Arkansas

New Study Sheds Light on Education Trends Among Gen Zers in Arkansas

Published

2 years ago

August 23, 2024

New Study Sheds Light on Education Trends Among Gen Zers in Arkansas

Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation released results Thursday from a new survey showing Generation Z students in Arkansas are more likely than the national average to engage in several key areas of their education. The Voices of Gen Z Arkansas Youth study found they are also more likely to say they know their core values.

A follow-up to Gallup’s annual national survey, the study is designed to better understand this generation’s unique outlook, ambitions and challenges. Part of a national initiative, Gallup and the foundation also surveyed more than 500 Arkansans between the ages of 12 to 27.

“These findings reveal that Arkansas students are having positive classroom experiences. They are motivated by great educators and are exploring career paths instead of just pursuing a bachelor’s degree,” said Robert Burns, director of the Walton Family Foundation Home Region Program. “To keep opportunities strong for Gen Z in Arkansas, we need to focus on retaining quality teachers, improving regional affordability, expanding career options and making sure everyone has a say in future solutions.”

Highlights of the 2024 Voices of Gen Z Arkansas Youth study include:

While Arkansas respondents were mostly in line with national averages, there was some data that stood out.

Arkansas Gen Z respondents identified these three factors as being very important:
- Building a life that makes you happy (83%)
- Making enough money to live comfortably (78%)
- Having close relationships with friends and family (74%)
Young Arkansans know their core values better than young people nationally. In 2024, 50% of Gen Zers in Arkansas strongly agree they know what their core values are, compared with 38% nationally.
Arkansas Gen Zers are more likely to say that having a good spiritual or religious life (48% compared to 35%) and having children (38% compared to 29%) is very important to have a great life compared with their national Gen Z peers.
Less than half of Arkansas Gen Zers are thriving, falling below the national average (45% compared to 51%). Gallup considers people to be thriving if they give high ratings to their current life and their future expected life.

Secondary Education:

Arkansan Gen Zers are more likely than the national average to be engaged by their teachers and schoolwork. Eighty-two percent of Arkansan Gen Zers agree or strongly agree they have at least one teacher who makes them excited about their future. This aspect of school is the most highly rated by young Arkansans.
Arkansas Gen Zers (82%) are more likely to agree they have an inspiring teacher than their national peers (75%).
Compared with national findings, Arkansans say their teachers make them feel their schoolwork is important (69% compared to 60%).

Postsecondary Paths

While Arkansas Gen Zers are less likely than those nationally to enroll in postsecondary education right after high school, their desire for postsecondary education remains.
In Arkansas, 74% of Gen Zers aged 12 to 18 want to pursue college after high school.
Sixty-four percent of respondents aged 19 to 27 report enrolling in college in their first year after high school. This differs from their national peers, who are less likely to say they want to pursue college (68% among those aged 12 to 18) but are more likely to say they enrolled (80% among those aged 19 to 27).
Among Gen Zers of all ages (12 to 27), Arkansans are less likely than the national average to say that a bachelor’s degree is very or somewhat important to achieving their goals for the future (73% vs. 77%).
Like their national peers, Arkansas Gen Zers are most likely to identify the cost of living (60%) and the cost of education (46%) as challenges to achieving their goals.

“Learning from the experiences of younger generations is vital for anyone invested in the future of our state and country,” said Burns. “We aim to create the best experiences for all generations and hope this Gen Z study gives us, policymakers and researchers the insights needed to make informed decisions.”

The findings represent the second installment of a multiyear study to better understand Gen Z students in Arkansas and nationwide.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Bested by Mizzou on Sunday

Published

12 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

It was a tight battle all the way through, but ultimately No. 7 Missouri took down No. 8 Arkansas in Sunday’s SEC dual, 197.425-197.225.

There was plenty for the Gymbacks to be proud of in the meet, starting with the all-around performance of freshman Allison Cucci. She earned a new career high of 39.500, good for the all-around crown and the highest of any freshman in the nation this season. Cucci also tied for first on vault (9.900) and got second on beam (9.925).

Redshirt junior had a fantastic outing as a floor specialist and scored a 9.900 on vault and 9.925 on floor. Both marks were good for a share of first place on the events. Senior Morgan Price earned a big 9.925 at bars anchor, which tied for first on the event.

The last two events of the day kept Arkansas in contention with Mizzou, as the Gymbacks went 49.425 on both floor and beam, the latter a season high.

Bars

After a 9.675 from Joscelyn Roberson in the lead-off spot, Hailey Klein got the Gymbacks on pace again with a 9.875. Avery King made her collegiate debut next and delivered a great 9.825 routine in a last-minute situation. Her fellow freshmen Avalon Campbell and Allison Cucci went next and scored a 9.750 and 9.800, respectively. Morgan Price anchored with the energy Arkansas needed and capped her routine with a stick to score 9.925. Arkansas finished the bars rotation with a 49.175.

Vault

Cami Weaver and Leah Smith opened the vault rotation with Yurchenko fulls, scoring 9.800 and 9.750. Cucci and Klein were the team’s first 1.5s of the day, and the two scored 9.875 and 9.800, respectively. Lauren Williams went 9.875 in the fifth position and Morgan Price earned a 9.850. The Gymbacks scored 49.200 total on vault.

Floor

Arkansas started out floor with a 9.825 from Hailey Klein and a 9.850 from Cami Weaver. Cucci then broke into the 9.900 range with a new career high 9.900 midway through the rotation. Smith went 9.850 in the fourth position, keeping Arkansas on pace. Williams and Roberson closed the rotation strong with scores of 9.925 and 9.900, which pushed the Gymbacks’ floor total to 49.425.

Beam

Madison Gustitus began the beam rotation with a 9.775, and Priscilla Park went 9.875 next for the Gymbacks. Klein concluded her all-around day with a 9.850 on beam midway through the final rotation. Cucci came up next and got a huge 9.925, a new personal best for her. Weaver followed with a 9.875, which brought Roberson up to anchor. She did her usual and scored a 9.900, and Arkansas closed the meet with a 49.425 event score on beam, a new season high.

Up Next

Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena for its home finale against No. 1 Oklahoma on Friday, March 6. The meet has been deemed a White Out, and the team is pushing fans to help break the NCAA gymnastics attendance record, which is currently just over 16,000. It will also be Senior Night, honoring a fantastic class of Razorbacks. Action is set for 7:15 p.m. and tickets are available online, by phone, or in person. The meet will be streamed live on SEC Network+.

More Information

Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Gymnastics. You can also find the Razorbacks on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Gymnastics) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackGym).

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OPINION | WALLY HALL: Arkansas will need more than Robinson’s coerced contribution | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

24 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Wally Hall

whall@adgnewsroom.com

Wally Hall is assistant managing sports editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock after an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force, he is a member and past president of the Football Writers Association of America, member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, past president and current executive committee and board member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and voter for the Heisman Trophy. He has been awarded Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year 10 times and has been inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and Arkansas Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame.

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Who is Taylen Green? Arkansas QB dazzles with record-setting NFL combine performance

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Who is Taylen Green? Arkansas QB dazzles with record-setting NFL combine performance

Move over, Anthony Richardson. There’s a new quarterback athletic marvel at the NFL scouting combine.

On Saturday in Indianapolis, Arkansas’ Taylen Green broke Richardson’s top marks at the position since 2003 for both the vertical leap and broad jump. Green’s 43½-inch vertical topped Richardson’s previous high by three inches, while his 11-2 broad jump beat the Indianapolis Colts signal-caller’s measurement by five inches.

Then, Green reeled off a 4.36-second 40-yard dash time. That stood as the second-best time for any quarterback since 2003, trailing only Reggie McNeal in 2006 (4.35 seconds). Richardson, for comparison, logged a 4.43-second mark in 2023.

Green didn’t even bother with a second attempt after his initial time.

The testing profile created quite the stir around the 6-6, 227-pound passer, who had widely projected as a developmental option for teams on Day 3.

NFL Network’s Charles Davis said Green told him that no teams had approached him about working out as a receiver, adding that he would not be interested in a position switch.

Green started for the Razorbacks for the last two seasons after playing the first three years of his career at Boise State. Known for his running ability and ample arm strength, Green threw for 2,714 yards and 19 touchdowns last year while adding 777 yards and eight scores on the ground.

It was a banner day for Arkansas, as running back Mike Washington Jr. also stood out among his peers with a group-leading 4.33-second 40-yard dash as well as strong marks in the vertical leap (39 inches) and broad jump (10-8).

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