Three Marion School District schools have been recognized by the University of Arkansas Office for Education Policy (OEP) as “Beating the Odds” schools for posting high growth on the ATLAS despite economic challenges outside the classroom.
Schools earning 2026 Beating the Odds Awards include:
Marion Junior High
High ELA Growth (Statewide)
High ELA Growth (Northeast Region)
Marion High School
High Science Growth (Statewide)
High Science Growth (Northeast Region)
Marion Seventh Grade Academy
High Math Growth (Northeast Region)
High ELA Growth (Northeast Region)
An independent agency, the OEP creates its annual Outstanding Educational Performance Awards to recognize schools, with a specific focus on student academic growth. With its Beating the Odds awards, the group recognizes schools where at least 66% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
“We continue to focus on student growth for these OEP awards because we think it is a better reflection than proficiency rates of how the school is impacting students,” the agency said. “Growth is calculated at the student level, and essentially reflects how much a student improved his or her score from the prior year compared to what was predicted based on prior achievement history. We hope the information will spark discussion among stakeholders about how to ensure all schools are growing the knowledge of Arkansas students.”
The OEP Awards are but the latest recognition Marion schools have received for students’ academic growth. In September, the district received its annual report card from the Arkansas Department of Education, posting a district-wide gain of 565.88 total points in the state’s school accountability system. This point gain resulted in letter grade jumps in five of the district’s six schools. As a district, Marion moved up to earn a C grade. The largest letter grade jump came from MJHS, which jumped up three spots to earn a B grade. HCGC and 7GA both jumped two spots to earn Cs. Also moving up one letter grade were MHS and VPA.
Additionally, both MHS and MJHS were named recipients of the state’s new “Gem Award,” which recognizes schools that distinguished themselves for educational progress. Both schools were honored for their achievement in literacy growth.
“These continuing recognitions make it clear that the strategies we have implemented in our classrooms are working,” said Dr. Glen Fenter, Marion superintendent. “Student success does not happen in a vacuum -- it requires great teaching, and it requires a commitment to building an equitable, engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. That’s what is happening in the Marion School District.”
For Dr. Greg Hodges, Marion’s Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, the district’s progress reflects months of intentional, targeted effort in its classrooms. Partnering with The Bailey Group, led by former Jonesboro Superintendent Dr. Kim Wilbanks, Hodges said Marion has worked to turn a comprehensive district assessment into a concrete implementation and improvement plan. The plan focuses the district’s academic strategy on its "Six Big Rocks":
Intentional lesson planning aligned to state standards
Systematic implementation of the gradual release of responsibility model
High-yield, evidence-based teaching strategies
Continuous, transparent data monitoring
Weekly, actionable instructional coaching for educators
Targeted academic interventions for students in the bottom 25%
“These recent recognitions belong to our teachers, our campus leaders, and our students,” Hodges said. “The Six Big Rocks give us a clear plan, and our educators have embraced it with real commitment, showing up every day to do the work and holding themselves accountable for the results. We're seeing what's possible when everyone is pulling in the same direction.”
“But we're not done yet,” Hodges continued. “Our goal isn't to celebrate a single year of growth. It's to build something that lasts, and that means continuing to ask what more we can do for every child in our district, especially those who need us most.”
The Marion School District is an innovative and growing district that ensures an equitable, engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. With more than 150 years of experience serving families in Crittenden County, the district offers a high school, a junior high, a seventh grade academy, and three award-winning magnet schools. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100.