Workforce Training

The chief vehicle for workforce training for the Hot Springs Metro area is National Park Community College. In addition to customized workforce training curricula designed in conjunction with industry, the following general categories of workforce training are offered:

Employee Development
Training Zigglets
Achieve Global Team and Leadership Training
Industrial Training
Quality Training
Management Training
Safety
Computer classes for Business and Industry
Project Management Training
OSHA Training
Career Readiness assessment and testing

More information on the workforce training program is available here.

Hot Springs Metro Partnership Contact Information
David Byerly, CEcD, President/CEO

Kay Brockwell, Director of Business Retention and Recruitment

Office phone (501) 321-1700

Office phone (501) 624-6807

Office fax (501) 321-3551

Education

K-12 Education

Garland County is served by 7 different school districts; each has a different strength to offer. All seven school districts are ranked average or above in statewide rankings of student performance.

Lake Hamilton School District, enrollment 3,955, was ranked the top academic school district in the state of Arkansas for 2008-2009 by the Arkansas Policy Foundation, a private non-profit group dedicated to analyzing the impact of public policy on the state. The rankings were based chiefly on scores on the SAT-10 tests administered in 2009. The largest school district in the county, it is also known for its athletic prowess.

Hot Springs School District, enrollment 3,724, includes Hot Springs High School, the alma mater of former President Bill Clinton. The district offers four elementary magnet school programs and three middle school academies designed to improve student performance, including the Park International Baccalaureate School. Hot Springs has a “C” ranking from the Arkansas Policy Foundation.

Lakeside School District, enrollment 2766, was also ranked in the state’s best schools by the Arkansas Policy Foundation, earning a sixth-place spot. It has been ranked as one of the top 10 school districts in Arkansas three times, and was designated by Gov. Mike Beebe as one of the state’s 15 “best practices” schools based on its improvement in student test scores.

Fountain Lake School District, enrollment 1,147, also received a “C” ranking from the Arkansas Policy Foundation.

Jessieville School District, enrollment 854, received a “B” ranking from the Arkansas Policy Foundation, ranking 37^th among the 244 districts.

Cutter Morning Star School District, enrollment 699, received a “C” ranking from the Arkansas Policy Foundation.

Mountain Pine School District, enrollment 625, received a “B” ranking from the Arkansas Policy Foundation, ranking 50^th among the state’s 244 school districts.

Post-Secondary Education
National Park Community College in Hot Springs offers workforce training, technical certificates, and associates degrees in arts, sciences and applied sciences. Its emphasis is in the health care professions, although its general and technical education curricula span almost all fields.

Other two-year institutions within 100 miles

University of Arkansas Community College, Morrilton

Arkansas State University, Beebe

Rich Mountain Community College, Mena

Cossatot Community College, DeQueen

Southeast Arkansas Community College, Pine Bluff

University of Arkansas Community College, Hope

Ouachita Technical College, Malvern

Pulaski Technical Institute, Little Rock

Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia

Shorter College, Little Rock

Four-year colleges within 100 miles