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Education

The City of Fresno and its Department of Education recognizes the fact that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. According to Larry L. Powell, Fresno County superintendent of schools, “We are committed to ensuring that each of our students receives a quality education that will prepare them for a dynamic and successful future.”

Education opportunities in Fresno are abundant. The area offers quality public school systems, excellent private schools, vocational and technical training programs, and access to some of the finest colleges and universities in the nation. For the majority of children in Fresno, education begins with one of three excellent public school systems.

The Fresno Unified School District (FUSD), California’s fourth largest school district, does an excellent job of meeting the academic needs of more than 73,000 students at 102 schools with more than 70 different languages represented. Continuing education for more than 25,000 adults is also available.

The district is committed to high-quality instruction, strong leadership that is courageous, providing a safe and secure learning environment, engaging our parents and community, and sustaining a culture that will produce breakthrough results. The academic performance of FUSD students has seen a steady increase as a result of district leadership, teachers and employees maintaining the core belief that all students can learn.

Fresno Unified has many academic programs to meet the needs of our diverse student population. Student programs like Fresno High School’s International Baccalaureate program, Baird’s Environmental Science magnet program, the award-winning CART, and the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program help to meet the needs of students who want to pursue a rigorous course of study. These programs challenge students to reach their potential and prepare them for success beyond high school.

In addition, more than 80 FUSD schools offer comprehensive after-school programs that include academic enrichment opportunities, homework assistance and physical activity.

Fresno Unified School District is partnering with higher education and business leaders to prepare career ready graduates.

Central Unified School District (CUSD) is the third largest school district in Fresno County. The district serves approximately 13,500 students through four pre-schools, 13 elementary schools, two middle schools, two high school campuses, one continuation school, one community day school and one adult school. Central Unified is the fastest growing school district in Fresno County.

Two of the district’s schools, Liddell and Madison Elementary, were named 2004 California Distinguished Schools through a state program that identifies and honors some of the state’s most exemplary and inspiring public schools.

The Clovis Unified School District is a K-12 public school system that serves the cities of Clovis and Fresno, some unincorporated areas of Fresno County, and the rural community of Friant. The district covers approximately 198 square miles, and has a student population approaching 38,000. The district covers much of the northwest area of the City of Fresno, with just over 40 percent of the district's student population living within Fresno city limits.

Educational efforts in the school district transcend beyond the basics to focus on maximizing student achievement, operating with increased efficiency and effectiveness, and ensuring a safe and positive learning environment where Character Counts! Clovis Unified is a school system that emphasizes developing students to their full potential in mind, body and spirit. The district does so through a rigorous academic curriculum, the offering of a wide variety of athletic, academic and performing arts opportunities, and emphasis on the development of good character. CUSD students and schools have been the recipients of numerous local, state, national and international awards in academics and athletics, as well as No Child Left Behind–Blue Ribbon School's awards, State Distinguished School's awards and Title I Academic Achievement awards.

Students and their families can also take advantage of the outstanding education offered through the numerous private and parochial schools in the community.

The Fresno Christian Schools teach students who represent more than 100 churches from the Greater Fresno area. The Fresno Christian Schools system serves students from kindergarten through grade 12, and has received national recognition for its spirit of cooperation between different denominations.

Catholic Schools include Our Lady of Victory, Sacred Heart, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Helen, Our Lady of Perpetual Help (all of which serve students through eighth grade) and San Joaquin Memorial (grades nine through 12). Other private and charter schools include the Fresno Adventist Academy, Emmanuel Learning Center, the Pilgrim Way Christian Academy and the West Fresno Performing Arts Academy.

Those here in Fresno who wish to continue their education are fortunate to have an abundance of excellent institutions close to home.

Fresno City College, California’s first community college, is considered a comprehensive learning community that provides a vast array of supportive services to assist its students in achieving their educational goals. The school, which offers a wide range of educational programs that award degrees and certificates, is dedicated to working collaboratively with the community to enhance the economic and social development of the region.

California State University, Fresno is the largest institution of higher learning in California’s Central Valley. Our exciting programs, projects and partnerships reach from the campus into the entire region. This is a university where knowledge, innovation and leadership intersect. This is a place where energy and excellence thrive, and where your promising future can begin. Fresno State is a stimulating center of intellectual and cultural activity, dedicated to academic excellence, integrity and freedom with more than 22,000 students. We offer challenging and innovative programs in the liberal arts and sciences, in the professions, in applied fields and in special and interdisciplinary areas.

The Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno has been named by The Princeton Review as one of the top 290 business schools in the nation for 2008; the Craig School of Business is one of the elite eight percent of business schools worldwide to achieve accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, International.

The Craig School at Fresno State prepares students for careers in the regional, national and global business environments. Undergraduate students receive a degree in Business Administration with options in: Accountancy, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resource Management, Computer Information Systems, International Business, Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies, Management, Marketing, Real Estate and Land Urban Economics and Sports Marketing. Graduate students can choose from the Master of Business Administration, Executive MBA or Master of Science in Accountancy. For more information, visit www.craig.csufresno.edu.

San Joaquin College of Law was founded in 1969 to provide quality legal education to individuals to become effective legal practitioners, and the nation’s most successful and community-minded attorneys. Sound legal education that is a combination of theoretical and substantive knowledge with practical skills is the cornerstone of its curriculum. The law school is housed in the historic Clovis High School building on 5th Street in Old Town Clovis.

Alliant International University, located across from Fresno’s Yosemite International Airport, offers graduate degree programs from their California School of Professional Psychology, the Center for Forensic Studies (which includes both masters and doctoral programs in forensic psychology), the Marshall Goldsmith School of Management and the Graduate School of Education. The university also boasts the exceptional Kauffman Library that has been carefully planned to meet the special curricular and research needs of its students.

National University (NU) is the second-largest, accredited, private, nonprofit institution of higher learning in California, and has been serving Fresno area residents since 1971. NU is made up of five schools and one college, including: the Schools of Business and Management; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; Media and Communications; and the College of Letters and Sciences. In each area, students are guaranteed a quality and diverse education that will equip them with the skills needed to become an important member of one’s community.

Since the original opening of The Institute of Technology, Inc. (IOT) in 1986, IOT has partnered with the Fresno community to produce employable graduates in their chosen fields of study. IOT provides students with an affordable, career-focused education in a variety of programs in the medical, business, culinary and technical fields. In as little as nine months, IOT students are armed with the skill set, knowledge and work ethic to succeed in their career of choice. IOT is proud to be a provider of productive employees to Fresno’s business community. To learn more about IOT, please visit www.it-colleges.edu or call our Clovis campus at (559) 297-4500.

Fresno Pacific University (FPU) graduates build their professions and communities. The Central Valley’s only accredited, comprehensive Christian university granting master’s degrees, FPU offers challenging academics, professional preparation and ethical development.

About 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees, certificates and credentials in 45 areas. Whether parents re-entering the job market, employees advancing their careers or new high school graduates, students benefit from expert faculty committed to teaching and a curriculum geared to the needs of employers and graduate schools. New initiatives include a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree completion program and an art major.

The main campus is located in southeast Fresno. Centers in north Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield specialize in degree completion and graduate programs. Evening classes help working adults balance job and family responsibilities. Online and blended programs offer flexibility and convenience.

The importance of values and character springs from the university’s distinct Christian perspective. Founded in 1944 as Pacific Bible Institute, FPU is affiliated with the Pacific District Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches. The university is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and recognized by publications including U.S. News & World Report, which lists it the top tier among master’s universities—west.

Thirty-five branches and other specialized service locations in the Fresno County Public Library system provide a wealth of free resources to inform, enlighten and entertain children, teens and adults of all ages. Books, music CDs, videos, DVDs and audio books can be checked out for a great read. Authoritative research databases are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week from a home computer or any branch library. All community members can access free computer classes, career coaching, story times, homework help, business tools and more. As a member of the 10-county San Joaquin Valley Library System, Fresno County also provides access to materials from Merced to Bakersfield.