School Story

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School first opened in 1960 and served students in grades 3 to 6. In 2024, we changed our name to Thomas Jefferson Leadership Academy to match our emphasis on student leadership. We have the honor of serving and inspiring over 400 student leaders in grades K-4. We are grateful for our small, close-knit school community.

Our downtown location provides easy access to the Bentonville square, courthouse, library, museums, fire station, and more! We are able to take advantage of these community resources for field trips and exploration. TJ also has a newly updated outdoor garden and easy access to the trails behind our school. These resources offer a myriad of opportunities for students to explore and learn about the environment.

Our mission at TJ is to empower our student leaders to be TIGERS that Take initiative, Include others, Grow as learners, Exhibit integrity, Respectfully collaborate, and Serve our community. We are guided by six core values: Leadership, Empathy, Growth, Integrity, Collaboration, & Service. We believe these values will help our students to grow, lead, and succeed both within the classroom and throughout life. These values are intentionally embedded into our school culture and promoted amongst our students and staff alike.