Exactly what you would expect from top flight regional Great Basin College, and public schools with new facilities
and technology that produce students heading to…Stanford? Believe it!

Responsible for higher education to our 62,000 square mile region, fully-accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and member of the Nevada System of Higher Education, Great Basin College (GBC) serves two time zones and six of Nevada’s largest counties. Two generations of students, many of them now citizens and community leaders, have studied at Great Basin College since it opened in 1967. 3,300 students attend the main campus in Elko and 17 satellites.

GBC offers 4 year degree programs in Business, Education, Nursing, Social Work, and Social Sciences, Associate degrees (2-year programs, many which transfer to 4-year state universities) in numerous fields, as well as certification programs to support local industry that are sponsored and supported by the major employers in the region, which range from mining, automotive and diesel technology, welding and construction to Nursing, Computer Science and Law Enforcement.

Classroom at Great Basin College – Elko

• For physicians and medical professionals considering a career at Northeast Nevada Regional Hospital, in 2010 the college offered BSN, AAS in Nursing and Radiology Technology, and programs in Sonography, CAN, and EMS.
• GBC offers our best high school students opportunities to earn high school and college credits simultaneously, thereby getting a jumpstart on college while completing high school, through its Dual Enrollment Program. They can take GBC classes while attending high school and earn college credits, often for a greatly reduced cost through Internet-hybrid and Interactive Video (IAV) courses at the high schools for only $25 each plus any lab fees and textbook costs. A “Tech Prep” dual enrollment program is also offered where high school student can learn a trade and graduate with a certificate that makes them eligible for employment – and the classes also count for college credit should the student wish to apply them at any time toward a four-year degree.

Great Basin College Photo Gallery            Student Center & Library Gallery

Spring Creek High School, with its compelling view of the Ruby Mountains, was built in 1994 to meet the growing needs of this bedroom community to Elko, and a smart board in second grade at Grammar Elementary School

Our Public Schools provide your family with a solid, dependable, and safe learning environment as well as promote programs to help students reach their fullest potential, with like-minded parents. With 22 schools – 10 (six of them elementary, two middle, and two high schools) covering the service area for Northeast Nevada Regional Hospital, Elko County Public Schools has already implemented its vision of providing its students with an impressive curriculum supported by computer and Internet-hybrid technologies.

“As of November 2009, 95% of all classrooms have (Smart Board technology) and all teachers have been trained to use (it) for all students at all grade levels. In addition, an interactive technology program has been in place for the last four years so that parents have ‘real time’ access to their child’s school information – for each class. This aids in parental knowledge about their child’s progress in school and allows for direct communication with the teacher for each class.” – Antoinette Cavanaugh

Gifted & Talented Program: “Gifted and talented pupil” means a person under the age of 18 years who demonstrates such outstanding academic skills or aptitudes that “he cannot progress effectively in a regular school program and therefore needs special instruction or special services.” (Nevada Rev. Stat. § 388.440) Students in grades 3-6 are eligible for the Gifted and Talented curriculum programs and are “clustered” into separate classrooms and then groups of 5-8 students in one or more heterogeneous classrooms per grade level. Secondary enrichment programs for Gifted and Talented student in Grades 7-12 include Honors classes, Independent study opportunities, Grade and/or subject acceleration, Academic competitions, Special interest clubs; activities and programs, Dual credit college classes, and Advanced Placement classes. The high schools offer AP courses in the following classes: AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP US History, AP Government, AP Psychology, AP Spanish, AP Literature, AP French, and AP Physics. (See Brochure below)

Power School Program: Allows parents to follow their child’s progress by remote through a password-protected online website as well as communicate with teachers, review assignments, grades, etc. (See web link below)

Special Needs & Health Programs: The school district has a significant array of programs for children with unique needs and disabilities or with unique health issues – if you would like to know about specifics or speak with a representative from the school district during your interview, please let us know.

• The District budget for the 2007-2008 school year was more than $78 million, and per pupil expenditure was $7,823.

Sports & Extracurricular Programs: The Elko High Indians, at 1,344 students, competes at the highest level of interscholastic sports (4A) in Nevada – the large school category. The varsity football team has won five state titles – the last in 1985, the girls and boys basketball program have won state titles – the girls last title in 1995.

As of 2007-2008, our Elko High Band has distinguished itself as a premier marching and performance band, and has finished 1st or 2nd place in the state marching band competition 21 out of 25 times. They are a 9-time state marching band champion (Last in 2001) with 12 second place finishes. The band marched in the inaugural parade for President Nixon’s second term in 1973 and Ronald Reagan’s first term in 1981, in the Tournament of Roses Parade three times and the Orange Bowl parade.

The Spring Creek Spartans, with 950 total students, compete in the Northern 3A division of level 3A. Spring Creek High competes against some 4A schools. With its first graduating class in 1996, the school has already established itself as a legitimate state sports power having won state championships in Football, Wrestling (4 times), Golf and has dominated girls athletics with championships in Girls Basketball (in one stretch going into three seasons undefeated), Cross Country, Softball, and Track and Field (7 times in a row between 2000-2007).

Elko County Public Schools Gallery

More Community/Education Leaders:

Carl A. Diekhans
President
Great Basin College
Welcome to GBC

Antoinette Cavanaugh
2009 Superintendent (Ret.)
Elko County Schools
School Tours

Jim Unger
Principal
Grammar #2 Elem
Smart Board Kids

Mike Altenburg
Principal
Elko High
Elko Kids Compete

Keith Walz
Principal
Spring Creek High
Newest High School

From the turn of the century school bell to satellite dishes and the latest technology - the county school district
headquarters is located here in Elko

Jeff Zander
Superintendent
Elko County Schools

Daryl Kuiper
Principal, Elko Institute for Academic Achievement (EIAA)

The Elko Institute for Academic Achievement – A Gifted & Talented-based Public Charter School, was founded in September of 2009, with 196 inaugural registrations with a waiting list for certain grades, for children from Elko, Spring Creek and from homeschooling. The school is using curriculum developed by the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., directed at three things — a child’s interests, a child’s ability and a child’s learning style. Like all the county's public schools, Elko Institute does not have tuition – managed by the school’s Board of Trustees instead of administered by the School District, EIAA was opened for grades 1 through 7. We are excited to see this new educational offering for our children in Elko! (See website below)

• There are no private or church-related schools in the NE Nevada Regional Hospital service area.

Super Seniors:

How much do our students feel they have been challenged and prepared for college, did they have fun and make lasting friendships, and what are their future plans? There isn’t a better way to learn than to ask them personally and get their perspectives! Meet Students

University of Nevada (Reno) Photo Gallery
(Under four hours from Elko)

University of Utah (Salt Lake City) Photo Gallery
(Under three hours from Elko)

Websites/Resources/Thanks:

Great Basin College Degree Programs: www2.gbcnv.edu/programs/programs.html
Selected Brochures from Programs (2010) PDF
Great Basin College Newsletters: www.gbcnv.edu/foundation/newsletters.html
Great Basin Satellites (Map image)
Dual Credit Program for High School Students: www.gbcnv.edu/academics/dualcredit.html
GBC Tech Prep Program Brochure
Gifted & Talented Program Brochure
Elko County School District Website: www.elko.k12.nv.us
Elko Schools Online: www.elko.k12.nv.us/pages/elko_online.html
Power School Demo (tutorial): www.elko.k12.nv.us/pages/powerschool.html
Charter School - EIAA: www.elkocharterschool.com
Many Photos of GBC thanks to Dr. John Rice
Many Photos from Elko County School District thanks to Beth Kern