With “back to school” on everyone’s minds and social media feeds, it’s time to learn a little more about the Washington County School District.
The district serves as the umbrella for 26 elementary, six intermediate, six middle and eight high schools. This means Washington County School District has plenty to do when it comes time for back to school.
History of Washington County School District
In 1915, an order issued by the state of Utah brought together the county’s 19 separate school districts under one umbrella: Washington County School District. But the area’s emphasis on education started even before that.
From the earliest days when pioneers settled Utah’s Dixie, education has been an important element.
According to voiceover work in the film “On Dreams of Dixie,” which highlights the history of Washington County School District, “At the heart of the town has always been education. Education has always been a valued priority.”
In the earliest days following the pioneers’ arrival to the area in 1841, school classes took place in the back of covered wagons and in the area’s first church houses.
At the time the Washington County School District was formed in 1915 there were 1,833 registered students. Information available from the 100-year celebration of the Washington County School District indicate that in 2015 there were more than 28,000 students. As of May 2017 31,371 students were being served by the Washington County School District. Current numbers of Washington County School District are still being tallied for the 2017-2018 school year.
Washington County School District goals
The overall goal of Washington County School District is to “improve student achievement.” However, such a broad concept can never be reached without smaller, more manageable goals. These goals include enhancing parental involvement, implementation of professional learning communities among teachers and an increase in graduation rates.
Ultimately, Washington County School District aims for high levels of learning for every student.
This is all part of the strategic plan discussed by Larry Bergeson, superintendent for Washington County School District in a video on the Washington County School District web site.
“One of the key components of the strategic plan is stakeholder feedback,” Bergeson says.
The main method of gathering this feedback has been focus groups. Parents, community leaders, students, teachers, locals business leaders and more make up these groups.
Interesting facts
* Approximately 20 percent of the total population of students at Washington County School District is made up of ethnic minorities.
* There are currently two future construction projects planned for Washington County School District. The projects are a new intermediate school in the Washington Fields area and Crimson High School. The completion dates are summer 2018 and summer 2019 respectively.
* The Woodward building became the first 6th grade center in 1986. It originally opened in 1901. It was the first school in the area with blackboards, radiator heaters rather than pot-bellied stoves for heat and real notebooks instead of breakable slates.
* The most current information on www.washk12.org indicates graduation rates in Washington County School District have been higher than the state average since 2012.
* One new school opened in this year. It is Majestic Fields Elementary.
* Desert Hills High School was named Model Professional Learning Community this year. It is the only high school in the state to earn this distinction.
Tips for making this year a success
Whether your students attend Washington County School District or anywhere else, there are many things you can do to help make this year a success.
* Establish a routine and stick with it. Included in this routine should be an early bedtime, healthy meals and a regular time to do homework.
* Positive attitude is key. As a parent, have a positive attitude about back-to-school. Students pick up on parents attitudes and this can make a big difference if they are on the fence about gearing up for the new year.
* Be wary of over-scheduling your child. Too many extracurricular activities may not be good. Too many commitments creates a stressful environment for parents as well as children.
* Have an organization system in place. There should be somewhere in your home to keep notes, papers, homework assignment descriptions and more. Separate notebooks for each child might work. Or various stacking trays, clipboards and other tools. Find one that works for you and stick with it.
* Write down important school-related dates. Keep a family calendar.
If you’re looking for a great home that can take advantage of an education in Washington County, check out these homes in Ivins.