To the Members of ASMSA’s Community of Learning:
I had the opportunity this evening to attend the final ASMSA Wind Ensemble concert of the semester. As we reach the end of the term, special events such as this one are fitting capstones and times to celebrate as a campus.
This year has been one of significant growth for the music program that continues a trend from the past few years. In 2018, ASMSA welcomed Dr. Thomas Dempster as our first full-time music instructor. With the opening of the Creativity and Innovation Complex later that academic year presenting an on-campus performance space and the Morris Rehearsal Studio adjacent that at last offered a fitting practice room, the timing felt right to make this leap not only to meet students’ needs but also in continued fulfillment of ASMSA’s legislated Arts mission. The recently completed renovation of the Selig Hall Auditorium (the former chapel) also adds a new space for more intimate performances such as the Jazz Ensemble concert later this month.
This fall, we took another step by adding Dr. Nathan Groot to the faculty and creating additional opportunities in strings. The investments are clearly paying off, with the number of students engaged in the ensembles program growing from around 20 per year to now more than one-quarter of all students on campus. Beyond the core Wind Ensemble, special ensembles for strings, chamber, and jazz are also available to our students.
Much has been said in recent years about the benefits of reframing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) as STEAM to also integrate the Arts fully as an equally essential component of talent development. After all, creativity and innovation are fundamentally linked expressions.
Music education as a complement to STEM experiences helps to increase attention and strengthens memory recall. Successful performances also require students to understand a set of rules, logic, and even the expression of abstract thinking. According to the National Association for Music Education, students who have a music background have been shown to score an average of 44 points higher on their math SAT.
I encourage our friends and advocates to watch the livestreams or recordings of these concerts throughout the year on ASMSA’s Facebook page. I think you’ll find them to reflect just how far the school has come in delivering on robust co-curricular experiences within the Arts that not only inspire but also serve to ignite the full potential of these talented young people.
Sincerely, Corey Alderdice ASMSA Director
Office of the Director December 2022 Quarterly Report
Corey Alderdice, ASMSA DirectorBy the Numbers
• Students enrolled at ASMSA this year represent 54 of the state’s 75 counties. The School’s aspirational goal is to represent 60 counties (80%) in any given year.
• 36% of ASMSA students this year are students of color. 35% of students this year qualify for free and reduced lunch.
• The five-year college matriculation rate for the Classes of 2018 through 2022 includes some interesting trends. 60% of graduates are continuing their education at an Arkansas college or university. 34% are studying at a University of Arkansas System institution. 39% are attending college out of state, and 1% have other plans.
Planning for 94th General Assembly
The 94th Arkansas General Assembly’s 2023 Regular Session will begin on January 9th at noon. Higher education participated in preliminary budget hearings earlier this semester.
First Alumnus Elected to General
Assembly
For the first time, an ASMSA alumnus will be among the 135 elected officials in the General Assembly. Matt Brown (’00) was elected in November as State Representative for House District 55, which includes Faulkner County. Rep.-Elect Brown visited the ASMSA campus earlier this month to reconnect with campus leadership, faculty, and students.
Brown is an attorney practicing primarily in corporate, banking, and real estate law. In 2020, Matt was elected Justice of the Peace and currently serves as chairman of the Roads and Infrastructure Committee on the Faulkner County Quorum Court. He previously served on the Conway Planning Commission. Brown is a volunteer attorney with the Faulkner County Teen Court, and is the treasurer of the Conway Noon Lions Club, and also serves on the Board of Directors of Millstones Services, Inc. Brown is a graduate of the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Sciences in Hot Springs, Hendrix College in Conway, and University of Arkansas Little Rock Bowen School of Law. He and his wife, Ashlea, reside in Conway, Arkansas, and have two daughters.
Teacher Pay Discussions
Over the past month, both chambers of the Arkansas General Assembly as well as Governor Hutchinson have recommended an across-the-board increase to K-12 educators’ salaries when the 94th Arkansas General Assembly convenes in January 2023. It is likely that teachers’ salaries would increase annually by $4,000, though it could certainly be lower if a final decision is reached. The goal is to bring salaries out of the bottom tier of SREB states. The estimated cost of such a move would be approximately $300 million.
ASMSA has made significant commitments toward both increasing the base salaries for faculty as well as recognizing instructors who are driven by student support, outreach, research, and the School’s legislated mission. In November, the Board of Trustees approved the School’s first round of promotions through the Faculty Advancement Plan, which represents more than
$150,000 in additional salary increases. ASMSA anticipates that we will commit at least that amount in addition over the next three years. These expenses will come from the School’s base funding from the state. Through positioning ASMSA at the top of districts statewide in direct compensation while also affording faculty small class sizes, dynamic students, and other appropriate support systems, campus leadership believes that we are currently at the forefront for both recruitment and retention of faculty as our stakeholders would naturally expect.
Because ASMSA is neither considered part of the traditional K-12 apparatus nor funded through the per-pupil “matrix” (funding formula), it is unlikely that any move the Legislature makes next year would directly benefit ASMSA faculty. It is to this end that Director Alderdice has requested ASMSA’s affinity organizations make preliminary contact jointly with local legislators in advance of the session and pledges to making engagement in ongoing discussions on this topic a priority in the coming months. Time will be dedicated at the December Board of Visitors meeting to draft a preliminary message to legislators while also strategizing how best to approach this topic during the legislative session. At this stage, seeking a “manual adjustment” to the school's Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA) funding by $150,000 would be the most practical route.
While University of Arkansas System leadership and Director Alderdice will also be engaging with elected officials on this topic, the School believes that hearing from all ASMSA groups will significantly increase ASMSA’s chances of success in this discussion. We have worked diligently over the past three years to prioritize these gains, and we would all be disappointed if other teachers received a base increase but ASMSA instructors did not. Campus leadership believes that there is no greater priority for ASMSA in the year ahead.
School Choice Legislation
The other topic that is expected to dominate legislative discussions on education is school choice. While previous efforts to establish vouchers or similar programs have been mixed, there appears to be a renewed push for measures that allow funding to “follow the student” to the public, charter, online, independent, or even home-based school of their choice. ASMSA does not currently receive per-pupil funding from the state, which limits avenues for enrollment growth. Direct inclusion of ASMSA in such legislation would be equitable and a clear pathway to create opportunities to serve additional students.
Selig Hall Dedicated During Annual Director’s Circle Luncheon
The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts held a dedication ceremony for Helen Selig Hall during its annual Director’s Circle Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 7. ASMSA recently finished a $5.5 million renovation project of the former St. Joseph Hospital convent and chapel complex, converting the spaces into residential housing for students, a campus mental health hub with offices for professional counseling staff, a new student union, and an auditorium.
The renovated facility is officially named in honor of former Hot Springs Mayor Helen Selig, who was among the earliest and most vocal proponents of bringing the School to the city. Selig was a prominent leader of a community group that lobbied the state to choose Hot Springs as the School’s home in 1992. She and her family have continued to support the School throughout its existence. Selig died on Feb. 18, 2022, after a long-term illness.
Facilities and Campus Master Planning
The only remaining item scheduled for completion in Selig Hall is a refurbishing of the elevator. This item should be completed over Winter Break after delays in securing materials.
The Board of Trustees authorized a revised project scope for the new Campus Administration Building at their November meeting. The project was originally estimated at $3.5 million; however, the total scope has increased to a maximum of $5.25 million due to a 1,500 square foot increase in the project (now at 11,000 square feet), material costs, and labor. Existing funding in FY23 will allow the School to absorb these costs without impacting other projects. Site work is expected to begin in December, and the project should be finished mid-2024.
ASMSA has accepted bids for renovation of an apartment suite in the Student Center to provide more appropriate living spaces for the Assistant Dean for Residence Life. The lack of a true apartment with kitchenette has often hampered recruitment and retention for the most senior livein position on campus. Work begins in December and should be finished by March. A bid was also accepted to replace the roof on the Academic and Administration Building. This $250,000 investment from FY23 funding is a continuation of other infrastructure upgrades on the School’s primary classroom facility. Over the past two years, ASMSA has replaced the HVAC and elevator systems on the building. An RFP is currently being drafted to bring the fire monitoring and suppression system in alignment with other campus facilities.
Director Alderdice continues conversations with City of Hot Springs staff about a potential transfer of additional campus lots currently under city ownership. The transfer would include the Academic and Administration Building at 200 Whittington Ave. as well as all lots behind the Student Center. It is unclear if the Hot Springs Board of Directors will approve the transfer in time to bring the matter to the Board of Trustees in January or if approval will wait until March 2023.
Finally, work continues on a revised Campus Master Plan that establishes a trajectory for the School once the former St. Joseph’s hospital has been demolished. ASMSA hopes to connect the announcement of the revised plan with celebrations of the School’s 30th Anniversary in 2023.
Niche.com Ranks ASMSA Top Public High School in Arkansas
The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts has been ranked No. 1 in Niche.com’s 2023 list of Best Public High Schools in Arkansas. Niche.com is a website that provides in-depth profiles on thousands of colleges, school districts and individual K-12 schools across the nation. Parents and students use Niche’s information to find the right school for them. ASMSA ranked in the top half-percent of all public high schools nationwide. It achieved an A+ Overall Niche Grade as well as A+ grades in the individual categories of Academics, Teachers, College Prep, Resources and Facilities as well as Clubs and Activities. To view ASMSA’s profile, visit https://asmsa.me/nicheprofile.
Grades, ratings, and rankings for each school are determined by information provided to Niche by the U.S. Department of Education, self-reported information from each individual institution,
and reviews by students, parents and alumni of the school. This year’s rankings include updated data for almost 93,000 public elementary, middle and high schools nationwide.
STEM Pathways Again Sets Record Enrollment
For a second year in a row, the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts STEM Pathways initiative has set an enrollment record. The initiative is serving 3,315 students across the state through its Computer Science Plus, Advanced Biology Plus and Advanced Statistics Plus cohorts.
The program set a record last year with 2,117 students enrolled in Computer Science Plus and Advanced Biology Plus cohorts. There are 2,912 computer science students statewide enrolled in Coding Arkansas’ Future cohorts. That is about 11.75 percent of the total number of students statewide taking a computer science course. This year’s cohorts include 49 teachers in the Computer Science Year 1 program, 18 educators in the Computer Science Year 2 program and four instructors in the Computer Science Year 2 Advanced Placement cohort. The Advanced Biology Plus program is serving 30 teachers with 361 students statewide. There are four educators and 42 students in the Advanced Statistics Plus cohort. This is the first year Advanced Statistics Plus is being offered.
The STEM Pathways program began in 2015 with the creation of the Coding Arkansas’ Future initiative. That program offered high schools across the state the opportunity to expand their computer science curriculum while receiving guidance and professional development from ASMSA staff members. While ASMSA instructors taught some computer science courses for schools through digital learning, the main emphasis was preparing educators to become computer science teachers through the Computer Science Plus program.
STEM Pathways officially expanded this year by adding an Advanced Statistics Plus cohort. Advanced Statistics Plus provides mathematics educators across the state the same type of guidance in teaching Advanced Placement Statistics as biology instructors receive in the Advanced Biology Plus cohorts for AP Biology. The program is led by Tracy Watson, who joined the STEM Pathways faculty last year. She spent the first year on staff speaking with educators and districts to explore what they would desire in a program. Many of the educators involved in Advanced Statistics Plus program have indicated that they plan to continue in the program next year. One of the teachers cited the camaraderie that the educators involved in the program built during the summer training. The participants were able to bounce questions off the instructor as they worked together, the teacher said.
Students Recognized with Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy
Twelve students at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy by demonstrating proficiency in English and at least one other language before graduating high school. The Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy is awarded each spring and fall to students in ninth through 12th grades and is sponsored by the Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers Association and the Arkansas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. The Arkansas Department of Education officially endorsed the seal in June 2018. The Seal of Biliteracy program is recognized in 49 states and Washington, D.C. There were 340 students from Arkansas 38 high schools who earned the seal this fall. More than 3,600 students
have attained certification across 22 languages other than English since 2017, the pilot year in Arkansas, according to a press release.
ASMSA students who earned recognition this fall include: Michelle Lin, a junior from Little Rock, Chinese; Vicky Zhu, a senior from El Dorado, Chinese; Eliana Adamos, a senior from Harrison, French; Zephyr Smith, a senior from Hot Springs, French; Madison Ballard, a senior from Pocahontas, Spanish; Isaura Funes, a senior from Conway, Spanish; Sydney Hammond, a senior from Conway, Spanish; Kaira Harper, a junior from Jonesboro, Spanish; Carter Horton, a junior from Conway, Spanish; Lydia Krebs, a senior from Maumelle, Spanish; Beatrice Nkunga, a senior from Sherwood, Spanish; and Ai’yanna Tombs, a senior from North Little Rock, Spanish.
Students who apply for the Seal of Biliteracy must complete an application in which they submit evidence of their proficiency in both languages. Students can use their seal of recognition on college and job applications to show future employers and admissions offices that they are proficient in two or more languages.
5 Seniors Earn QuestBridge National College Matches
QuestBridge is a nonprofit organization that connects exceptional low-income youth with leading institutions of higher education. QuestBridge works with top universities across the country to offer four-year, full scholarships to deserving students who may otherwise be unable to afford to attend those institutions. QuestBridge partnered this year with 48 colleges and universities to offer scholarships at institutions such as Duke University, Rice University, Stanford University and others. Students apply for the scholarships through the Common Application, which is used by many educational institutions for admission. QuestBridge applicants write an essay to accompany the application. They may list up to 12 of the partner schools at which they would like to be considered for admission.
This year’s recipients include: Kacie Koen, Columbia University; Alex Pearson, Brown University; Alyssa Thomas, University of Pennsylvania; Aiyanna Tombs, Northwestern; John Tucker, Rice University.
Match Scholarship Recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship, worth over $200,000. The Match Scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provided by the college that covers the cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses.
All Match Scholarship packages have no parental contribution or student loans.
Alderdice Named President-Elect of NCSSS Board
Director Alderdice will serve as President-Elect of the 2022-23 National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools Board of Directors. Alderdice was installed as President-Elect during the NCSSS Professional Conference that was held Nov. 2-5 in Atlanta. Officers are elected by the Board of Directors upon a consideration of a slate of nominees presented by the Nominating Committee. He has served as a director on the NCSSS Board of Directors since November 2019.
NCSSS was established in 1988 to provide a forum for specialized secondary schools focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics to exchange information and program ideas. It now includes approximately 100 member schools, many “ranked” as the best in the country, along with 55 associate, affiliate and corporate members comprised of colleges, universities, summer programs, foundations and corporations located in 32 states and four countries.
Director of Admissions and Institutional Advancement
Searches
Charlie Feick stepped down as Director of Admissions earlier this semester to pursue graduate school opportunities as well as support other personal needs. Jason Hudnell has agreed to serve as Interim Director of Admissions while a national search is conducted during the spring 2023 semester.
Dr. Sara Brown resigned as Director of Institutional Advancement effective November 4th. A preliminary search is underway; however, campus leadership and the ASMSA Foundation Fund Board of Ambassadors are considering additional scenarios that reflect development needs and priorities. The school will use this transition to assess a variety of campus operations and adjust position duties and responsibilities as recommended.
30th Anniversary Planning
ASMSA will officially begin celebration of the School’s 30th Anniversary on August 23, 2023 thirty years to the day of the first classes on campus. ASMSA will begin assembling a special committee to plan activities from August 2023 to May 2025, which recognizes the graduation of the Charter Class.
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts Statistics for Grants and General Messaging Academic Year 2022-23
Given the unique mission and nature of ASMSA, we find it is often helpful for external stakeholders to review the following information to better understand our community of learning. It is important to know that ASMSA does not charge for housing, tuition, meals, or textbooks. We believe the opportunity should be available to all qualifying students regardless of their family background.
Student Enrollment
Data Collected from Blackbaud on August 15, 2022
Class of 2023
Class Enrollment 81 Class Begin AY22 92 (10.9% attrition) Male Students 34 Initial enrollment was impacted by space available from Female Students 47 campus COVID-19 protocols and larger previous class.
Class of 2024
Class Enrollment 123 Male Students 58 Female Students 66
Class of 2025 Class Enrollment 35 Male Students 15 Female Students 20
Total Male 107 Total Female 133 Total Enrollment 240
Racial/Ethnic Diversity
Ethnicity
Total Total % Arkansas %
American Indian/Native 2 .8% 1.0%
Asian 33 13.8% 1.7%
African-American/Black 25 10.5% 15.7%
Hispanic/Latino 10 4.2% 7.7%
Caucasian/White 155 64.6% 72.2%
Multiple/Other 15 6.3% 2.2%
Students of Color 35.6%
Classroom and Instruction - Academic Year 2023
Data Collected from Blackbaud Report on Class Enrollment on September 15, 2022
Student to Teacher Ratio 8.4:1 239:28.4 FTE FTE figure does not include faculty in adjunct roles for debate, choir, or health/P.E. Based on the percentage of faculty course load dedicated exclusively to residential students.
Student Need
Data Collected from Family Income Statement and Federal Subsidized Lunch Guidelines Arkansas Median Household Income (2022): $50,450
Class of 2023
Students Eligible Based on Federal Guidelines 29/81 35.8% Average Family Income $96,854 Median Family Income $69,000
Class of 2024
Students Eligible Based on Federal Guidelines 36/124 29.0% Average Family Income $120,820 Median Family Income $80,000
Class of 2025
Students Eligible Based on Federal Guidelines 19/35 54.3% Average Family Income $91,069 Median Family Income $45,000
Total Enrollment Students Eligible Based on Federal Guidelines 84/240 35.0%
Geographic Reach
Data Collected from Blackbaud on Students Admitted, Currently Enrolled, Withdrawn, and Graduated
Class of 2023 Counties Admitted 40 of 75 Counties
Class of 2024 Counties Admitted 39 of 75 Counties
Class of 2025 Counties Admitted 17 of 75 Counties
Current AY23 Enrollment Counties Represented 54 of 75 Counties
5-Year (Classes of 2021-25 Admissions) 65 of 75 Arkansas Counties Bradley, Columbia, Dallas, Fulton, Jackson, Lafayette, Prairie, Searcy, Sevier, and Woodruff counties are not represented.
General Assembly (House) Districts
84 of 100 Districts General Assembly (Senate) Districts 33 of 35 Districts (3, 7 in NWA missing)
Based on membership in the 93rd General Assembly (January 2021) Information is under review of the 94th General Assembly, which begins in January 2023.
Top Producing Counties from Classes of 2021-2025
Pulaski County 72 Jefferson County 12
Garland County 46 Pope County 12
Saline County 32 Hot Spring County 11
Faulkner County 30 Sebastian County 11
Craighead County 22 Johnson County 10
Boone County 13 Benton County 9
White County 13 Phillips County 9
Class of 2022 Graduates
Data Collected from Naviance, Graduation Press Release, and Colleges of Choice Spreadsheet
Number of Graduates 103
Average ACT Composite 29.7* College Matriculation 100%
*Due to test-optional policies, Seniors did not test to the extent they have historically First-Generation College Students 33% Scholarships Awarded $22 million
Class of 2022 Graduates Declaring a STEM Major 69 of 103 (67.0%)
Class of 2022 Graduates Computer Science 10 of 103 (9.7%)
Class of 2022 Art, Creativity, and Design 14 of 103 (13.6%)
Class of 2022 Attending UofA Institutions 29 of 96 (28.2%)
University of Arkansas - Little Rock 7
University of Arkansas - Fayetteville 19
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith 3
Class of 2022 Attending Arkansas Institutions 63 of 103 (61.2%)
University of Central Arkansas 14
Arkansas State University 8
Hendrix College 7
Arkansas Tech University 2
National Park College 1 Henderson State University 1 Southern Arkansas University 1
Class of 2022 Attending Out-of-State Institutions 39 of 103 (37.9%)
Classes of 2018-2022 Graduates
5-Year Arkansas College/University Matriculation 300 of 502 (59.8%)
5-Year University of Arkansas System Matriculation 172 of 502 (34.3%)
5-Year Out-of-State College/University Matriculation 198 of 502 (39.4%) Other 4 of 502 (.8%)
Classes of 2012-2016 Graduates
5-Year Arkansas College/University Matriculation 352 of 508 (73.2%)
5-Year University of Arkansas System Matriculation 228 of 508 (47.4%)
5-Year Out-of-State College/University Matriculation 129 of 508 (26.8%)