Springdale Public Schools

Bernice Young Elementary School has been named a 2020 Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.
“I commend you for striving to do what’s right for your students and to personalize instruction to meet your students’ unique needs and strengths,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a letter to the school. “Thank you for what you do to help your students realize their potential and achieve their dreams.”
In her first year as Young Elementary principal, Christy Norwood said, “It’s an honor to lead a school that already had so many good things happening. It’s amazing to be recognized at a national level.”
Debbie Flora, the principal at Young for many years before retiring in May, shared in the exciting news. She said, “If anyone deserves to be recognized, it’s the incredible team at Young. Through the great relationships built between students and staff, every child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.
“While this validates the work the Young staff does, it is a reflection of the entire Springdale School District. Young puts into action district values and initiatives. The entire district utilizes research that shows what works best for kids.”
Young is one of five schools in Arkansas to be recognized with 2020 Blue Ribbon status. The most recent school in Springdale to have been named a National Blue Ribbon School was Hunt Elementary in 2018.