LH Schools

• LHSD is #1 of 244 Public Districts in Arkansas
  

  The Lake Hamilton School District has recently been named the Number One Academic Public School of 244 districts in Arkansas! The Arkansas Policy Foundation, a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that analyzes the impact of public policy on Arkansas and makes recommendations, has released its most recent evaluation of the state's public schools. Based on scholastic criteria, the Lake Hamilton School District received the top ranking in state.

  We are very proud of this special academic recognition by the Arkansas Policy Foundation. However, we are even more proud of the outstanding performance of our students on these evaluations. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our professional teaching staff. They have provided the guidance and leadership to our students to help them continue improving their academic performance. The partnership of students, teachers, administrators, and supportive parents has provided the right combination to place the Lake Hamilton School District atop all other Arkansas school districts; based on these criteria.

  According to their web site, www.arkansaspolicyfoundation.org, “the Arkansas Policy Foundation (APF) emphasizes the importance of tax policy and education reform. In the area of education reform, APF seeks intellectual honesty and complete openness in reporting the lack of academic progress in Arkansas' school system.” Since 2005, the APF has provided letter grade rankings of Arkansas school districts based on student performance on nationally recognized test. Similar to the standard letter grades that students receive in school, the APF assigns each school district the grade of A through F. The most recent ranking criteria was largely based on the 2007 – 2008 administration of the Stanford Achievement Test – 10th Edition (SAT-10) scores in mathematics and reading comprehension portions of the SAT-10 for 9th grade students. Adjustment was made for each school district using a predictor score based on performance on 1st grade SAT – 10 scores. The APF uses a sophisticated adjustment system taking in consideration of other factors in assigning the district grade and ranking. Lake Hamilton received the top grade of A in both areas and was followed by eight other school districts that also received the grade of A in both areas.

• HS - 2009 College Readiness Award
  

  The Arkansas ACT Council recently announced that LHHS has been presented with the 2009 College Readiness Award. The award recognizes the fact that our school has seen a significant increase in ACT composite scores over the last five years, while at the same time increasing the number of students taking the ACT. Less than 10% of the schools in the state were able to accomplish what we have done! This is yet another evidence of the outstanding job that our students and teachers do.   ACT Media Press Release   See All of the 2009 Award Recipients

• HS - High School Powerband takes 1st Division Rating
  

  Congratulations to the Lake Hamilton High School Powerband! The Powerband competed Saturday, October 3rd, at the Four States Marching Invitational in Texarkana, TX. The Band earned 1st Division rating in all captions: band, drum majors, color guard, and percussion. In addition, the Powerband was named GRAND CHAMPION, and earned Outstanding Drum Majors, Outstanding Color Guard, Outstanding Percussion, and Outstanding Band of the Day. Congratulations to the students and staff! GO WOLVES!

• JH - Junior High School Powerband takes 1st Division Rating
  

  Congratulations to the Lake Hamilton High School Powerband! The Powerband competed this past weekend at the Ouachita Valley Invitational in Camden, AR. LHJH brought home First Division Ratings in all captions: band, drum majors, percussion, and color guard. In addition, the band earned Outstanding Band, Outstanding Drum Majors, Outstanding Color Guard, and Outstanding Percussion. Congratulations to the students and staff! GO WOLVES!

• MS - Arkansas Department of Education Recognizes Students' Achievements
  

  The Arkansas Department of Education has notified the Lake Hamilton Middle School that they have been awarded $60, 200.00 as a result of a large improvement in student achievement with a group of Middle School students in consecutive years. Lake Hamilton Middle School made some of the highest education value-added gains in the state of Arkansas. The monetary incentive was created in accordance with Arkansas Code Ann.6-15-2101 et.seq of Act 35 of the Second Extraordinary Session of 2003, also known as the Arkansas School Recognition Program. This program was designed to provide performance based incentives to outstanding public schools including charter schools. The Lake Hamilton Middle School exceeded the annual improvement gain in student achievement scores in consecutive years (2007-08) qualifying for performance based funding in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per student tested. The funding may be used to award bonuses to teachers and for purchasing educational materials to supplement in teacher’s classrooms.

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LH Staff

• HS - Coach Koonce Receives National Honor
  

  Karl Koonce has been named the National Federation of State High School Associations National Boys Track Coach for 2009. This covers all 50 states. Coach Utley said, “It is a great honor and I can't think of anyone more deserving. It is not very often Arkansas has a national winner in any sport.” We are proud of you Coach Koonce!
  
  Superintendent Recognition Letter
  
  Letter from the National Federation of State High School Associations

• MS - NASA Grant Awarded
  

  Rebecca Ann Dorris, 7th grade science teacher, was awarded an Outreach Grant for $500 from the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium. Mrs. Dorris will be attending the SEEC (Space Exploration Educator’s Conference) at NASA in Houston, Texas to attend sessions hosted by the actual scientists and engineers and astronauts working on exciting endeavors including the International Space Station, Mars exploration, and the planets beyond. She will be using new labs and techniques learned at the SEEC with her students, and sharing ideas with her colleagues.

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LH Students

• HS - Arkansas’ Junior Miss Scholarship Program
  

  Congratulations to Aubrey Burroughs and Alley Dailey. These two Lake Hamilton High School students were participants in the Arkansas’ Junior Miss scholarship program, an official state preliminary of the America’s Junior Miss scholarship program. Out of 19 participants, Aubrey Burroughs, as Garland County Junior Miss, won fitness and placed second, and Alley Dailey, as Junior Miss Hot Springs, placed third in the competition. These young women who have distinguished themselves at school and in their communities are awarded college scholarships, and those who participate in Junior Miss programs develop interview skills, self-confidence, and other life skills that lead to future success.

• HS - Signing Letters of Intent - Updated 2-18-10

  Sam Ewing signed for track and field at the University of Arkansas, Benson Jordan signed for football with Ouachita Baptist Univeristy, Kenny Rains signed for football at Arkansas State University, Richard Williams signed to Arkansas State University for track and field, and Amos Gerber signed with the University of Central Arkansas. Congratulations to these outstanding atheletes!

  
  
• HS - All-State Choir Convention
  

  Eleven choral students from Lake Hamilton High School will be representing the school at the All-State Choir Convention this week, February 18th - 20th, at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Congratulations to these students.

• HS - Number One Pole Vaulter in the Nation
  

  Congratulations to Samuel Ewing for receiving this honor. Sam recently signed with the U of A for Track and Field.

• District Wide - Lake Hamilton was well represented at the February Gallery Walk
  

  Several art students from Lake Hamilton participated in the 2010 AAE Region V Art Show at the ArtChurch in downtown Hot Springs. The Region V show, which represents 36 school districts in 9 counties, gives 1st – 3rd place prizes in each grade K-12. The winner in each grade goes to the state AAE show where their work will be displayed at the Thea Foundation in North Little Rock over the summer. Lake Hamilton won 5 of the 13 first place ribbons. The LH winners: 1st Place - 12th grade – Sarrel Keith, 2nd Place - 12th grade – Ashley Weston, 3rd Place - 10th grade – Colby Ashley, 1st Place - 9th grade – Bailey Thomas, 1st Place - 8th grade – Rebecca Cooper, 3rd Place - 8th grade – Brin Lewis, 3rd Place - 7th grade – Rickle Reevo, 1st Place - 3rd grade – Karry Basurto, 3rd Place - 3rd grade – Alyssa Westgate, 2nd Place - 2nd grade – Cameron Kingery, 1st Place - 1st grade – Triston Childs

  

  The “Have a Heart for Art” art competition, an educational component of the Garland County chapter of the American Heart Association, had their annual show downtown at the Malco Theater and Lake Hamilton art students brought home three of the four first place ribbons. The LH winners: 1st Place Grades 10-12 – Lauren Dawson, 1st Place Grades 7-9 – Uriah Miller, 1st Place Grades K-3 – Adam Miller

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