The Episcopal Collegiate School

Episcopal Collegiate is a new school--it has graduated fewer than ten classes--so there's not much of a college placement track record to look at. However, the school is more committed to academic rigor than any other private school in town, in my opinion. It is the only private (or public) school in the state that uses the ERB's CTP-4 Testing Program, which is a standardized achievement test specifically designed for high-achieving schools and schools that seek to set high standards.

The class of 2011 was uncharacteristically small--43 students, as opposed to a more normal level around 60--but the class had three National Merit finalists, and college acceptances included the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy, Columbia, Vassar, Georgia Tech, University of Virginia, Washington & Lee, and Northwestern.

However, the school is not "for brainiacs only." Little Rock simply doesn't have the population density to economically sustain a super-selective private high school. So there are plenty of students there who aren't "brainiacs" who do well in the more challenging environment this school provides, and there is a wide selection of athletics, music, theater, art and other activities available.