Mountain Home Public Schools expects all juniors to take the ACT WorkKeys assessment during the 2026-27 academic year, district testing coordinator Becca Camp informed the school board on August 6. This initiative builds on three years of increasing participation and certification rates, as detailed in Camp’s presentation.
WorkKeys, which measures applied math, workplace documents, and graphic literacy, awards certificates in four levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. These certifications are aimed at validating essential skills for the workplace. Camp highlighted that state policy changes have supported the program’s growth, including recognition of the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) as a graduation pathway under the Arkansas LEARNS Act.
Baxter County’s recent designation as an ACT Work Ready Community underscores the district’s efforts. Achieving this status, announced in June, relied heavily on the high school’s contributions to testing data. During the 2023-24 school year—the first year of a focused push—51 students participated, with 38 earning certifications. The next year, participation jumped to 117 students, 98 of whom achieved certification. By the 2025-26 school year, 153 students were tested, and 141 earned certificates, marking a 92% success rate. The number of top-tier platinum certifications also grew significantly, from two in the first year to 24 last year.
Camp credited the program’s early momentum to collaboration with Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dani Pugsley, who joined her in promoting the assessment. She explained that businesses seek skilled, job-ready workers and that the NCRC helps students demonstrate their workforce readiness to potential employers. Camp said putting the NCRC credential on résumés and job applications can help students secure interviews at local companies. Some businesses are already utilizing the certification in their hiring processes, including through participation in the district’s Draft Day hiring event.
The state contract funds one attempt for students to complete all three parts of the WorkKeys exam, but Mountain Home High School has found ways to offer retakes for individual sections, allowing students to improve scores without retaking the full exam. The district also plans to introduce test preparation boot camps and self-paced resources developed by ACT.
Camp noted that the certification process benefits both students and the broader community by enhancing local economic development. Baxter County’s Work Ready designation positions the area for grant opportunities and boosts its appeal to companies scouting workforce-ready locations. Businesses that sign on as partners in the program incur no costs and decide how to integrate the credential into their hiring decisions.
The district’s certification efforts form part of a growing national initiative. Camp’s presentation included a map showing certified ACT Work Ready counties, with states like neighboring Missouri nearing full participation.
Looking ahead, leaders believe the program will provide students with meaningful recognition for their skills while supporting local economic growth. “We’re super proud to keep this growing and just grow our own,” Camp said, referencing the district’s commitment to preparing students for life after graduation.