Education: A Lesson in Life

Washington County School District
435-673-3553
http://www.wash.k12.ut.us/
121 West Tabernacle, St. George
Max Rose, Superintendent

January 11, 2007 - Superintendent, Max Rose, After my third year as superintendent, I am delighted to report that the Washington School District is one of the finest districts in the nation. I base that statement on the fact that several of our schools, teachers, students and student services have been awarded state and national honors. The reason for these awards are based on the fact that they are deserved, as judged by national organizations and peer groups.

This fall we will start with 38 schools. This is an increase of two new schools. Population projections provided by the governor's office indicate that the district will increase by 87% over the next 15 years. These growth indicators give us a continual challenge to met the needs of the area, not only in facilities, buy by increasing the quality of our educational commitments."

“Washington County has been experiencing unprecedented growth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Washington County was the 4th fastest growing county in the nation from July 2004 – July 2005 with a 7.7% growth rate. Since the 2000 Census, Washington County has grown from 90,354 residents to over 120,000 and is the 19th fastest growing county at 31.6% growth.”

The October 1, 2000 student enrollment numbers for the Washington County School District were 18,328. This past school year, the District enrolled 23,143 students, an increase of 26.3% in six years. During the same time period, the District experienced a 43.3% increase in the number of students attending Kindergarten, 48.0% in the 1st grade and 49.9% in the 2nd grade. All indicators show growth in the county will continue and by the year 2010 there will be over 31,000 students enrolled in the district.

To handle the growth, five elementary schools and one intermediate school have been built in the past five years. The District also completed expansion/remodels of one middle school and two high schools in that same time period. There are currently two schools: one intermediate school (Tonaquint) and one high school (Desert Hills) under construction. This past summer, the residents of Washington County approved a $150 million bond for continued construction of new school facilities: four new pre-schools, four new elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school and one high school. These new schools are projected to be completed by the year 2012.

Washington County School District has had great success in educating the increasing number of students. The senior graduation rate is 93%. Students in the 11th grade in Washington County scored nearly 3 percent above the state average on the IOWA Test of Basic Skills and were over 19% higher than the national average.

Adult Education

Dixie State College
435-652-7500 http://www.dixie.edu/
225 South 700 East, St. George

Established in 1911 and built on the site of the first pioneer encampment in St. George, over 9,000 students are enrolled at Dixie State College of Utah (DSC). DSC offers associate degrees and certificate programs, but has also offered a limited number of high demand baccalaureate programs since 2000 and has now begun offering baccalaureate programs in core or foundational areas consistent with four-year colleges as well.
A Full Roster of Programs

Currently, Dixie State College students can earn baccalaureate degrees in seven areas of study. The College added four-year degrees in Biology and English in 2006. Students can also earn bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, Computer & Information Technology, Elementary Education, Nursing, and Communication & News Media. Dixie State’s new mission will pave the way to more and more bachelor’s degrees in coming years. Dixie State is home to some of the top health science programs in the state, including a nursing program that achieved the highest student pass rate among all programs in the state on the RN licensor exam for three years in a row and a dental hygiene program that consistently scores among the top 10 percent in the nation on board exams.

Dixie State also offers a wide variety of associate degree and certificate programs, as well as a number of adult education opportunities. The Institute for Continued Learning (ICL) is also available for retired and semi-retired individuals, as is the DSC Elderhostel program.

Cultural & Business Enhancements

Community involvement is a key ingredient to the success of Dixie State College. DSC provides many cultural opportunities for the community, many of which are now featured in the college’s new state-of-the-art Eccles Fine Arts Center. The College also sponsors a Celebrity Concert Series, the annual Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show, the Tanner Amphitheater Summer Concert Series at the mouth of nearby Zion National Park, and the Southwest Symphony and Chorale. DSC also recently forged partnerships with the Southern Utah Heritage Choir and St. George Musical Theater (SGMT). For information on tickets, call (435) 652-7800.

The Dixie Business Alliance and the Washington County Economic Development Council, which offer a number of services to area businesses, are headquartered on the DSC campus.

Athletics

Dixie State Athletics is currently in the midst of a transition from the junior college ranks to the NCAA (Division II). Dixie State was recently granted conference affiliation with the Pacific West Conference, which includes teams in Hawaii, California, Arizona and now Utah.

At the NJCAA level, Dixie State’s athletic programs consistently enjoyed time in the national spotlight. Since 2000, the college’s athletic teams have won four national championships – women’s soccer (2000/2003), men’s basketball (2002), and baseball (2004). For information on tickets, call (435) 652-7800.

Dixie Applied Technology College — DXATC
435-656-4075 • 435-652-7730
North Plaza Building
55 South 900 East, St. George

A partnership has been formed between Dixie State College and the new Dixie Applied Technology College (DXATC), a regional subsidiary of the newly created Utah College of Applied Technology.

DXATC is headquartered on the DSC campus, and many of the courses offered through DXATC are currently available at Dixie State College. Programs available include building construction, cabinet making, CISCO, cosmetology, diesel mechanics, office administration and welding.

Mohave Community College North Mohave Campus
928-875-2799
800-678-3992
480 S. Central, Colorado City AZ 86021
http://www.mohave.edu/

Mohave Community College strives to provide higher education to all who seek it. Why is MCC a smart choice? Education = higher income; affordable, accessible and high quality education; variety of programs; full accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and a history of service.

Reaching out to serve all of Mohave County and neighboring communities in Southern Utah, Mohave Community College’s district covers more than 13,000 square miles.

With campuses in Colorado City, Bullhead City, Kingman and Lake Havasu City, a wide variety of classes at off-site locations and an extensive Distance Education program, MCC offers students throughout the county and around the world the ability to enhance their lives through education.

In addition to its college-level course listings, Mohave Community College’s Office of Continuing Education provides corporate training, designed to maximize potential profitability for businesses. The customized training program helps facilitate positive change in an organization by improving productivity, upgrading workplace skills and knowledge, accessing and improving technical skills and much more.

Sensory Development Institute
877-652-9003
1871 West Canyon View Drive
St. George, Utah 84770

SDI recognizes the need for professional therapists to fill this expanding job market. SDI has established criteria and curriculum that not only supports wellness but meets the requirements of a private, post secondary career school licensed under the State Board of Regents. SDI prepares students for national certification and state licensing in the field of therapeutic massage. Additional electives and advanced courses are offered

Utah State University
St. George (USU) on the campus of Dixie State College of Utah.
435-652-7892
http://stgeorge.usu.edu/

USU has a strong reputation for delivering high quality undergraduate and graduate programs to residents throughout the state of Utah. A variety of master degrees and a doctorate of education are available here in St. George. Taking two classes per semester a student can finish a program within two years while fulfilling commitments to family, work and community. Classes are delivered live via interactive broadcast one evening a week with many courses also offered online. Visit their web site for more details on programs and for information on contacting a counselor.

American Institute of Medical/Dental Technology
800-652-0907
http://www.americaninstitute.edu/

The American Institute of Medical/ Dental Technology offers short-term vocational training that prepares graduates for the real workplace. Provo and Draper campuses offer medical and dental assisting, pharmacy tech, medical-dental office management, dental lab tech and surgical tech.

Massage Therapy Academy
(435)673-4101
http://www.massagetherapyacademy.net/
368 E. St. George Blvd. #1

Discover a career where you can truly touch people’s lives… Their flexible schedule allows students to enroll any time, learn at their own pace, and choose their therapy emphasis. Taught in a lovely day spa environment, students learn from the most experienced faculty in the area, in small class groups. For more information, call 435-673-4101, or visit them at 368 E. St. George Blvd.

Youth Education K Thru 12 Private

The Learning Center for Families
435-673-5353
1192 W. Sunset Blvd. No. 2, St. George

The Learning Center, a private, non-profit agency provides family support services through two programs. They include early intervention, serving families of children from birth to three years who show any kind of developmental delay or have a condition closely associated with developmental delays and Early Head Start, for low-income pregnant women and families of children, from birth to three years.

Sylvan Learning Center
435-656-1700
57 North 500 East, St. George
http://www.educate.com/

Sylvan Learning Center St. George is an accredited school providing personalized instruction to students of all ages and skill levels. With a student teacher ratio of 3:1, Sylvan’s qualified staff creates confident, independent students by discovering and targeting the causes of academic frustrations. Using the results of a comprehensive skill assessment, they create a personalized curriculum that addresses and eliminates underlying issues.

Through positive reinforcement and their unique instructional method known as Mastery Learning, Sylvan ensures that each student achieves success.

9-12 Public Charter
Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts
435-652-3201

Utah’s first fully accredited charter high school provides a college preparatory program with intensive instruction in the performing arts of music, dance and drama.

Teen Residential Treatment Centers

Cinnamon Hills
800-782-2888
770 E. St. George Blvd., St. George

Cinnamon Hills is a residential treatment program for boys and girls ages 12 through 17 who are falling short of their potential. Services include a 24-hour staff-secured facility, behavioral approach for youth with conduct and/or attitude problems, drug and alcohol treatment, vocational/life skills training, year-round schooling and aftercare planning. The school is licensed by the Utah Division of Human Services, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and is a Medicaid provider.

Diamond Ranch Academy
435-635-4297
1500 East 2700 South, Hurricane

A licensed adolescent residential treatment center, Diamond Ranch Academy is founded upon the principles of choice and accountability, not coercion. Youths learn to correlate the changes they make at the ranch to life after the program through the “Real Life Transitions Program.” Education is a key element in the program and the Academy is fully accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Association as a Utah high school and staffed by certified professional teachers. There is a strong therapeutic component in the program as well, and students are assisted by a licensed therapist in both individual and group therapy. All aspects of the program take place in an open, non-punitive environment where the students can participate in outdoor activities as well as classroom attendance. The focus at DRA is to teach real life skills in a monitored and structured environment - a safe place for teens to learn and grow.

SunHawk Academy
435-656-3211 : 800-214-3878
948 North 1300 West, St. George
http://www.sunhawk.org/

SunHawk provides treatment programs for troubled teens, ages 13 through 17, facing emotional and family problems, substance abuse, sexual promiscuity and academic problems. The program takes an integrated approach to dealing with dual diagnosis issues, using a residential treatment setting and personal and family development workshops to provide comprehensive treatment.

St George Area Chamber of Commerce
97 E St George Blvd, St George, UT 84770
Phone: 435-628-1658