Benton High School

Benton High School has been awarded @CollegeBoard's Female Diversity Award for AP Computer Science Principles! Schools receiving this award have expanded women’s participation in the course and improved female representation in computer science. https://ww2.bentonschools.org/o/bhs/live-feed#8006538 #APCSP

For Immediate Release: 1/21/2025 Benton High School Earns AP Computer Science Principles Female Diversity Award Recognized for Improving Female Representation in AP Computer Science Principles Benton, AR─Benton High School has earned the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). Schools honored with an AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded access to AP computer science courses for female students in their communities. During the 2023-24 school year, 1,153 institutions achieved an AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for CSA, CSP or both courses. Award contenders must either have reached 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or have achieved a percentage of female computer science exam takers that meets or exceeds that of the school’s female population. Benton High School was one of only 847 recognized for improving female representation in AP CSP. “We’re thrilled to congratulate our female AP computer science students and their teachers on this step toward equal representation in computer science education,” said [school leadership]. “We’re honored that our school earned this distinction and look forward to seeing these young women and others pursue and achieve success in computer science education and careers.” “Computer science is the source code of our economy and much of the career landscape,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP Program. “In the seven years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it’s been heartening to see schools like Benton High School welcome so many more young women into this vital field.” AP Computer Science Principles, which first launched in the 2016-17 school year, continues to grow. In 2024: · 175,261 students took the AP CSP Exam—almost 4 times the number of exam takers in the course’s first year. · 60,259 female students took the AP CSP Exam, approximately 4 1/2 times the number who tested in 2017. Overall AP computer science course participation has increased 161% since 2017, which has broadened STEM career opportunities for more students. Providing young women with access to computer science courses is necessary to ensure gender equity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to drive innovation, creativity, and representation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for computer and mathematical occupations was $104,200 in 2023. However, women represent just 26.9% of the 6.5 million people employed in the same fields. That’s why College Board research about AP CSP is so encouraging. According to the data, female students who take AP CSP in high school are more than five times as likely to major in computer science in college, compared to female students of similar background and academic preparation who didn’t take AP CSP. The study also finds AP Computer Science Principles students are nearly twice as likely to enroll in AP Computer Science A (CSA), and that for most students, AP CSP serves as a stepping stone to other advanced AP STEM coursework. These findings highlight the importance of schools nationwide achieving gender equity in AP computer science classrooms. Overall, female students remain underrepresented in computer science classes. They account for just 34% of AP CSP participants and 26% of AP CSA participants. The 1,153 schools that receive this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspiration and are models for all U.S. high schools.

There is no school today in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Graphic design: Matthais H. #bhs #bhspanthers20242025

🎉 January is School Board Appreciation Month! 🎉 We are incredibly grateful for our School Board members and their unwavering dedication to our students, staff, and community. They give their time freely—attending meetings (sometimes several a month!), supporting school events, and making decisions that shape the future of our district. Please join us in thanking our board members for their service: ⭐ Tadd Farmer – President ⭐ Karen Hammer – Vice President ⭐ Boyd Goodner – Secretary ⭐ Justin Dorsey – Zone 1 ⭐ Paul Childress – At Large ⭐ Luke Fulcher – Zone 3 ⭐ Randy Wright – At Large Your leadership and commitment make a difference every day. Thank you for all you do! ❤️ #SchoolBoardAppreciation #ThankYou

🚍 Alternate Bus Routes for the Remainder of the Week 🚍 Bus #64 (MVE): Morning Pick-Up: Ten Mile & Pleasant Run (6:05-6:20 AM) Afternoon Drop-Off: Ten Mile & Pleasant Run (4:00 PM) 📍 Note: The bus will not travel up Pleasant Run this week. Bus #78 (MVE): Morning Pick-Up: Narrows & Boondock (6:00 AM) Afternoon Drop-Off: Narrows & Boondock (3:45 PM) 📍 Note: The bus will not travel up Boondock this week. Thank you for your understanding as we adjust these routes. Please plan accordingly! 🚌 These alternate routes will run through January 17, 2025 unless otherwise stated.

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Reminder Benton Public Schools will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Enjoy the holiday!

You're Invited! Join us on Tuesday, February 13, 2025, at the BHS Cafeteria from 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM for an exciting event that’s all about your future! This event is open to all 8th–12th graders and their families and will take place during Parent/Teacher Conferences. 📚 What to Expect: ✅ Representatives from colleges and the military ✅ Meet with potential employers ✅ Access to disability resources ✨ A special thank you to our partners, Benton Parks and Recreation and Everett Buick GMC, for helping make this event possible! We appreciate your support in empowering our students! Whether you're planning for college, exploring career options, or looking for helpful resources, this is the perfect opportunity to take the next step toward success! We can’t wait to see you there! #GraduationReadiness #JobFair2025 #BentonSchools #CommunityPartners

📢 Important Announcement: Alternate Bus Routes for Delayed Start Due to the delayed start to school tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., some buses will have alternate pick-up locations and times. Please carefully review the details below for your student’s bus route. Only the listed buses will have changes; all other buses will run their regular morning routes two hours later than usual. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact your school office. Afternoon routes are expected to run on their normal schedules, and any changes will be communicated via text and social media. Thank you for your cooperation! 🚍 Both Hwy 70 buses, #64 MVE & #78 MVE, will catch the bus at Ten Mile Grocery (17194 Hwy 70) from 8:45-9:00. These buses will not run their regular morning routes. Students that ride Bus #70 MVE and live in the area of Sunnybrook/Chivers/Shimrod will be picked up at Brazil & Sunnybrook at 8:45. The bus will not go up Sunnybrook. Students that ride Bus #57 CE and live in River Heights or River Oaks will be picked up at the Lyledale entrance of River Oaks (Lyledale & Volcanic) from 8:30-8:45. The bus will not come through River Oaks or pick-up at River Heights. All students on Bus #81 RE (Bennett, Prysock, Chatfield, New Hope areas) will catch the bus at New Hope Methodist Church (1705 New Hope Rd) from 9:00-9:15. The bus will not run its regular morning route. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work towards getting everyone back to school safely!

📢 Delayed Start Announcement Benton Public Schools will have a delayed start at 10 AM on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. 🚍 Alternate bus routes will be posted here later this evening as we are still working on them. 📞 If you feel it’s unsafe or cannot get your child to school, please contact their campus in the morning. Thank you for your understanding, and stay safe!

❄️ Snow Day Gratitude ❄️ We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible city and county teams for their hard work clearing roads during the snowstorm. Your long hours and dedication will make it possible for us to return to school sooner and safely—thank you! A special shoutout to Paul Tudor, Tracy Smart, and their team for coming in on Friday and Saturday to ensure our campuses and buildings will be ready for our return. We’re also grateful to Greg Little for walking through the buildings to ensure everything was secure and in great shape.

📢 School Update: After assessing road conditions across the county and consulting with our transportation team and local authorities, Benton School District will be CLOSED on Monday, January 13, 2025. While most roads in town and main highways are clear, several areas remain wet and have patches that are likely to refreeze tonight. Additionally, poor road conditions in the northern and western parts of our district would prevent 11 buses from completing their routes, with several others only able to run partially. We hope that allowing another day for roads and parking lots to clear will enable us to resume classes on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will provide updates through our usual communication channels, including text, social media, our website, and local TV stations. Stay safe and warm, Panthers! 🫶🏼

Due to incoming winter weather and its potential impact on our area, Benton School District will be closed on Friday, January 10, 2025. Stay safe and warm!

Benton schools will be in session on Thursday, January 9, with an EARLY DISMISSAL at 1 PM. All activities and athletic events scheduled for tomorrow are canceled. If weather or road conditions change and we need to dismiss earlier or close schools for the day, we will notify families immediately through our usual communication channels. Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize the safety of our students and staff! Stay safe, Panther family! 🐾

Important message regarding your MacBooks and low temperatures this week! #bhs #bhspanthers20242025

🌶️ Benton Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser – Join the Fun! 🎉 The Benton Counseling Department is thrilled to invite YOU to our Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser! This is your chance to enjoy an evening filled with food, fun, and fantastic entertainment—all while supporting a great cause! 📅 When: Thursday, January 23, 2025 📍 Where: BHS Cafeteria ⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM ✨ Here’s what’s in store: 🍲 A spicy chili competition to crown the district’s best! 🎶 Live entertainment 🛍️ A silent auction with incredible items up for grabs. Admission is FREE, but this is a fundraiser, so we hope you’ll support us by bidding in the silent auction and enjoying the event. Bring your friends, family, and appetite—we can’t wait to see you there!

Congratulations to our 2nd nine weeks Panther Pride winners! Seniors: Elle Bolding Bella Lagemann AD Gray Juniors: Abby Brown Carly Sue Cochran Jack Shipley Sophomores: Kloee Brown Chase Cobb Alec Wooten

❄️ Inclement Weather Procedures 🌨️ Weather can be unpredictable, and our top priority is keeping students and staff safe. Here’s what you need to know about how we handle inclement weather decisions: 📅 Timing of Decisions We strive to make decisions as early as possible, typically no later than 5:30 AM. 📢 How We’ll Notify You In the event of a school closure or delay, we’ll share updates through: 📱 Text message 📢 Social media 📺 Local TV stations 🌐 Our website We encourage all families to ensure their contact information is up to date and to stay tuned to these platforms during uncertain weather conditions. Thank you for helping us keep everyone informed and safe!

The Spring semester will begin tomorrow, January 6th. We cannot wait to see our students! Graphic design: Claire K. #bhs #bhspanthers20242025

Happy New Year's Day, BHS! #bhs #bhspanthers20242025

Happy New Year's Eve, BHS students and families! Graphic design: Bryana H. #bhs #bhspanthers20242025