Last night, the Prairie Grove School Board had a work session to discuss plans for the district's future.
In November, Rocky Gardiner from Zonda Education presented valuable demographic insights to the Prairie Grove School Board, outlining trends that will shape our district’s future growth. Key topics included Arkansas enrollment trends, Prairie Grove's housing market, national birth rates, and future housing developments. These insights project significant growth, with over 1,500 new homes expected in the next decade and enrollment forecasted to exceed 2,700 students by 2029/30 and nearly 3,000 by 2034/35.
To prepare, the School Board is exploring plans for a new elementary school with funding options yet to be determined. Additionally, the School Board is considering adding a performing arts center. These projects aim to ensure our district is equipped to meet the needs of our growing community. The School Board will continue those conversations during the February board meeting. All districts must complete a proposed budget of expenditures and ballot documents for the annual school election in May. Therefore, the district will have to address this during the February board meeting to determine if there will be any changes to the current millage rate.
The Prairie Grove District remains committed to providing exceptional education and resources for Prairie Grove students as our community continues to thrive.