2025 Black History Month Gala

Bearden, AR (February 5, 2025) – Ouachita Country Training School (OCTS) and The Greater Bradley District Association will host their annual Black History Month Program, “Honoring A Legacy of Achievement,” on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in Bearden, Arkansas, at the First Assembly of God Family Life Center located at 400 1st Northeast Street. The sold-out event will highlight community leaders who have made lasting and significant contributions.

OCTS Listed on National Register of Historic Places

Bearden, AR (September 12, 2023) – The Ouachita Country Training School (OCTS) has been selected for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. OCTS served as the educational hub for hundreds of African American students in Bearden, Arkansas, from 1949-1971 during an era of segregation that ended with the Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education.

Ouachita County Training School Receives Donation for Anthony Timberlands

Bearden, AR (December 13, 2024) – The Ouachita County Training School Historic Committee (OCTS) received a $10,000 donation from the Katherine Anthony Foundation. It is the largest gift awarded to the organization dedicated to restoring the formerly all-Black school, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.