New Arkansas private school credits school choice program for successful launch

A new private school is opening in southeast Arkansas this fall, which founders say wouldn’t be possible without the state’s Education Freedom Account.

Star City Christian Academy will welcome its first group of students Aug. 11 to Fellowship Bible Church in Star City.

The first private school option in the area, it expects to reach its maximum capacity of 60 students in grades K-12 for the 2025-26 school year, according to KATV.

“I worked in public education for two and a half years, and I realized that that was not appropriate for me or my children,” said Ashley Goodman, the academy’s office administrator, who has enrolled her three children. “At public school, we were between 25 and 30 students with one teacher, and here we will be from anywhere from 10 to 15 per teacher.” 

The school received its funding through Arkansas’ LEARNS Act, which allows families to use Education Freedom Accounts to pay for private or homeschool tuition, special education and therapy services. The state program provides $6,800 per student for the upcoming academic year, 40/29 News reports. 

“We’ve tried before, and there just wasn’t a way,” Lori Otley, one of the school’s co-founders and directors, told reporters. “And until now, anyone that went to a private school, it was families that could afford to do so. And now, thanks to our governor, this is available for anyone that chooses to.” 

While being Christian isn’t a requirement to attend the school, all students will take Bible classes. 

Rebecca McGee, another co-founder and director, credited staff with the experience to provide children with a strong Christian education. 

“We’ve all been teaching for about 20 years or more, so we’re taking what we’ve learned that works and doesn’t work in the public school, and we’re making improvements here. And we’re putting God back in the school.” 

Students must arrange their own transportation for now, although the school is considering this as part of its five-year plan, an employee said. 

Star City, which is approximately an hour southeast of Little Rock, has about 2,100 residents.