GENTRY, AR – Gentry Public Schools has earned a B rating in the Arkansas Department of Education’s annual school letter-grade system, with all four district schools – Gentry Primary, Gentry Intermediate, Gentry Middle School and Gentry High School – receiving a B rating.
The districtwide B rating reflects the continued work of Gentry students, teachers, administrators, staff and families to provide a high-quality education and create opportunities for all students to connect, learn and succeed.
The announcement also brings a significant accomplishment for Gentry Middle School, which improved from a C rating to a B rating.
“We are proud of the ratings earned by all four of our schools and, more importantly, proud of the work behind those ratings,” Superintendent Dr. Tyler Broyles said. “This reflects the commitment our teachers and staff bring to their classrooms every day, the hard work of our students and the support our families provide. We know there is always room to grow, and we have plans to keep moving forward and go even higher. We are proud of where we are, but we are not finished.”
The Arkansas Department of Education’s school letter grades are designed to provide a broad measure of school performance. Under the state’s current accountability system, implemented beginning with the 2024-25 school year, grades incorporate multiple measures of student achievement and academic growth, with additional readiness measures at the high-school level.
Middle School Shows Significant Academic Growth
Gentry Middle School’s move from a C to a B was driven by measurable gains across several areas.
Among the highlights:
· Students in the lowest 25% had a 7% increase in growth, an important measure of progress among students with the greatest academic needs.
· ELA proficiency increased by 8%.
· Math proficiency increased by 11%
· Science proficiency increased by 12%
The gains reflect a sustained focus on high-quality, standards-aligned instruction and using student performance data to identify needs and adjust instruction.
Teachers have also continued to emphasize intervention, extension and targeted academic support, while collaborative Professional Learning Communities and Professional Learning Teams have provided opportunities to analyze student data, share instructional strategies, and monitor progress and determine next steps, according to Gentry Assistant Superintendent Dr. Devon Conrad, who oversees academics for the district.
The middle school improvement has been a particular focus for Gentry after the school had earned a C rating previously.
“We are tremendously excited to see this improvement and know that what we’re doing is working to the benefit of our students,” Middle School Principal Dr. Elizabeth Wieneke said. “We are celebrating this with the knowledge that we will have even more work ahead to maintain the grade and continue our growth trajectory. I’m incredibly proud of our teachers and our students, and they should also be extremely proud of their hard work.”
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Devon Conrad, who oversees academics for the district, said the Middle School’s improvement is particularly meaningful because of the academic growth represented behind the letter grade.
“I am incredibly proud of our Middle School students and staff for their hard work and commitment to continuous improvement,” Conrad said. “Moving from a C to a B is an accomplishment worth celebrating, but what makes us especially proud is the growth behind that letter grade. We saw improvement among our students in the lowest 25%, as well as significant increases in proficiency in ELA, math and science.”
Gentry Primary, Gentry Intermediate and Gentry High School each maintained their B ratings, providing consistency across all four schools.
“Maintaining a B districtwide is something to be proud of as well,” Conrad said. “Districtwide, our staff has proven to provide high-quality instruction and ensuring that all students have opportunities to learn, connect and succeed. We are also thankful for the parents and caregivers who take a vested interest in their child’s education and partner with our schools to create the best possible learning experience.”
Conrad emphasized that the ratings ultimately reflect the work of students and the adults who support them.
“Most importantly, our students are an incredibly talented group of young people who have worked hard and continue to demonstrate what they are capable of achieving,” Conrad said. “We are excited to celebrate their growth, recognize the hard work of our staff and families, and continue building on this success.”
For Gentry Public Schools, the B ratings provide both an opportunity to celebrate and a foundation for the work ahead.
“We are going to celebrate this accomplishment, especially the tremendous progress at our Middle School,” Broyles said. “At the same time, we will keep our focus on doing what is best for our students and finding ways to get better. We have a great team of educators, outstanding students and families who care deeply about our schools. That gives us a lot to be proud of and a lot to build on.”