Education

 

Ames Community Schools
The Ames Community School District consists of six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.  Total enrollment in 2007 for the district is 4,353:  high school, 1,839; middle school, 1,022; and combined elementary schools, 1,492 (Ames Community School District, 2007).

Ames High School	1921 Ames High Drive, Ames, IA 50010 515.817.0600
Ames Middle School	3915 Mortensen Road, Ames, IA 50014 515.268.2400
Edwards Elementary	3622 Woodland Drive, Ames, IA 50014 515.239.3760
Fellows Elementary	1400 McKinley Drive, Ames, IA 50010 515.239.3765
Meeker Elementary	300 20th Street, Ames, IA 50010 515.239.3770
Mitchell Elementary	3521 Jewel Drive, Ames, IA 50010 515.239.3775
Sawyer Elementary	4316 Ontario Street, Ames, IA 50014 515.239.3790
Wilson-Beardshear Elementary	920 Carroll Avenue, Ames, IA 50010 515.239.3735

Facts

Total enrollment 2007	4,353
Graduation rate	93%
Graduates enrolling in higher education	90%
ACT average (composite score)	25*
National Merit finalists 2007	14
Average high school class size	24
Average middle school class size	24
Average elementary school class size	22.1

*This compares to an Iowa average 22.1 and a national average of 21.1
(Ames Community School District, 2007)


Ames Private Schools
For residents seeking a private religion-based educational environment, Ames offers two choices:

Ames Christian School	925 South 16th Street, Ames, IA 50010 515.233.0772
St. Cecilia Catholic School	2900 Hoover Avenue, Ames, IA 50010 515.232.5290

Iowa State University
With nearly 27,000 students enrolled from all 50 states and 106 other countries (Iowa State University, September, 2008), Iowa State University is ranked among “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report.  Iowa State's nearly 2,000-acre, park-like campus includes over 160 buildings, a number of which are included on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Stanton Memorial Carillon bells are housed in the Campanile, perhaps Iowa State's best-known landmark.

Iowa State's aspiration is to become the nation's best university by fulfilling its land-grant mission of learning, discovery, and engagement.  These goals reflect the capabilities and expectations of higher education in the 21st century and the traditional land-grant emphasis on teaching, research, and outreach.

Learning
Active student learning in a stimulating research university environment through a wide variety of opportunities for individual, collaborative, and experiential learning is the focus of Iowa State University’s educational programs.  Iowa State’s nine colleges offer over 100 undergraduate degrees and nearly 200 fields of study leading to graduate and professional degrees that prepare graduates for success in a dynamic global environment.

Discovery
Iowa State University is among the nation’s leading universities in research and technology transfer accomplishments.  In recent years, Iowa State has launched bold new research and technology transfer initiatives in such important areas as agricultural biotechnology, plant and animal genomics, bioinformatics, “smart” materials, agricultural product and market development, human nutrition, human computer performance, biorenewables, and food safety and security, as well as research and outreach programs dealing with rural America.

Engagement
Iowa State University Extension builds partnerships and provides research-based learning opportunities to improve the quality of life in Iowa. ISU Extension leads the university-wide effort to engage Iowans with education and information about their issues and priorities. With an active partnership and presence in every county, ISU Extension provides local access to the resources of the university.

Leading the Way at Iowa State
• Iowa State University announced that its 2008 enrollment is 26,856, the fourth-highest on record. This fall, Iowa State attracted its largest transfer class in six years: 1,537 students, and its second-largest freshman class in history: 4,546 students. ISU has also exceeded the 8.5 percent minority enrollment goal set by the Board of Regents.
• Iowa State University is among the top one-fourth of all public national universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges” annual rankings.  U.S. News ranks Iowa State 38th among 164 public national universities.
• Iowa State’s central campus is among three university campuses to make the American Association of Landscape Architect’s centennial listing of Medallion Sites (1999). 
• Iowa State holds the nation’s largest public collection of sculptures by Christian Petersen, who was artist-in-residence from 1934 to 1955.
• Iowa State University is the birthplace of the Atanasoff-Berry computer, the fist electronic digital computer.
• World-renowned plant scientist George Washington Carver received his college education at ISU.
(Source: Iowa State University, 2008)


DMACC
Des Moines Area Community College understands the importance of preparing every student for career and personal success.  They have campuses in Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton, Urban/Des Moines, and West/West Des Moines. DMACC has over 75 career programs leading to high demand jobs.  DMACC celebrated its 40th birthday in 2007 with record enrollment:  nearly 28,000 college credit students and 32,000 people enrolled in non-credit programs (DMACC, 2007).

The College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is approved by the Iowa State Department of Education and the Iowa Board of Regents.  College transfer curricula meet the requirements of four-year colleges and universities.  Both career option and college transfer curricula carry the approval of the United States Department of Education and are approved for veterans.

DMACC Career Academy, Hunziker Center
The DMACC Career Academy, Hunziker Center is a multi-use educational facility located in Ames, Iowa.  It opened its doors in August 2006 to begin serving students of all ages.

During the day, the center offers career and technical programs primarily to high school students through a partnership with Story County’s seven school districts.  The Career Academy serves Story County students from Ames, Ballard, Collins-Maxwell, Colo-Nesco, Gilbert, Nevada, and Roland-Story, as well as numerous students from other districts.  Some of the educational programs include state-of-the-art facilities for auto collision, automotive technology, building trades, criminal forensics, culinary arts, health, information technology, and manufacturing technology.  In the afternoon and evening, DMACC’s Boone campus offers a wide variety of college credit liberal arts classes.


William Penn University
As a working adult, it can be challenging to juggle work, family, activities, and personal time.  William Penn University offers the accelerated degree program for working adults at its Ames branch.  Through their innovative and successful School for Working Adults (SWA), a degree is within reach. William Penn University is one of Iowa's oldest and most respected institutions offering a convenient, adult-centered way to complete a degree quickly.  William Penn University is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.