Saltville, Virginia


	EDUCATION Saltville residents have access to both public and private educational institutions that offer a wide range of quality educational services. Saltville’s public schools are part of the Smyth County School system. All of the Smyth County schools are accredited by the Virginia Department of Education and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school system fully meets the Standards of Quality mandated by the Virginia General Assembly and the State Board of Education. Over the last seven years, the county has earned six Excellence in Education Awards and seven Certificates of Recognition from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State university, and over 45% of the teachers hold advanced degrees. Smyth County schools have a dropout rate less than 1% and maintain a 95% attendance rate. Approximately 75% of the graduates continue their education after high school. Saltville residents enjoy access to the following educational institutions. Head Start Mountain Community Action Head Start Program offers free pre-school child development programs for eligible families. Head Start’s McCready Facility is located 5 minutes from Saltville. The Head Start Program provides educational and health opportunities to children who are at least 3 years of age – to get them ready for kindergarten. It also offers services to the families of the children. Saltville Elementary School Saltville Elementary School houses grades K through 5. It is located in the Town of Saltville. The school is continually updating its facilities and educational materials to ensure that the children become lifelong learners that can achieve success in an ever changing world. Enrollment was XXXX students in the 2004/5 school year and average class size is XX. Northwood Middle School Northwood Middle School houses grades 6 through 8. It is located approximately 15 minutes west of Saltville. The school strives to provide students with attainable challenges in the areas of academics, critical thinking, and basic skills. It also strives to promote self-esteem by engaging every student in the learning process, while allowing for individual differences. Enrollment was XXXX students in the 2004/5 school year and average class size is XX. Northwood High School Northwood High School earned another year of full accreditation this year with the State of Virginia for its students' outstanding performance on the SOL tests! The school is located in downtown Saltville, within walking distance of many of the residential areas. Northwood High School houses grades 9 through 12 and offers a wide range of academic opportunities to its students. Students also have access to one of the best athletics facilities and extracurricular activities in Smyth County. Enrollment was XXXX students in the 2004/5 school year and average class size is XX. Southeast Academy Southeast Academy is a home schooling academy based on Alpha Omega Publications Curriculum covering grades K through 12. The Academy is based in Saltville, Virginia and is utilized by students throughout the southeastern United States. The Academy is licensed by the Virginia Department of Education and provides individualized curriculum and well as testing and other support services for home schooling programs. Oak Hill Academy Oak Hill Academy is a private boarding school located just over one hour from Saltville. Founded in 1878, the Academy offers small classes and development of good study habits, balanced with sports, dance, an equestrian program, on campus entertainment, and monthly chaperoned trips into town. Oak Hill Academy is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, is approved by the Virginia Department of Education and is a member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools, Secondary School Adminission Test Board and the Virginia Council for Private Education. The academy includes grades 8 to 12. Smyth Career and Technology Center (SCTC) Founded in 1971, SCTC is located approximately 15 minutes from Saltville. Its enrollment includes 330 students in 14 trade areas. SCTC provides both traditional vocational curriculum and high-level engineering courses utilizing state of the art technology. Virginia Highlands Community College Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) is located in Abingdon Virginia, only 30 minutes from Saltville. VHCC is an associate college where 3,287 students are working toward 2-year degrees, or the first 2 years of a 4-year degree. In addition to housing the community college, VHCC also hosts the South West Virginia Higher Education Center and the Center for Business & Industry. The Higher Education Center enables students to earn degrees with other colleges and universities including Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Radford University, Virginia Intermont, Old Dominion University, George Mason University and Emory & Henry College, while taking classes at the VHCC campus. The Center for Business and Industry (CBI) provides companies with skilled instructors that provide specialized training to a wide range of industries. The CBI designs and conducts training programs for specific companies that consider the unique needs of the workplace and of the adult learner. Emory & Henry College Emory & Henry Colllege is the closest institution of higher learning to the Town of Saltville – a mere 15 minute drive. Emory & Henry was founded in 1836, making it the oldest college in Southwest Virginia. The college is named after Bishop John Emory, a church leader, and Patrick Henry, a renowned patriot of the American Revolution and Virginia's first governor. For Emory & Henry College, Bishop Emory symbolizes belief in the union of faith and learning, while Patrick Henry represents the ideals of freedom and civic virtue. Emory & Henry offers a core liberal arts curriculum that spans four years and emphasizes a global perspective on history, literature, and culture. Emory & Henry's curriculum includes more than 25 programs of study. Emory & Henry College enrolls just over 1,000 students each year with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1. Of 327 classes, 122 classes have enrollments of between two and nine students. King College In 1866, only one year after the end of the Civil War, King College was founded in Bristol, Tennessee – roughly 45 minutes from Saltville. The college is named after Reverend James King, who contributed the land and buildings for the college’s campus. King College has five schools (Arts & Sciences, Business & Economics, Christian Mission, Education, Nursing) and offers graduate and professional studies. King College offers 55 majors and six degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Master of Business Administration. Enrollment is roughly 1900 students and the college boasts one of the lowest student/teacher ratios of 11:1. East Tennessee State University East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is a public university that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is located in Johnson City, Tennessee - a 90 minute drive from Saltville. ETSU has six colleges (Arts & Sciences, Business & Technology, Education, Medicine, Nursing, and Public & Allied Health) and two schools (Continuing Studies and Graduate Studies). ETSU’s programs of study include 112 undergraduate programs, 7 graduate certificates, 75 master’s programs, 3 specialist programs and 12 doctoral programs. It has 11,624 students and most of its classes have fewer than 25 students. Radford University Founded in 1913, Radford University (RU) is a public university with highly diverse curricula for undergraduates and selected graduate programs. It is located 90 minutes from Saltville. Undergraduate majors include 112 programs in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education and Human Development, Health and Human Services, Information Science and Technology, and Visual and Performing Arts. The College of Graduate and Extended Education offers 45 programs of study at the master's and specialist levels. Enrollment is approximately 9,000 students, with an 18:1 student/teacher ratio. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University – “Virginia Tech” Virginia Tech is Virginia’s largest university with 25,600 students and a 2,600 acre campus. It is located in Blacksburg, Virginia – 90 minutes from Saltville. Virginia Tech has eight colleges and a graduate school – offering 60 bachelor's degree programs and 110 master's and doctoral degree programs. The student/faculty ratio is 16:1. Founded in 1872, Virginia Tech has evolved into a comprehensive university of national and international prominence. Its eight colleges include: Agriculture & Life Sciences, Architecture & Urban Studies, Pamplin College of Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts & Human Sciences, Natural Resources, Science, and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, plus the Graduate School). Virginia Intermont College Virginia Intermont College, founded in 1884, is recognized as one of the South’s more prestigious institutions for the education of women, although it is now a co-ed institution. “Intermont” means “among the mountains” referring to the college’s location in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia – only 45 minutes from Saltville. Virginia Intermont is a private college with 1,140 students. It offers 4-year degrees including Bachelors of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science. The student/faculty ratio is 12:1. The college is affiliated with Baptist General Association of Virginia and is accredited with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). University of Virginia at Wise In 1954, the University of Virginia formed its first (and only) branch college in wise Virginia. The UVA-Wise’s 367 acre campus is a 90 minute drive from Saltville. UVA-Wise offers 25 majors, 27 minors, and 23 teaching licensures. Degrees include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. UVA-Wise also offers pre-professional programs in dentistry, forestry, law, medicine, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine. Enrollment is 1,820 students and the student-faculty ratio is 18 to 1. Average class size is 15, with fewer than 1 percent of classes having more than 40 students. Wytheville Community College Wytheville Community College (WCC) is located 45 minutes from Saltville. WCC offers 2-year Associate Degrees in 20 fields of study, or students can complete the first two years of a 4-year degree through WCC’s transfer program. WCC has 1,641 fulltime students. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. WCC is one of 23 community colleges in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). It operates under policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges. WCC's mission is to ensure that individuals within the college's service region have the opportunity to extend their skills and knowledge through quality programs that are financially and geographically accessible.