PK–12 Public Schools · Hot Springs, Arkansas

Academics

Curriculum & instruction

How CMS organizes learning from early childhood through graduation—Arkansas standards, campus expectations, assessment, and the technology families use every day.

Instruction

Built for Arkansas standards—and for real students.

Cutter Morning Star follows Arkansas academic standards and state assessment expectations while keeping instruction practical for a small PK–12 district. Teachers align units across grade bands, use data to adjust when students need intervention or stretch goals, and communicate with families through conferences, Home Access Center, and campus newsletters.

Curriculum looks different in a kindergarten classroom than in a senior English or CTE lab—but the goal is the same: students who can read, reason, solve problems, and graduate ready for their next step.

PK–12

Learning by grade band

Two buildings share Eagle expectations with age-appropriate pacing, staffing, and support.

Elementary (PK–6)

Foundational literacy and math, hands-on science and social studies, PE, art, music, and habits that help young learners grow in confidence. Staff focus on knowing each child and partnering with families early.

CMS Elementary overview

High school (7–12)

Core graduation requirements, electives, CTE, fine arts, and counseling that tracks credits and post-secondary plans. Juniors and seniors may access college coursework through National Park College when eligible.

CMS High School overview

CMS students collaborating

Assessment

How we measure growth

Teachers use classroom assessments, benchmark tools, and Arkansas state testing windows to understand what students have learned and where they need support. Families see grades and attendance in Home Access Center; campuses share results and context through conferences and communications.

My School Info (opens in new tab)

Technology

Digital tools that support learning

Students and staff use technology for research, assignments, collaboration, and communication with families. CMS follows responsible-use expectations and provides Google Workspace for Education accounts where applicable, with parental consent and notice documents available for download.

For day-to-day tools—Home Access Center, Google Classroom, Gmail, and related links—see student tools and parent tools on the family resources page. Technology handouts and registration forms are in the document library.

Responsible use

Campus rules and district policies guide device use, online behavior, and privacy—aligned with Arkansas expectations for public schools.

Google Workspace

Parental consent and notice forms for education accounts are hosted locally—search “Google Workspace” in the family document library.

For families

Staying informed about coursework

Questions about a specific class? Start with the teacher or campus office.

  1. Check Home Access Center

    View grades, attendance, and schedules through the Arkansas parent portal. Links are on family resources.

  2. Review campus communications

    Newsletters, the district live feed, and the events calendar share testing windows, conferences, and school-year milestones.

  3. Download forms you need

    Calendars, nurse packets, GT forms, and registration documents are searchable in the family document library—no need to hunt old Thrillshare links.

  4. Ask about programs

    Gifted & talented, intervention, virtual options, and career pathways are described on special programs. Enrollment rules for alternative paths are on enrollment process.

Need a form or calendar?

Search the family document library for testing calendars, handbooks, and campus PDFs—or call the district office and we will point you to the right file.