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Ascension Parish offers the best of urban and
suburban living. The parish has seen a significant population growth since 2000. Just about anything is available in this thriving
community that can be found in Baton Rouge.
Aggressive education system: The Ascension Parish School Board is keeping up with the
growth pace in the parish. Major construction projects to meet the goal of five new schools is underway; renovation of two high schools; investment in wireless technology upgrades for all schools; completion of the strict district accreditation process; and establishment of a practical leadership assessment process that will help to make the school system one of the best in state, are just of few of the plans.
Ascension Parish is home to two hospitals and residents are just 15 minutes away from an abundance of healthcare options in neighboring Baton Rouge.
Abundance of housing: Housing development has grown to meet the varied needs of new residents. From 2000 to 2005, Ascension Parish ranked #1 in single-family residential sales growth and was responsible for 18% of homes sold in the Baton Rouge 9-parish metro area and boasts the highest average home price of $233,000 (March 2007)
The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office boasts 265 deputies protecting the parish. Violent crimes such as rape and robbery are consistently in the single digits in communities throughout the parish.
Events and historic sites: From swamp tours to plantation homes, there are plenty of activities and attractions to keep residents and visitors busy in Ascension
Parish. Just to name a few-Houmas House, Historic Donaldsonville Museum and the Ascension Community Theatre. Shopping at the Tanger Outlet Mall or enjoying one of
Louisiana's most important foods at the Jambalaya Festival.
Ascension Parish Tourism
Ascension
Parish's 27 primary and secondary schools have contributed to
its 83 percent high school
graduate or higher educational attainment in 2005. Its aggressive growth plan to increase the number
of schools and enhance technology infrastructure will allow the
system to stay ahead of the current and assist with future
growth.
The
Parish is home to both a community college-River Parishes
Community College- and a technical school-the
Ascension
Technical College-offer technical curriculum for those
seeking to increase skills and knowledge in high school as well
as after graduation in preparation for work in local businesses. Programs including process technology, welding,
automotive technology, accounting, and basic skills are offered
at the campus through associate degrees, certificates, and
training. Credits
earned at the campus are transferable to Louisiana’s two and
four-year degree programs at the area’s colleges and
universities.
The
local campus also works closely with existing and new industry
to develop training in skill sets needed in business. One example is the PTEC
or process technology program developed several years ago in
anticipation of the chemical industry's aging workforce.
Below
are just a few of the facts about schools in the Ascension
Parish Public School System:
- All
public schools in the parish are state approved and are
recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education as meeting
the standards prescribed by the state Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education.
- All schools have attained regional accreditation through the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
- Teacher-studentratio of 22:1
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Report cards for all schools in the public school system can be found
on the Louisiana
Department of Education web site.
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PRIMARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION
Ascension
Parish School Board
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2009
Enrollment
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28 Public Schools
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19,300
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4 Nonpublic Schools
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1,862
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Teacher:student ratio
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22:1
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ACCT Score (2008 Average)
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20.7
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Colleges & Universities
With
ten colleges and universities and outstanding community colleges
the Baton Rouge area is blessed with thousands of well-educated,
well-rounded young professionals which join the labor force
annually. These graduates come from a range of studies including
engineering, medicine, business, law, information technology,
and many more, which support the diverse group of industries.
Parishes Community College and the
Louisiana Technical
College-Ascension Campus have programs in place to support
local industry. With
input from industry, the PTEC or petrochemical technology
program was designed to develop a workforce with skills in
welding and processing technology. In preparation for work in this aging industry, junior
and senior high school students train in this hands-on program,
while completing studies at area schools.
Associate
degrees, certificates and diplomas in industrial instrumentation
technology, automotive technology, welding, process technology
and several other programs are offered through this campus. In neighboring Baton Rouge, the
Baton
Rouge Community College
offers over 120 credit courses and industry training sessions.
Healthcare
Major Employers
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