Blytheville Parents and Community Letter
State of the District
June 2026
Greetings from Superintendent Hopkins,
Testing has concluded in the Blytheville School District. Schools demonstrated growth in most content area assessments. Staff and students worked hard to ensure students were ready academically to do their best on the assessments. We appreciate every parent who reinforced testing culture and made sure their student was on-time and ready to test.
Third Grade:
Third grade students who did not yet meet their growth target to advance to Level 2 will receive intensive support this summer. Our goal is to ensure these students have the targeted intervention necessary to demonstrate meaningful improvement on the summer administration of the 3rd grade ATLAS assessment.
Important: 3rd grade will be the only grade level in the district with on-site summer learning this year. The Tenaris Summer Programming will not take place for the 2025–26 school year.
The 3rd grade assessment retake is scheduled for before June 30, 2026, tentatively set for June 24, 2026. Please follow Blytheville Elementary School (BES) on social media to stay up to date as this date approaches.
BES has already sent letters home to current 3rd graders and incoming 2nd graders outlining the 3rd grade promotion requirements. Please take time to carefully read that letter so you are fully informed of what is expected. We also encourage all families to use the summer months to keep students reading, writing, and reading aloud every day — even just 20 minutes makes a difference.
Last Week of School
The last day of school for students is June 5, 2026.
Please help us to have a safe end-of-the-year by reinforcing with students that physical and verbal conflicts will not be tolerated on any campus, for any reason. Message to students that behavior expectations are still enforced on all campuses until the end of day on June 5, 2026.
We ask that parents and guardians have a direct conversation with their children about the importance of ending the year on a positive note. Please note that disciplinary consequences for behavioral issues during the final week may carry over into the 2026–27 school year.
5th Grade Moving
As a reminder, 5th grade will be relocating to the Blytheville Elementary School (BES) campus for the 2026–27 school year. Teachers will be moving classrooms: both within their current buildings and from the middle school to the elementary campus.
If you are interested in volunteering to help with the move, please contact your child's school office directly. Your support is always appreciated!
Uniforms and Clear Book Bags for 2026/27
Clear book bags have already been approved for the 2026/27 school year, district-wide.
Uniforms: We have a community petition that gathered signatures during the Summer of 2025. We would like to get more voices involved. Please take a two minutes to complete the Blytheville Parent Uniform Survey (this is for currently enrolled parents): https://forms.gle/9QfPiZ2xLUTZAj4C7
Please encourage every parent to complete the survey!!!
Important Information & Upcoming Dates:
The BSD attendance goal is 95%. We need Every Student, All Day, Everyday!
The last day of school for students is June 5, 2026.
Parents and Guardians: Please update your home address, email, and phone number with your child(ren)’s school. Custodial parents are the first contact.
Stay in the know: Follow Blytheville School District (BSD, BES, BMS, BHS) on FaceBook and bookmark the website.
Sincerely,
Dr. Vanessa Hopkins, Superintendent
Blytheville School District
Monday, May 25, 2026
In Observance of Memorial Day
Classes will resume on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
To help ensure a safe and enjoyable graduation ceremony for everyone, please review the following:
The following items are NOT allowed:
• No flowers
• No air horns or noise makers
• No confetti
• No balloons
Clear Bag Policy will be enforced.
Any unallowable items must be returned to your vehicle before entry.
Anyone under the influence will not be allowed to enter.
All guests must exit the building immediately following the ceremony.
No one will be allowed on the floor except BHS Staff.
Thank you for helping us make graduation a respectful and memorable event for our students and families.
We appreciate our incredible school principals! Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and the countless ways you support our students, staff, and community each day.
Happy School Principal Appreciation Day!
Blytheville School District is aware of the upcoming weather conditions, including the potential for strong storms in our area.
We are closely monitoring the forecast and will continue to assess any impact on after-school programs, activities, and transportation.
Any changes or cancellations will be communicated as soon as possible through our official channels.
State of the District
April 2026
Greetings from Superintendent Hopkins,
We are in the middle of state testing in the Blytheville School District. Across all campuses, our scholars are working hard to achieve proficient and advanced levels. We are thinking good thoughts and praying that their brilliance shows up on the end-of-course tests.
When visiting campuses, please be mindful of the testing environment as well as demonstrating respect for our learning space. This is the time of the year that we are planning for a successful end by creating interdisciplinary projects that are designed to engage students. The last day of learning is the last day of school. Students need to enter buildings and classrooms with the mindset that they are there to learn. Parents, please help us message to children that the expectations are the same: learning is paramount!
End of the year activities are in full swing at all campuses. Please like and follow the school pages for your scholar and read the newsletter published by each campus to stay informed of the activity schedule. For example: BHS Prom will take place this weekend, April 25, 2026 at the ANC Ballroom. Festivities will begin at 7 pm. We don’t want any student to miss out.
Students get excited around this time of the year. Message to them that behavior expectations are still enforced on all campuses. We also understand that getting calls concerning your child may slightly increase. We understand your frustration, as partners in the success of our students we need your support. Please make sure you are treating staff with respect, including following the visitor protocols of the district.
Parents, please let your child(ren) know that if there are behavioral issues, consequences can follow them into next school year.
We have been highlighting course choice on our website and social media. Please reach out to your child’s school counselor to learn more.
Middle & High School Students:
“The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) has launched the Course Choice program for the 2026–2027 school year, allowing students in grades 6–12 to take courses not offered by their resident school, with a special focus on expanding options for schools rated "D" or "F". The program offers personalized learning pathways in preparation for enrollment, employment, or enlistment.” The Course Choice Enrollment window is open until August 31st. There are some restrictions:
The course prerequisites must be completed before registration.
The academic calendar may look different by each provider. You must follow the academic calendar of that provider.
Transportation is not funded for non-virtual courses. Travel time must also be taken into consideration. Most courses are virtual. Students are challenged to be organized and self-sufficient to successfully excel in that setting.
There may be unavoidable scheduling conflicts with the local school’s master schedule. Class times can not be adjusted on either end. Class policies are determined by the provider.
Grades are submitted by the provider and not under the supervision of the local school.
The Course Choice Catalog: Course Catalog
ON THE MOVE:
5th grade is moving to Blytheville Elementary School for the 2026-2027 school year.
Third Grade:
Parents, once we receive the scores from Atlas, we will be having parent-school conferences to discuss your child’s path forward, regardless of their school. We expect all students to grow but the growth may not move their level. Our goal is to support students with high-impact support until the end of the year and through Summer school. Students that did not move to level 2 will be required to attend Summer school to move to the next grade level. They will retake the assessment before June 30, 2026.
We are considering uniforms for next year for all three campuses. Be on the lookout for that communication this Summer.
We have implemented a clear book bag policy for the district next school year. It is currently required at BHS. When you buy supplies for next school year, remember to purchase a couple of clear book bags.
Important Information & Upcoming Dates:
The BSD attendance goal is 95%. We need Every Student, All Day, Everyday!
High School: Seat-time Law state that you should be in class 350 of the 360 minutes of your school day, including limiting tardies. This is a graduation requirement. Be in Class On-time, All the Time!
Snow Make-Up Days: March 20, 2026 and June 3-5, 2026 (Tentative: more days may be added)
The last day of school for students is June 5, 2026.
Parents and Guardians: Please update your home address, email, and phone number with your child(ren)’s school. Custodial parents are the first contact.
Stay in the know: Follow Blytheville School District (BSD, BES, BMS, BHS) on FaceBook and bookmark the website.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Hopkins, Superintendent
Blytheville School District
Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant.
Testing begins on some of our campuses next week, April 13, 2026. Each campus will share its testing schedule on their Facebook pages. Please review the following important information:
• Arkansas’s “Bell to Bell, No Cell Act” (Act 122 of 2025) bans student use of personal electronic devices — including cell phones, smartwatches, and earbuds — during the entire school day.
• Cell phones will be collected and tagged in the buildings. NO CELL PHONES, SMARTWATCHES, OR EARBUDS ARE ALLOWED IN THE TESTING ENVIRONMENT, even if turned off.
• Violations may result in consequences, including invalidating your student’s test scores.
• Behavioral disruptions can interrupt testing for peers. Please remind students to remain calm, focused, and respectful during testing.
Car Riders: Please drop students off on time. We want all students to eat breakfast and begin testing with their peers.
Book Bags are not allowed in the testing room. Staff will designate areas for storage. Please review this expectation with your student.
Encourage your students to do their best by:
• Starting their day on time
• Speaking positively and offering encouragement
• Using available tools (such as calculators in Atlas)
• Reading passages multiple times:
a. First cold read
b. Highlight main ideas and details
c. Reread after reviewing the question to find the best answer
Make sure students get 7–8 hours of sleep each night. Being well-rested helps students perform their best. Students are not allowed to sleep during testing.
Go Chickasaw! Let’s show everyone how BRILLIANT we truly are!
The Blytheville School District will be closed on Friday, April 3, 2026.
All staff and students will return on Monday, April 6, 2026.
We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend.
Thank you,
Blytheville School District
Keeping sick children at home allows them time to rest and recover while also helping protect other students, families, and staff. Thank you for working with us to keep our school community safe and healthy! 🤍🇱🇻
February is National Love the Bus Month, and we want to take a moment to recognize the amazing men and women who safely transport our students every single day!
Our bus drivers and transportation staff are the first smiling faces our students see in the morning and the last caring adults they see in the afternoon. Rain or shine, they are committed to safety, reliability, and service to our families.
Community, please help us say THANK YOU to our outstanding bus drivers and staff!
If you see one of our drivers this week, take a moment to share your appreciation. A simple “thank you” goes a long way!
Starting Pay: $21.00 per hour
Flexible Schedule
Opportunities to drive daily routes, field trips, activity trips, and special events
Make a difference in the lives of our students by ensuring they arrive safely to and from school and school activities.
If you have a CDL (or are willing to obtain one) and are committed to student safety, we encourage you to apply!
Call 870-762-2053 or 870-762-0161 for more information
Apply online at www.blythevilleschools.net
Drive the Future. Support Our Students. Join the Chickasaw Family!
If you are passionate about protecting our schools, building positive relationships with students, and serving our community, we encourage you to apply.
This is more than a job — it’s an opportunity to make a difference every single day.
For more information, please contact:
Larrie Bell
Security Coordinator
lbell@blythevilleschools.net
Join us in keeping Blytheville Schools safe and strong!
Parents and guardians, we would love to see you come out and hear about the great work your student is doing in school!
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on:
February 17 and February 19, 2026
3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
This is a great opportunity to connect with teachers, ask questions, and support your child’s learning and success. We look forward to seeing you there!
Due to seven inclement-weather days and five make-up days already built into the school calendar, the district will review the remaining days and inform families if additional make-up days are required.
Scheduled Make-Up Days:
• MD1 – February 16, 2026
• MD2 – March 20, 2026
• MD3 – June 3, 2026
• MD4 – June 4, 2026
• MD5 – June 5, 2026
