The Cave City School District’s millage extension proposal has officially passed, with voters approving the measure by a decisive 525 to 97 in Tuesday’s special election. The extension allows the district to restructure existing debt — without raising the current millage rate — securing the local funding needed to access a $12.7 million state Partnership Grant for a new elementary school.
Superintendent Steven Green expressed gratitude to voters, saying the district deeply appreciates the community’s support. With approval secured, the district will now begin preparations for a brand-new, 72,000-square-foot elementary facility serving grades K–5. The new school will be constructed behind the high school gym.
A Major Investment in Cave City’s Future
The total project cost is estimated between $25–27 million. The district already has $6.1 million saved and will use the authorized debt restructuring to generate the remaining $7.4 million required to access the state matching funds.
Modern Safety & Technology
The new elementary school will feature:
Secure single-entry system
Modern video surveillance
Community-accessible safe room (when students are not present)
Updated utilities and infrastructure
Latest classroom technology
The district noted that the current elementary building, dating back to the 1960s, has aging infrastructure, repeated add-on sections, and rising maintenance costs.
A High-Performing District
Cave City continues to excel academically. Ranked 19th out of 250 Arkansas districts—the highest in North Central Arkansas—the district’s strong performance stands out even amid significant economic challenges. According to SchoolDigger:
Cave City High School ranks 18th of 291 Arkansas high schools (5-star rating)
Cave City Middle School ranks 57th of 324 middle schools (4-star rating)
Students outperform state averages in ELA, Math, and Science
Low student-teacher ratios and effective resource allocation strengthen achievement
Moving Forward
With voter approval now secured, design, planning, and construction phases for the new K–5 facility will begin. Superintendent Green said the district looks forward to providing a modern, safe learning environment that the entire Cave City community can be proud of.
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