Eureka Springs Elementary School will receive a financial boost after performing well in statewide testing growth.

Eureka Springs Elementary finished in the top 6 to 10 percent of Arkansas public schools and public charter schools and will receive $10,000.

The Arkansas School Recognition Program was created to provide financial awards to public schools that experience high student performance, student academic growth, and for secondary schools, high graduation rate. Arkansas Code authorizes rewards in an amount up to $50 per student in schools in the top 6-10 percent in student performance or student academic growth.

Total performance and growth amount in the state was $6,950,900, according to the Arkansas Department of Education website.

“We’re excited about it,” Eureka Springs Superintendent Bryan Pruitt said.

How the funds are spent will be decided by a committee of staff at each campus, Pruitt said.

Eureka Springs Elementary also received $10,000 last year and the money was used to purchase a book vending machine, Pruitt said.

“It has been a huge hit and success with our kids,” Pruitt said. “The students get tokens for things and then they can purchase a book from the vending machine, just like a snack machine. We’re constantly buying new books for it and it has been a good benefit for our students. I’m we’ll come up with something along the lines of instruction or supplies we can use to help us increase literacy.

“Anything we can do to promote or increase literacy.”