PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. --- Eighteen schools in the Pulaski County Special School District have earned the Arkansas Purple Star School designation.
Superintendent Jeff Senn is committed to making PCSSD a Purple Star School District. Remaining schools are actively working to achieve this status.
This recognition honors schools that demonstrate a major commitment to serving military‑connected students and their families. The Arkansas Purple Star School Award ensures schools are prepared to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of students whose parents serve in our nation’s armed forces.
To earn the distinction of a Purple Star District, every school within PCSSD must first achieve Purple Star status. This means each campus must designate a military liaison, provide resources for military families on its website, include military-family supports in its parent-involvement plan, and host at least one school- or community-based event focused on military‑connected students.
Schools also commit to training staff, creating student ambassador programs, and ensuring a military‑connected individual serves on their family engagement committee. At the district level, additional steps are required.
PCSSD Purple Star Schools include:
Baker Elementary
Cato Elementary
Clinton Elementary
Crystal Hill Elementary
Daisy Bates Elementary
Joe T. Robinson Elementary
Joe T. Robinson High
Maumelle Middle
Mills Middle
Wilbur D. Mills University Studies High
Oakbrooke Elementary
Oak Grove Elementary
Pine Forest Elementary
Sherwood Elementary
Sylvan Hills Elementary
Sylvan Hills Middle
Sylvan Hills Junior High
Sylvan Hills High
The Arkansas Council for Military Children oversees the program in cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Education.
Joe T. Robinson Principal Laconya Isaac said that as the wife of a retired Air Force veteran, this recognition is a “true honor.”
“It is both a privilege and a responsibility that we hold with great pride. Serving our military families—who sacrifice so much in service to our nation—is one of the most meaningful aspects of our work. We remain dedicated to providing a welcoming, supportive, and stable environment where every student can thrive,” Isaac said.
“Being named a Purple Star School is a privilege that fills us with pride. We remain dedicated to supporting and uplifting our military families, honoring their resilience, courage, and invaluable contributions," Sylvan Hills High School Military Club Sponsor and Liaison Nora Cummings said.
Photo taken on Family Day 2025 at Cato Elementary