Education
Quality education options
T
here are many opportunities when it comes to education in Northern Nevada. Whether you are looking for the right school for your children or higher education institutions to prepare you for a career, there is a quality option for everyone. The Washoe County School District (WCSD) serves nearly 64,000 students in Reno-Sparks and in the surrounding areas. The district operates 64 elementary schools, 14 middle schools and 13 comprehensive high schools. WCSD offers four elementary school and two middle school STEM Academies to increase opportunities for students to learn Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM teachers use Project-Based Learning to motivate students to gain knowledge by practicing the skills they learn in real-world situations. Some STEM classrooms have partnerships with technology businesses that provide real world applications. There are many Advanced Placement classes available throughout the district that expose students to college-level studies. For greatly gifted middle and high school students, there is the Davidson Academy of Nevada located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Students looking for an alternative to traditional schools have several options within WCSD. The district operates North Star Online School, an accredited, flexible, tuition-free, online school for students K-12th grades. Truckee Meadows Community College High School allows students to work toward an associate degree or technical certificate in addition to their high school diploma and The Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology (AACT) is an advanced career technical education academy. AACT is recognized as the top performing school in the district. WCSD’s Class of 2016 set a new record with the highest graduation rate in district history with 77 percent of students earning a diploma. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the district’s graduation rate has increased. With the growth in the region, the community is recognizing the importance of investing in education. In November 2016, Washoe County citizens voted in favor of WC-1, a ballot measure to raise sales tax a half-cent with funds directed to alleviate overcrowding of district schools. The funds are being allocated to fix needed repairs on existing school buildings as well as to build new schools.
In addition to public schools, there are many private schools for both grade school and high school students. Private high schools include Bishop Manogue Catholic High School, Sage Ridge College Preparatory School, a 4th–12th grade school, Sterling Academy, a private online middle and high school and more. There are a number of traditional and non-traditional education options when it comes to higher education. Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) serves more than 25,500 students annually. They offer more than 50 programs of study with more than 160 degrees and certificates. TMCC is continually working to prepare their students for the jobs coming to Northern Nevada by working directly with local companies. “TMCC is thrilled to work with emerging industries and major companies, such as Tesla and Panasonic,” said Dr. Karin Hilgersom, president of Truckee Meadows Community College. “We offer programs and certifications to provide skills and training needed by the employers. The college has a long and rich history of responding to workforce development needs of the region.” In addition to TMCC, there are several other community colleges to choose from in Western Nevada such as Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada College in Carson City, plus Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, a private four-year liberal arts college. Reno is home to a national Tier 1 university, as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The University of Nevada, Reno offers more than 145 degree programs through its nine colleges. Seventy-five percent of University of Nevada, Reno graduates work in Nevada after graduation, according to communication officials at UNR. The land-grant university is continuing to grow and reported an enrollment of 21, 353 students for fall 2016. To better serve their growing student population, the university has added a total of 166 new faculty members since fall 2014. The university has also invested a total of $387 million in facility improvements since 2011 – only $23.8 million of which came from state funds. Students looking for an online learning experience can turn to Western Governors University. WGU Nevada is an online, competency-based university. The school offers more than 50 accredited bachelors and masters degrees in highdemand career fields such as business, K–12 teacher education, information technology and health professions, including nursing. There are also several career colleges in the area such as Career College of Northern Nevada located in Sparks, Carrington College in Reno and more. No matter what you are looking for, there is sure to be an educational option that is right for you in Northern Nevada. ■
A view of Truckee Meadows Community College campus and the surrounding area. TMCC serves more than 25,500 students annually. Photo Courtesy TMCC
10 | Nevada HOME | Winter 2017