20 | Education & Schools
UCHS Performing Arts Center UCHS basketball game UCHS classroom
Put on Your Thinking Cap
Lifelong Learning Makes the Grade
H
How are the schools? If you
have school-age children, the answer to
that question is incredibly important.
But it’s also crucial if you’re looking for
a good college — or want to learn a new
skill or trade. The answer matters if
you’re a lifelong learner, too.
The good news is that there are a
wealth of options. Whether it’s public,
private, charter, higher education or
trade schools, you’ll find that education
and learning makes the grade here.
It’s All Elementary
Let’s start with K-12. The beauty of our
school district is that it has been able to
preserve small-town values while keeping
up-to-date with the latest in educational
practices and technology. For example,
every student in grades 6-12 receives a
dedicated Chromebook computer for
use at school and home. Students in
grades 3-5 also receive Chromebooks,
but they remain in the classroom.
Nerds Rule!
STEM (science, technology, engineering
and mathematics) is emphasized in all
higher grades. Union County High
School began a STEM cohort during the
2015-2016 school year, targeting 20-30
students in 9th grade. A new cohort each
year receives integrated instruction in
physics/engineering and literacy/chemistry,
while the following year focuses on
biology/healthcare sciences. Through
community partnerships, students also
receive hands-on, field-based research
opportunities.
Advanced placement and accelerated
courses expose middle and high school
students to academics a year or so before
they would traditionally receive them.
And, with the close proximity of Young
Harris College, North Georgia Technical
College and the University of North
Georgia, many high schoolers take advantage
of dual enrollment opportunities.
A Focus on Fine Arts
A $9 million, state-of-the-art Fine Arts
Center sets the stage for everything from
band concerts and drama productions to
art exhibits and choral recitals. The 986-
seat building was specifically designed
for excellent sound resonance. In fact,
the theater walls contain approximately
27 tons of sand for sound proofing, and
the sound and lighting equipment is
some of the best around!
Innovation Leads the Way
A big part of what makes Union County
schools so exceptional is the designation
as a Georgia Charter School System.
Under the charter school system, educators
enjoy increased flexibility to inno-
2017-2018 Performance Snapshot