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Education in Ascension

Ascension Parish is home to one of the most progressive and successful public school boards in the State of Louisiana. School, teacher and student achievement performance is among the top tier within the state. Louisiana Technical College and River Parishes Community College are located within the parish and provide the technical skills, training and education required to support the growing demand for qualified employees. A total of 16 colleges and universities are within a one-hour drive of Ascension Parish, including LSU and Southern University located in Baton Rouge.

HIGHER EDUCATION
River Parishes Community College
River Parishes Community College (RPCC), founded in 1997, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The College serves the higher education needs of citizens living in Ascension and surrounding parishes. In addition to offering associate’s degrees, RPCC provides general education courses for students who plan to transfer to a senior college or university. The college also offers continuing education opportunities and partners with local businesses and industries to provide employee training.

The college is dedicated to excellence in education and is proud of its recent membership in the National Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society of the Two Year College, which was established in 1918 to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of students in two-year colleges.

RPCC is located on John LeBlanc Boulevard (Hwy 22) in Sorrento, less than half a mile from I-10. The Acadian-style campus is enhanced by the presence of Bayou Conway and the former Jacob-Nassar home, which is over 120 years old and now houses administrative and faculty offices. For additional information about the opportunities at RPCC, call (225) 675-8270 and visit the RPCC website at www.rpcc.edu.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Ascension is among the fastest growing parishes in the state and excels in supporting public education. The voters of Ascension Parish recently passed propositions to upgrade technology in all of its schools, construct five new schools and renovate and expand existing facilities. With the recent addition of Duplessis Primary and Dutchtown High School, there are now 23 parish schools that serve approximately 19,740 students. In addition to the traditional schools, Ascension Parish Alternative School provides a positive and meaningful educational experience for students who have not had success in traditional school settings.

The Ascension Parish School System is accredited by the Louisiana Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information about Ascension Public Schools, contact the Ascension Parish School Board at (225) 473-7981 or (225) 621-2300 and visit the website at www.apsb.org.

PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS
The parochial schools of Ascension Parish provide a rich educational experience for students. Ascension Catholic Diocesan Regional School, established in 1845, and the oldest of the parochial schools, offers Pre-K through grade 12. Ascension Catholic offers small classes and has new computer and science lab facilities to better serve students. Other private and parochial schools include Ascension Christian Academy and Child Development Center (Pre-K-8), Faith Academy and Early Learning Center (Pre-K-9), and St. Theresa of Avila Catholic School (Pre-K-8). You may contact the individual schools or the Louisiana State Department of Education’s website at www.doe.state.la.us for more information.

TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Ascension Parish offers options for individuals seeking technical and vocational training. The Louisiana Technical College (LTC), Ascension Campus, is one of LTC’s 42 schools located throughout the state. The LTC is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and provides occupational programs that equip individuals with the skills needed for work in business and industry.

Ascension College, established in 1989, is a private, for-profit institution that offers vocational training that leads to certificates in medical, dental, legal and computer fields. Ascension College is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).

ASCENSION PARISH LIBRARY
Ascension Parish Library has many resources and services to enrich, educate, inform and entertain its patrons. The APL has served parish residents for 45 years and has three branches, located in Donaldsonville, Galvez and Gonzales. A new branch in Dutchtown is scheduled for completion in 2007.

The Library offers a host of services that appeal to children and adults. Among the most popular are the summer reading program, computer workshops, business and movie series programs and El Club, a conversational Spanish club.

Visit the Library’s website at www.ascension.lib.la.us/apl or call (225) 647-8924 for additional information.