Higher Learning and Education Alternatives
From Sustaining Jackson Hole Wiki
There are a number of alternatives to traditional education in Jackson Hole, as well as options for taking classes at the college level. They range from environmental education and community college classes to University of Wyoming distance-learning courses and Christian-based education. The following section offers an overview.
Central Wyoming College
Central Wyoming College is based in Riverton but has an outreach office in Jackson. It is one of seven state-supported, two-year community colleges, and offers credit classes through Jackson classrooms, Internet-based classes, video-based classes, as well as non-credit community service classes. Credits are transferable to the University of Wyoming and other public colleges and universities. Several degrees are available through classes that can be taken entirely in Jackson, and the college offers roughly 100 classes each semester. It has fall and spring semesters and enrolls about 500 students per semester, roughly half in credit classes and half in community service classes.
307-733-7425 www.cwc.edu
C-V Ranch
A residential public school for handicapped, learning disabled, and emotionally disturbed students, C-V Ranch offers academic and vocational schooling and a psychological treatment program. The facility serves students from Teton County and six other Wyoming counties. The school’s goals are to help students maximize independence, meet personal goals, and transition to employment following school. It can serve 45 students and usually operates close to capacity.
307-733-8210
Jackson Hole Bible College
This Jackson-based college offers a one-year overview of the Bible. Its Christian-based curriculum includes field trips and guest speakers. Though not accredited, many of the school’s courses satisfy requirements at other colleges. The college, which is affiliated with the Community Bible Church, serves students from around the country. In spring 2003, it had an enrollment of 12.
307-739-8630 www.jhbc.edu
Jackson Hole Christian Academy
Serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the Jackson Hole Christian Academy offers a Christian-based education focused on grammar, logic and rhetoric. The course work is designed to translate to a variety of other schools. The Academy, which is affiliated with Community Bible Church, had a local enrollment of 30 in spring 2003.
307-734-1189
Jackson Hole Community School
The Jackson Hole Community School’s mission is a private, college-preparatory high school, which welcomed its first students in the fall of 2004. The Community School’s goal is to train its students to lead to a life of intellectual exploration and learning. In its first year, the Community School enrolled just freshmen and sophomores; by 2006, it will enroll students in grades 9-12. In the fall of 2005, it had 29 students enrolled in grades 9-11.
(307) 733-JHCS (5427) www.jhcommunityschool.org/
Journeys School
Operated by the Teton Science Schools, the Journeys School is a private school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade that emphasizes experiential education and interaction with the Jackson Hole environment. Its goals for students include achieving academic excellence, embracing diversity, serving the community, exploring creative potential, and understanding the natural world. It had 144 students in the fall of 2005.
307-733-3729 www.tetonscience.org
Mountain View Baptist Academy
Affiliated with the Mountain View Baptist Church, this school serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It offers a self-paced curriculum that is both academic and Christian-based. Its enrollment ranges from three to ten students.
307-733-3604
Teton Science Schools
The nonprofit Teton Science Schools offer environmental education programs for school children, graduate students and adults. The school employs experiential teaching, often in outdoor settings, and tries to foster an appreciation for conservation ethics. Adult classes take place primarily in the summer, and school children from Teton County and many parts of the country visit the school year-round for programs that range from several days to two weeks. The school also operates Wildlife Expeditions, which leads wildlife-viewing trips in the Yellowstone region. The Science School serves more than 5,000 students a year.
307-733-4765 www.tetonscience.org
University of Wyoming Outreach Office
The University of Wyoming offers classes in Jackson via teleconference, compressed video, video cassettes, and the Internet. More than 200 classes are available in Jackson each semester. There are fall, spring and summer semesters. The University also offers flexible enrollment classes in which students have a certain amount of time to complete the course work on their own. Students who start at the Central Wyoming College level and don’t want to leave Jackson can continue studies toward a four-year college degree through the University of Wyoming Outreach Office. A number of degrees are available through classes that can be taken entirely in Jackson. The Jackson outreach office typically has an enrollment of 12 to 15 students taking varying numbers of classes.
307-734-0224 www.uwyo.edu
Summit High School
Operated by the Teton County School District, Western Wyoming High School is an alternative to Jackson Hole High School and serves students in grades 9 to 12. The small high school emphasizes hand-on, experiential learning, including outdoor education, and in many cases serves students who do better outside traditional classroom situations. Students take classes that fulfill regular credit requirements, and also complete a life-skills program that includes topics such as conflict resolution, problem solving, communication and teambuilding. In addition, elective courses are available. Its enrollment in fall of 2005 was 72 students.
307-733-9116 www.tcsd.org
