Please join us in welcoming Coach Jerry Bridges as the new Athletic Director for Benton School District!
With 34 years of coaching experience, 600+ career wins, 3 state titles, and a deep passion for high school athletics, Coach Bridges brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to Panther Nation.
He’s not only a Hall of Fame coach — he’s a mentor, visionary, and community builder. We’re proud to have him on our team!
Welcome to Benton, Coach Bridges! 🐾
The Benton Central Office will be closing early at 3:30 PM on Friday, May 23.
📅 All Benton Public Schools will be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day.
🇺🇸 As we approach the holiday weekend, we pause to honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.
We are excited to celebrate the Benton High School Class of 2025 at our graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 20 at 6:00 PM. The event will be held at the Jack Stephens Center on the campus of UALR. Doors open at 5:00 PM.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions to help you prepare:
Is the ceremony being held at the Jack Stephens Center?
Yes!
What time does it start?
The ceremony begins at 6:00 PM. Doors open at 5:00 PM.
Will there be metal detectors?
No, metal detectors will not be in use.
Where do we park?
Parking is available in Lot 13 and other nearby lots once it fills up.
Can I bring a camera?
Yes, cameras are allowed.
Are bags, balloons, or signs allowed?
A clear bag policy is in place.
➤ View the policy here: UALR Clear Bag Policy
➤ No balloons or non-clear bags will be allowed.
➤ Medical and diaper bags are the exception.
➤ Flowers and signs are welcome!
We look forward to celebrating this milestone with our 2025 graduates. 🎓
🥎 CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND! 🥎
Congratulations to our undefeated conference champions — the Lady Panthers Softball Team and Coaches — for advancing to the 5A State Softball Championship!
They’ll take the field this Thursday at 4 PM in Conway at the Softball Complex at UCA as they battle for the title!
Can’t make it in person? Catch all the action live on ARPBS!
Let’s show our support and cheer them on! Go Panthers!
🎉 Congratulations to our 2024–2025 Benton School District Teacher of the Year — Mrs. Stephanie Williams! 🎶
Mrs. Williams, the beloved music teacher at Mountain View Elementary, brings joy, creativity, and passion to her classroom every day. Her dedication to her students and her ability to make learning fun through music has left a lasting impression on our school community.
We are so proud to recognize Mrs. Williams for the impact she makes in the lives of our students and for representing the excellence of Benton Schools. Thank you for sharing your gifts and heart with us!
🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS! 🏆
6A/7A & Overall State Weight Meet Champions
7th Consecutive 6A/7A State Title
History was made! 💪
Our powerhouse team set a new state record by lifting a combined total of 5,385 lbs—the most ever by a team at the state meet!
🎖️ Individual Medalists 🎖️
🥇 148 lb Champion – Jaxon Backus
🥇 181 lb Champion – Gunner Deaton
🥇 242 lb Champion – Walter Hicks
🥇 259 lb Champion – Bronson Coolis
🥈 220 lb Runner-Up – Nick Wright
🥈 260+ lb Runner-Up – Carson Conyers
👏 A huge congratulations to all our athletes for your strength, dedication, and teamwork. We are #BentonProud!
Congratulations to Eli Alexander!
This Benton Junior High 9th grader just scored an incredible 33 on the ACT — out of a possible 36! At just a freshman, Eli is already proving that hard work and talent go a long way.
We're so proud of you, Eli — your future is bright!
2025 Future Lady Panther Volleyball Camp!
Calling all future Lady Panthers — get ready to level up your volleyball game with our 3-day camp just for you!
📅 May 12–14 (Mon–Wed)
🕞 3:30–6:30 PM
📍 Benton Arena
🎒 Open to current 1st–8th graders
💵 $55 | Cash or check at check-in
Pre-register on Friday, May 9, from 3:30–5:30 PM in the Arena Lobby! Skip the line on camp day, pay in advance, and pick up your camp tee!
-Sibling Discount: $50 per camper for multiple kids in the same family
-Scholarships Available!
Questions? Contact Coach Shoop at mshoppach@bentonschools.org
Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScsS6qz1flHHu.../viewform
Reminder, Panther Family!
There will be NO SCHOOL this Friday, April 18th!
Enjoy the long weekend, and we’ll see you back in class on Monday, April 21, 2025, refreshed and ready to go! 🐾
Unbox Your Future with Benton Panthers!
No, this action figure isn’t real...
BUT the opportunities in the Benton School District absolutely are!
New schools. Fresh upgrades. Challenging AP and college-credit courses, thriving arts programs, hands-on career and technical education, and a proud tradition as the Home of State Champion Athletics— there’s a place (and a purpose!) for every student here.
School Choice closes May 1st! Come be part of something special. Be a Panther. 🐾
Learn more and apply here: https://ww2.bentonschools.org/o/bsd/page/registration
BIG NEWS!
Benton High School’s own Nam Le has been selected for NYO2, one of Carnegie Hall’s prestigious national youth ensembles!
Nam, a talented flutist, earned his spot through a highly competitive national audition process and will join other elite young musicians (ages 14–16) from across the U.S. for an intensive summer training program at Purchase College, State University of New York.
Even more exciting—in summer 2025, Nam and the NYO2 ensemble will make their European debut as a resident orchestra at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland! 🇬🇧
We’re so proud of you, Nam! Your hard work and talent are taking you places—literally!
It's National Assistant Principals Week!
We’re sending a huge THANK YOU to our incredible assistant principals who support our students, staff, and schools every single day! Your leadership, dedication, and heart make a lasting impact.
Meet our amazing team:
• Angie Grant – Mark Rash
• Caldwell – Sara Brown
• Howard Perrin – Kelli Fuller
• Mountain View – Leah Hays
• Ringgold – Rhonda Redmond
• Benton Middle School – Karen Crosby, Meagan McGuire, Gabriel Rhynes
• Benton Junior High – Rusty Davis, Jalon Hughes
• Benton High School – Karen Hilborn, Monica Zaremba, Tim Hornbuckle
We appreciate each of you and all you do! 🐾
Dismissal will be 30 min earlier today, but all procedures remain the same. For example, high school will dismiss at 2:24 instead of 2:54, and junior high at 2:40 instead of 3:10. Each campus will adjust accordingly. Staff will stay until all students are picked up. Stay safe!
Due to inclement weather this winter, our last day of school will be Thursday, May 29, 2025.
Snow make-up days were built into our school calendar, reflecting May 27, 28, and 29 as designated make-up days. Thank you for your patience and flexibility—we appreciate our Panther family! Let’s finish the school year strong!
Salt Bowl 2025: Bringing the Tradition Home
For years, the Salt Bowl has been more than just a game—it’s a tradition that unites our communities and schools in a night of excitement and hometown pride. While we are so thankful to the staff at War Memorial for the experience they have provided to our student athletes for all these years, after listening to families and considering the future of this event, we’re making a big move—back home to Saline County!
Hosting the game in Saline County allows us to celebrate right where it all began. The experience will be smaller in scale but full of the traditional rivalry between our two schools and communities. As the home team for the 2025 game, Benton will host the event in our athletic facility on Friday, August 29.
There are countless individuals from our communities and War Memorial who have contributed their time and effort over the years. We appreciate their dedication and look forward to working with our community partners to make the Salt Bowl rivalry a truly memorable event. Watch for additional details this summer.
We’re excited to take this step forward while honoring the history that has brought us together for so many years. Let’s make Salt Bowl 2025 a new tradition—right here at home.
Benton Public Schools will be closed for Spring Break from March 24–28. We hope our students and staff enjoy a well-deserved break! Relax, recharge, and have fun!
We’ll see you back in class on Monday, March 31! 🐾
Benton Public Schools will be closed on Friday, March 21, 2025. All campuses will be closed.
🏀PANTHERS WIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!! 🏆
For the first time in school history, your Benton Panthers are 5A State Basketball Champions!
With grit, determination, and incredible teamwork, the Panthers defeated Maumelle to bring home the state title! 🎉👏
Congratulations to our players, coaches, and fans for an unforgettable season and a historic win! We are #BentonProud! 🏀🐾
#StateChamps #GoPanthers #BentonProud
Jayce, a 2024 Benton graduate, is a 19-year-old from Central Arkansas currently studying at the University of Arkansas. He was recently diagnosed with two forms of cancer—Leukemia (AML) and Myeloid Sarcoma—and he needs our help!
There will be a swab drive at North Bryant Baptist Church this Saturday, March 15th from 9 am - 4 pm to find a lifesaving match for Jayce or others in need.
It only takes a few minutes and a simple cheek swab to see if you could be the match that saves a life!
Let’s rally around Jayce and show him the strength of the Benton community! 🐾
Panther Fans, it's almost GAME TIME!
Make plans to cheer on the Benton Panthers in the State Basketball Championship THIS FRIDAY in Hot Springs at the Hot Springs Convention Center! 🏆
📅 Friday Night
⏰ Tip-off: 7:45 PM
📍 Hot Springs Convention Center
This is only the third time in Panther basketball history that we’ve made it to the state championship—let’s pack the stands and show our support! 🐾
🎟️ Our private ticket link SOLD OUT, so don’t miss your chance! Get your tickets now: https://gofan.co/event/3389337
