Benton High School is a public high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 located in Benton, Saline County

Benton, Arkansas

Benton is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Arkansas, United States and a suburb of Little Rock. It was established in 1837. According to a 2006 Special Census conducted at the request of the city government, the population of the city is 27,717, ranking it as the state's 16th largest...

, Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...

. Benton High School is a member of the Benton School District.

History

In 1885, a public referendum established the Benton School District within the county wide system. In Saline County in 1889, there were about 4,700 students, 62 teachers, and 50 public schools. In addition, there were several private schools in the county. After 1900, smaller neighboring school districts were consolidated with the Benton District, making it possible to have a larger and better teaching force, improved equipment, and longer terms. However, it was not until the 1920s that children were required to attend school. Starting in 1928, rural children that did not have access to high school courses, were allowed to transfer to Benton High and were not charged tuition. The Great Depression of the 1930s created a financial crisis in education, causing Benton school teachers to work for several years at almost half pay. In 1930, Hill’s Business College of Little Rock was established at Benton High School, where citizens of Saline County could take night classes. School enrollment grew during and after World War II.

Academic programs

Benton High School has been consistently recognized for its academic excellence including selection in the U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...

America's Best High Schools. In addition, honors received include:

• #1 in Geometry Test Scores for Two Consecutive Years
• 2009 AAA Academic Cheer Champions - #1 in State of Arkansas
• 2009, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1995 and 1993 State Champions Quiz Bowl
• 2009 U.S. News and World Report America's Best High Schools - Bronze Medal
• 2008 U.S. News and World Report America's Best High Schools - Bronze Medal

Athletic and extracurricular programs

The Benton Panthers compete in the state's larger classifications (6A and 7A). The Panthers have captured several state championships:

• 2008-09 State Champions Boys and Girls Golf; (1st Time in Arkansas history for both to come from same school)
• 2008-09 State Champions Cheerleaders
• 2008-09 State Champions Baseball
• 2008-09 State Runner Up Dance Team
• 2008-09 State Runner Up Softball
• 1983-84 State Champions Boys Golf
• 1980-81 State Champions Boys Golf
• 1976-77 State Champions Football
• 1970-71 State Champions Boys Track and Field
• 1963-64 State Champions Boys Track and Field
• 1961-62 State Champions Boys Track and Field
• 1960-61 State Champions Boys Track and Field
• 1958-59 State Champions Boys Track and Field