History

Rural Special is located in remote hilly north central Arkansas near a place called Fox.  School began at the present location in the Fall of 1946 when one-room school houses were consolidated in a 125 square mile area.  The first school year included 1^st -10^th grades.  The next year 11^th grade was added and 12^th grade the following year.  The first seniors graduated in 1949.  The Parent Teacher Organization was formed in 1947.  The P.T.O. has well preserved records in a ledger book dating back to 1950 which includes minutes and financial reports.  The mission of P.T.O. is to support the school and community.  The P.T.O. gets its funding from an annual Fall Festival held at the school which the entire community attends.  Funds are typically used for end-of-year reward trips for students; classroom supplies for teachers; state conventions and competitions for students; and Red Ribbon week-a drug awareness/prevention program.

P.T.O. contributed the funds for postage to mail Alumni Reunion invitations.  A book is being compiled about the History of Rural Special.  All profits from the sale of the books will go to the P.T.O.