Dear Parents and Community Members,
I hope this message finds you well. It is with tremendous pride and excitement that I share an update on the State of the Marvell-Elaine School District. The past few months have been nothing short of remarkable, and I am thrilled to celebrate the incredible progress our schools have made. First, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Ms. McNutt and the entire elementary school team. For the first time in over a decade, our elementary school has moved from an “F”rating to a “C”—a true testament to their dedication, perseverance, and belief in every child’s potential. Even more impressively, the school has been recognized and ranked among the Top 5% of schools in Arkansas for overall growth. The Office for Educational Policy (OEP) at the University of Arkansas has awarded Marvell-Elaine Elementary School with multiple Outstanding Educational Performance Awards for exceptional growth on the ATLAS assessment.
Ranked 2nd statewide among the Top 20 Elementary Schools in Overall ATLAS Growth
Ranked 1st in the Southeast Region for Overall Elementary ATLAS Growth
Ranked 5th statewide in ATLAS Math Growth
Ranked 1st in the Southeast Region for Elementary Math Growth
Ranked 1st statewide in ATLAS ELA Growth
Ranked 1st in the Southeast Region for Elementary ELA Growth
In addition, the elementary school received the “Beating the Odds” Award for remarkable
performance among high-poverty schools in Arkansas:
Ranked 1st statewide in High Overall Growth
Ranked 2nd statewide in High Math Growth
Ranked 1st statewide in High ELA Growth
Ranked 1st in the Southeast Region in High Math Growth
Ranked 1st in the Southeast Region in High ELA Growth
Congratulations to Ms. McNutt for this truly extraordinary accomplishment.
Next, I want to recognize Mr. Collins and the high school team for reaching another milestone not seen in over ten years. Through their hard work and dedication to excellence, Marvell-Elaine High School has moved from an “F” to a “D” rating, representing a major step forward in our district’s academic progress. The high school was also recognized and ranked among the Top 6–10% of schools statewide for academic growth. The University of Arkansas OEP recognized Marvell-Elaine High School with the following Outstanding Educational Performance Awards for significant ATLAS growth:
Ranked 4th in the Southeast Region for Overall High ATLAS Growth
Ranked 5th in the Southeast Region for High Math Growth
Ranked 2nd in the Southeast Region for High ELA Growth
The high school also earned the “Beating the Odds” Award for high growth among high-poverty
schools in Arkansas:
Ranked 4th in the Southeast Region in High Math Growth
Ranked 2nd in the Southeast Region in High ELA Growth
These achievements represent more than numbers—they reflect the hard work, resilience, andunity of our students, teachers, staff, families, and community partners. Marvell-Elaine has made historic gains, and this is only the beginning. Together, we are proving what is possible when a community believes in its schools and its children.
Finally, I am proud to share that our District is now rated a “C” and is no longer a failing district.This historic achievement reflects years of perseverance, collaboration, and commitment to excellence across every level of our school community. I am honored to serve alongside such a dedicated team and look forward to building on this success in the year ahead.
With gratitude and pride,
Dr. Phong Tran
Superintendent, Marvell-Elaine