Natrona County School District – Casper, Wyoming
Located in Wyoming, Natrona County School District encompasses 5,340 square miles, including the city of Casper, as well as Midwest, Edgerton, Mills, Evansville, Bar Nunn, Alcova, Mountain View, and Powder River.
Approximately 11,500 students are taught in the four senior highs, seven middle/junior high schools, and twenty-seven elementary schools. Committed to excellence in education, their educational program is one of the most comprehensive in the state. Schools of choice with emphasis on a variety of instructional strategies involving the community and site-based decision making have also been implemented.
The instructional staff numbers 850 teachers. Also available, are curriculum consultants, personnel, vocational therapists, testing personnel, nurses, guidance counselors, and psychologists, increasing the number of staff members to 1,900. Parent and volunteer involvement also contribute to the strength of their schools. The district is proud of its nationally recognized comprehensive K-12 substance abuse program.
The Natrona County School District offers families a choice of schools for their children. Though admission to certain schools may be limited based on the school’s physical capacity, parents are able to request their top choices among any of the 31 schools in Natrona County.
Having a district of choice has given birth to many innovations and methodologies, equaling success in schools, families, and students. The diversity among schools has provided opportunities for each child to learn in his or her unique way and for parents to become more involved. They strive to be a system that works for every child, regardless of which school their parents choose.
To help families make the best decisions for their own families, they are working to provide more information on each school’s performance, philosophy, and programs.
Private Schools
Paradise Valley Christian School
St. Anthony Tri-Parish Catholic School
Montessori School of Casper
Mount Hope Lutheran School
Mountain Road Christian Academy
Colleges
Casper College
Casper College has become one of the finest two-year institutions in the Rocky Mountain region. In its 60-year history, Casper College has prepared students for satisfying, secure and high-paying careers. From ranchers to research scientists, visual artists to vice presidents, and mechanics to musical performers, the highest caliber professionals have received their start in over 80 certificate and degree programs.
University of Wyoming
Located in Laramie, Wyoming, approximately a 2-hour drive from Casper, and known as UW (usually pronounced “U-Dub”) to people close to the university. The university first opened in September 1886. UW is a national research university prominent in the fields of environment and natural resource research, specializing in agriculture, energy, geology, and water resource related fields. The University of Wyoming consists of seven colleges: Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Law. The university maintains a low student-faculty ratio – one of the lowest such ratios among four-year schools in the west. UW also offers a variety of cultural and social activities. The university offers 86 Bachelor’s, 66 Master’s, and 26 Doctoral degrees. Professional Pharmacy, Juris Doctor (law), and Education degrees are also available.
UW competes at the NCAA Division I-A level, providing opportunities for outstanding athletic competition. As members of the tough Mountain West Conference, the Cowboys and Cowgirls regularly contest regional and national powers in basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, swimming, track, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling.
The university is a hub of cultural events in Laramie. It offers a variety of performing arts events, ranging from rock concerts in the Arena Auditorium to classical concerts and performances by the University’s theater and dance department at the Fine Arts Center. Wyoming also boasts a competitive athletic program, one which annually challenges for conference and national championships. Wyoming offers many extracurricular activities, including over 150 recognized student organizations that include a wide range of social, professional, and academic groups. The newly renovated Wyoming Union is the hub of the campus, with the campus bookstore and numerous student facilities. The University is also home to the American Heritage Center. The Center contains numerous special collections, manuscripts, and artifacts covering a broad range of disciplines.
