Education / TrainingHIGHER EDUCATION There are 19 colleges and universities within a 60-mile radius, including Virginia Tech, an internationally know research university. Located within 45 minutes of Roanoke City's downtown business district, Tech is nationally ranked in research spending and patents received per research dollar, Virginia Tech graduates 1,400 of the country’s most sought-after engineering students each year. Also located within the Roanoke Valley are Hollins University, Roanoke College, Ferrum College, Virginia Western Community College and Dabney S. Lancaster Community College. Both community colleges work with the Virginia Workforce Services Program to provide training for new and expanding industries through its Center for Business, Industry, and Technology. Higher education and training opportunities are available at two unique facilities in the Roanoke Valley. The Roanoke Higher Education Center and the Greenfield Education & Training Center in Botetourt County. The Higher Ed Center is located in a stunningly renovated 1930s-era office building in Downtown Roanoke and houses 16 different education and training organizations. The Center features teleconferencing and distance learning capabilities. The Greenfield Education & Training Center, located in the Botetourt Center at Greenfield, was built as a cooperative effort among Virginia Western Community College, Dabney Lancaster Community College and the Botetourt County Schools. It features a high-bay training area so companies can train on their equipment while their facilities are being built, teleconferencing facilities in a tiered lecture hall, classrooms that are wired for the Internet and distance learning. Other institutions of higher learning within a 60-mile radius: PUBLIC SCHOOLS The Roanoke Valley’s eight school systems offer unique and innovative programs to meet the needs of every student and prepare tomorrow’s workforce. There are 69 elementary schools, 15 middle schools and 13 high schools. Each school system offers vocational and technical training, including several programs which local industries have helped design. Some Roanoke Valley academic programs include:
Two International Baccalaureate Programs are located at Salem High School and Roanoke City’s William Fleming High School. IB is a rigorous, pre-university curriculum, which must meet international standards. The program encourages students to work at a higher level in achieving their potential. The Roanoke Valley Governor's School for Science and Technology serves highly motivated secondary school students in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas interested in science, mathematics, computer science and technology. The rigorous curriculum is designed to supplement and extend the efforts of area school systems. The Governor’s School is located on the campus of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke City, and operated by seven school systems. Jackson River Governor's School, located at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College gives motivated high school juniors and senioes in seven school divisions the opportunity to participate in an innovative and challenging program odf studies in mathematics, science and technology. Specialty Schools operated by local school systems offer a unique learning experience so those students can develop individual talents and interests. Programs include Computer Science; High Technology; Science, Mathematics and Computers; Performing Arts; Visual Arts; Communications, and Aerospace. There are magnet programs at all grade levels, and programs are open to all children in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. Jackson River Technical Center is jointly operated by the public school systems in Alleghany County and the City of Covington and serves 10th, 11th and 12th grade students. Gereau Center for Applied Technology and Career Exploration is located in Rocky Mount and offers all Franklin County eighth and ninth grade students a full semester of hands-on, student-based learning and exploration in their choice of eight modules representing skills and career opportunities of the future. The modules are: Environmental/Natural Resources; Arts; Manufacturing; Engineering/Architectural Design; Media Design; Legal Science; Finance, and Health & Human Services. In May, 2008, students at the Gereau Center received an Honorable Mention and $500 from the National Association of REALTORS in their School of the Future design competition. | 
