansas
136,213 high school students
State Profile
As states work to raise their
academic standards, several national high school reform initiatives are
assisting them in their efforts to strengthen their high schools so that they
provide students with a 21st century education and skills.
Through the profile provided here, the National High School Center offers (a) a snapshot of the state’s graduation requirements and college entrance requirements (see table below) and (b) summaries of national reform initiatives active in the state (see list below table).
High School and College Alignment in the State
The following table shows the state’s alignment between high school
graduation requirements and minimum state college entrance requirements,
providing a quick source for determining whether there is a gap between what
students must know to graduate and what they are expected to have mastered in
order to enter college.
|
|
High School Graduation Requirements* | College Admission Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
English Units |
4 |
4 |
|
Mathematics Units |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Algebra I or Algebra A & B; Geometry or Investigating Geometry or Geometry A & B; Algebra II; 1 unit from the following options (Transitions to College Math, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Trigonometry, Statistics, Computer Math, Algebra III or Advanced Placement Math) |
From Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus |
|
Social Studies Units |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Civic or Civics/American Government, World History, American History |
|
|
Science Units |
3 |
3 |
|
|
with lab from Physical Science, Biology, Applied Biology/Chemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Principles of Technology I & II, OR PIC Physics |
2 of Biology, Chemistry or Physics laboratory science |
|
Foreign Language Units |
N/S |
N/S |
|
Art Units |
.5 |
N/S |
|
Additional Units |
Oral Communication - .5 |
Electives - 2 |
|
Total Units |
22 |
16 |
|
Tests |
Arkansas Comprehensive Assessment Program |
SAT or ACT |
Source |
* All units in the career focus requirement are established by the local school district. Local school districts may require additional units for graduation beyond the 16 common core units and six career focus units.
National High School Improvement Initiatives at Work in the
State
As states work to ready high school students for
postsecondary success, many are partnering with national organizations to
undertake high school improvement efforts. The following list includes national
improvement initiatives at work in the state. National initiatives are defined
as significant programs, projects, technical assistance, or key information
clearinghouses dedicated to high school improvement. For information about and
related to research on these initiatives, please click on the name of the
initiative to link to a synthesis:
- Advancing the Dual Agenda in High School Reform
- America's Choice
- America's Promise
- The American Diploma Project
- The Data Quality Campaign
- Education Commission of the States' High School Policy Center
- National Governors Association Honor States
- Small Learning Communities
Arkansas State High School Improvement
Initiatives
For information on high school improvement initiatives
launched at the state level visit the
Arkansas Department of Education.
Arkansas ARRA Information
For information on Arkansas's ARRA efforts as it relates to education, please visit the state Web page.
