|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 Education in Topeka is both diverse and high quality. Five public school districts and nearly a dozen private schools comprise a foundation for the area’s education. Excellent options for private and higher education are available as well. The Topeka Public School District is the largest district in Shawnee County with approximately 14,000 students. The district operates five high schools, including Hope Street Academy charter school, six middle schools and 21 elementary schools. The district also operates additional programs such as the Kaw Area Technical School and the Sheldon Child Development Center, plus extensive online course services. Four smaller public districts and a number of private schools serve Topeka and surrounding Shawnee County. The public schools are Auburn-Washburn, Seaman, Shawnee Heights and the Silver Lake school districts. Topeka lists a number of private and parochial schools. The largest are two programs operated by the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church. Topeka boasts several Christian school programs offering preschool-kindergarten or complete K-12 programs. One of the more unique programs is the Kennedy Academy, a private, for-profit program serving students in preschool through the sixth grade. Topeka also can take credit for its strategic position in higher education. Home to highly regarded Washburn University, Topeka is surrounded by Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas State in Manhattan and Emporia State. Combined, more than 14,000 students graduate from these institutions each year. With more than 6,500 students, Washburn offers associate, baccalaureate, master’s and even doctoral programs in everything from business to law, liberal arts to nursing. The university recently completed several improvements, including a $4 million art building and a $4.5 million addition to Moore Bowl, the football facility. The art project also includes renovation of the Mulvane Art Museum, which will be completed by 2006. The Friends University Topeka campus focuses on working adults. The faculty and staff at the site serve more than 200 students, who range from those just beginning their university studies to those moving on to a graduate degree program. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|