NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Natural State is a place that's rich in history.
While you've probably heard of the Little Rock Nine before, there's another group that also left behind a significant historical impact— the North Little Rock Six.
Just days after the famous integration of Little Rock’s Central High, six other black students tried to do the same thing while at nearby North Little Rock High School but were turned away.
Since their attempted integration was unsuccessful, that group has been lost to history over the years, with few people having heard of them. That's why in 2019, North Little Rock High School students created a video to honor the group and tell their story.
Those students even got to interview, Richard Lindsey who was a part of the North Little Rock Six.
Now, NLR’s 7th Street Elementary School is following suit— they're changing the name of the school to honor the North Little Rock Six.
"There's currently nothing that exists in the city or in the school district that pays homage to these six individuals,” said Dr. Gregory Pilewski, Superintendent of the North Little Rock School District.
However, that's just one of the changes that the NLR 7th Street Elementary School is making.
When the change goes into effect, the full name of the school will be the North Little Rock 6 Academy of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences.
The second half of the name refers to an emphasis that the school is placing on themed learning— looking at all subjects through the lens of those two.
"Here we are in a Natural State. We're big in agriculture, and veterinary science is a growing field, and so the notion is to bring in industry experts to integrate their learning," Pilewski said. "It's got to be a lot more fun when you're learning math or reading, but you get to do that tied with a theme and really connected with a person that's an expert in that area. It makes learning more meaningful and relevant to a child’s life."
The superintendent said that this has already involved students who have been learning alongside Arkansas Game and Fish, as well as the city's animal shelter.
You might also notice the word “academy” in the new title, as opposed to elementary. That’s also intentional and has to do with the district’s plans to expand the school.
"It will grow over time to add a sixth grade, add a seventh grade, and add an eighth grade,” Pilewski said. “At about 75 to 80 students per grade level."
He explained how the school definitely has room to grow, and said he hopes to add sixth grade during the 2025-26 school year.
Ultimately, all the changes are aimed at helping students— and honoring students of the past.
“It’s just the right thing to do,” Pilewski in regard to the naming of the school. “To memorialize them and the courage that they had."