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About Us

The Clark County Skills Center began in 1983 as a cooperative educational venture between eight Southwest Washington School Districts. The vision of those districts was to create a school, in partnership with business, "to prepare students for the work force" by offering students the opportunity to be trained in technical career areas too expensive for a single district to fund.

The Clark County Skills Center's...

VISION:

Excellence, innovation, and a passionate spirit define the Clark County Skills Center.

• We are a visible community presence, driven by dynamic community partnerships and responsive to the global marketplace.
• We are a preferred source of highly capable employees.
• Our passion is driven by our students and their success.
• We are distinguished for preparing students with career and technical skills, academics and professionalism.
• We are pioneers in creating 21st century technical and academic training.
• The Clark County Skills Center is nationally recognized as the benchmark for professional and technical education.

MISSION:

To prepare each student with the relevant knowledge and skills for learning, career, and life.

BELIEFS:

• We value a safe, respectful, and caring professional environment.
  
• We value industry and community-guided career training.
• We believe we affect life-long learning and positive change in both students and staff.
• We value teachers who are industry professionals.
• We value technical and professional development.
• We value quality through continuous improvement.
• We value integrity, honesty, and accountability.

SKILLS CENTER FACTS:

The Clark County Skills Center opened its doors to Clark County high school juniors and seniors in the Fall of 1983.

There are 905 students attending Skills Center classes during the 2008-2009 school year.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS:

The Skills Center is cooperatively owned by the following school districts:
Battle Ground
Camas
Evergreen
Hockinson
LaCenter
Ridgefield
Vancouver
Washougal
Woodland
Educational Service District #112

SKILLS CENTER PROGRAMS:

Academics
Airforce Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps
Agriculture Science & Environmental Education
Applied Medical Sciences
Automotive Technology
Bridges Academy
Construction Technology
Cosmetology (Orchards Campus)
Criminal Justice
Dental Assisting
Diesel Technology
Electro-Digital Technologies
Financial Customer Services
Fire Science (Firefighter Cadet)
Legal/Medical Office Applications
Pre-Engineering/Design Technology
Restaurant Management
Travel and Hotel Management
Off Campus Programs
Work-Based Learning

STUDENT FACTS:

Profile of our students:

• 68% of the 2008 graduates are working or continuing their education related to their Skills Center program area.
• 48% of the 2008 graduates continued their education at a post-secondary institution.
• 9% of the 2008 graduates are unemployed. (The Washington State unemployment rate for 18 to 20 year olds is 8%.)
• 10% of Skills Center students are in the top 5% of the class at their sending high school.<
• 32% of Skills Center students have a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
• During the 2007-2008 school year, Skills Center earned 2,830 college credits through their Skills Center technical classes.

SCHOOL RECOGNITIONS:

The Skills Center has been recognized for excellence in the following ways:

• Clark County Skills Center 2008 graduates generate an annual payroll of $6.2 million and business revenues of $20.7 million at area employers. These employed students stimulate another $12.6 million in other business income, 91 jobs and $3.2 million in household income. They also support $1.9 million in taxable retail purchases and $28.9 million in housing values.  For every grant and donation dollar that is given to the Skills Center, it produces at least another $1.00 of household income and $3.60 of business income within Clark County.


• Clark County Commissioners Marc Boldt, Tom Mielke and Steve Stuart.


• The Skills Center was invited to join the Career and Technical Education Baldrige Excellence Network. This is a national think tank association of ten exemplary technical schools.


• Business Week Magazine recognized the Skills Center as one of three high schools in the nation for instructional innovation.


• The Columbia River Education Council (CREWC) has recognized the Skills Center three years in a row for outstanding partnerships with business.


• Albertson’s Foundation has recognized the Skills Center as one of the top six technical schools in the nation.


• Over 250 business and industry professionals serve on advisory committees to Skills Center programs. That equates to one community volunteer for every three Skills Center students.

FUNDING AND FINANCES:

The Skills Center does not receive bond or levy funds.

Skills Center graduates repay the total cost of the annual operation of the Skills Center within two years after graduation through State and Federal taxes.

The Clark County Skills Center supports the economic development of Washington State by preparing students as job ready employees.