LEARNING COMMUNITY ANALYSIS

HUGHES, ARKANSAS

Cana Able

Developing Information Collections-6360

Fall 2011

DEMOGRAPHICS

Small, rural town—Population 1,676

Located between Forrest City and West Memphis

Touches the borders of Crittenden County and Lee County

Neighboring towns (Horseshoe Lake, Heth, Blackfish, Anthonyville) help the school keep enrollment past 350.

Current enrollment of Hughes School District—402

QUICK FACTS

Many housing developments-most federally funded

Value of Homes=$48,000

State average of home value= $102,000

24% of population makes less that 10K annually

Geographical shortage area

Low-income level All students in

district on free lunch program.

Schools salary schedule one of the lowest in the state.

CHURCH & STATE

MAJORITY BAPTIST CHURCHES, ONE METHODIST, ONE CHURCH OF GOD, ONE KINGDOM OF JEHOVAH WITNESS, AND CLOSEST CATHOLIC CHURCH IS 12 MILES.

City employees=mayor, two bookkeepers, three waste management workers

No hospitals or institutions of higher education

Medical office shares the doctor with Lee County Co-Op. He visits Hughes once a week.

Police department consists of three officers.

Ethnic

Groups

African-Americans=75%Caucasians=20%Hispanic/Chinese=5%

Majority of school population=African-American

Majority of Caucasian students attend private schools or neighboring schools through School Choice program.

SCHOOL & COMMUNITY IN THE PAST

Rarely asked the businesses or community members for help

Failed to inform community of events at school

Not reaching out to community members that are not parents

Allowed racial lines and personal opinions to hinder relationship with school

Only got involved when something negative was happening

No support of mileage increase because their kids had graduated already

SCHOOL COMMUNITY

SCHOOL & COMMUNITY IN THE PRESENT

Partnering with churches and businesses to gain support for student achievement

Informing more than just parents about events and positive happenings at the school

Approved a mileage increase to support student achievement

Businesses are making donations for rewards.

Many students previously attending other schools are returning because of improvement.

School Community

References2010 Census. (n.d.)Retrieved September 12, 2011, from

http://www.census.gov/

Arkansas Department of Education. (2010) Retrieved September 12, 2011, from http://www.arkansased.org/educators/index.html

Arkansas Department of Workforce Services. (2010) Retrieved September 13, 2011, from http://www.dws.arkansas.gov/index.htm

Hughes, Arkansas (AR) income, earnings, and wages data. (2009) Retrieved September 12, 2011 from http://www.city-data.com/income/income-Hughes-Arkansas.html

Hughes, Arkansas. (2011) Retrieved September 12, 2011 from http://www.city-data.com/city/Hughes-Arkansas.html