Schools have history of excellence

Las Vegas may be a young city in comparison to major metropolitan areas across the country, but local educators have built impressive institutions in the past few decades that have had a significant impact on the valley and its residents.

CornerStone Christian Academy

Education is the bedrock of a growing community, said James E. Whiddon, principal of CornerStone Christian Academy for more than a decade.

CornerStone Christian Academy has applied its academic standards to area school-age children since 1980. Its educational methods have earned the Nevada state-licensed school many awards for its unique approach to education, with students consistently scoring above state and national averages on standardized testing.

The school, at 5825 W. Eldora Ave., has grown from 120 students to more than 450 over the past two decades since its early '90s bump in growth.

"The reason we've grown is that we offer a great and challenging curriculum for a great price," Whiddon said. "We get involved with our students on many levels. Our teachers are some of the best in the valley, and they've been with us for decades."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary school teachers to grow by 13 percent between 2008 and 2018. There is an even higher demand for specialized teachers who have a focus in mathematics, science and bilingual education.

Since the academy's early days, CornerStone has added a number of educational programs to its extensive core curriculum.

"One of our most popular programs is the resurgence of our athletic department," he said. "It has really grown in the last few years, at least. We've given our students a lot of chances to play who might not otherwise get a chance to play. We find that very important."

CornerStone also offers a robotics class, which Whiddon said is very popular, as well as culinary and puppetry classes at its middle school.

"We have a lot of things for kids to do aside from academics, and that is important to us and the children and the parents," he said. "But we have a lot to offer academically that really challenges the children in many ways. We are proud that the children have always risen to the challenge and done very well because of our great teachers."

Whiddon specifies that by challenge he means that teachers work the curriculum in a way that the students can understand the material clearly and quickly.

"Our math program is a year ahead, and our children in our middle school take algebra one, which is ahead of many other programs at that grade level," Whiddon said.

There are other advantages, Whiddon said, that CornerStone Academy attendees receive.

"We are a Christian school and Christian education is an integral part of our education programs," he said. "And parents really appreciate that part of our emphasis."

Over the past decade, the school has added more classes as technology and times changed.

"We have kindergarten through fourth grade, where our children get the core subjects offered at most schools, but we also have computer classes, physical education, Spanish and music, and they are taught by specialized children educators," he said. "I think that's what makes a difference in our school, that we make these available to children from the very start."

With all its programs and constant curriculum reviews, there is one major element of CornerStone that Whiddon said is integral to the schools lengthy history in the Las Vegas Valley - the staff.

"We have a very low turnover," he said. "Our teachers stay. It's a big plus for our school. We had two teachers retire recently and we already filled those vacancies with people who've been waiting to come to CornerStone. The longevity of our staff is incredible. That lends to what our teachers can teach the students. They have much to offer and we encourage new learning techniques."

Bishop Gorman High School

Tradition, academics, athletics and a focus on students' best interests has made Bishop Gorman one of the top high schools in the valley for many years.

Bishop Gorman is the only Catholic high school in Las Vegas and has prided itself on its academic and athletic record since opening in 1954. The campus, which is now located at 5959 S. Hualapai Way in southwest Las Vegas, has much to boast about, said Bridget Moore, director of advancement for Bishop Gorman.

"In the past decade, our school has grown and achieved significant milestones, the biggest of which was the move to our new campus in the southwest part of the city after having been in our original location on Maryland Parkway for over 50 years," Moore said. "This move afforded us the chance to deepen and broaden the programs we offer our students."

Bishop Gorman is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission, which has identified it as a high-performing school.

"As a result and through a consistent high level of commitment from our students, we have seen them win championships in not only academic events but also in performing arts, forensics, mock trial, foreign languages and athletics," she said. "In addition, this past decade we have seen our students come out in force to participate in activities that reach those in need in our community. Service to others is part of the foundation of our school's mission."

The college preparatory school has a 100 percent graduation rate and a 96 percent college-bound rate. This year's stable of graduates includes two National Merit Scholarship finalists, one Carroll Scholarship winner, one National Achievement Scholarship Program finalist, one National Qualifier for Speech and Debate and four National Merit Scholarship Commended Students as well as four National Hispanic Recognition Program award-winners.

Bishop Gorman has some of the best academic and athletic students in the valley, with more than 41 athletic scholarships offered to its graduating class of 2012.

Through individual as well as organized days of service, the Bishop Gorman community has helped several nonprofit organizations, including Trendz Youth Center in North Las Vegas, Opportunity Village, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, St. Therese Center in Henderson and First Choice Pregnancy Center, to name a few.

"With a 96 percent college-bound rate, the Bishop Gorman students have been accepted to colleges and universities all over the United States, including Dartmouth, Duke, Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA and USC just to name a few," she said.

Bishop Gorman, which averages 1,300 students annually, has continued to grow and prosper as a community while maintaining its tradition of excellence based on its curriculum and faculty.

"The landscape of education has changed dramatically over the past 57 years and we feel we have done a good job of keeping up with all developments while increasing our Catholic identity and remaining a close-knit community who sets an example for how to raise socially responsible young adults who are positive contributors to society," she said.

Some of the more popular programs at the campus include the honors anatomy and human physiology, constitutional government, totalitarianism and broadcast media.

Bishop Gorman is currently hiring. The school is hoping to fill positions in its mathematics department and is also looking for a qualified women's lacrosse coach.

"The ideal candidate is committed to Catholic education, holds the greater good in high regard with a strong work ethic and team mentality," Moore said.

Lone Mountain Creative Learning Center

Starting early is the key to a child's future education success, said Alysha Lowe, director of the Lone Mountain Creative Learning Center.

The Lone Mountain Creative Learning Center, 6863 W. Lone Mountain Road, offers child care with an emphasis on learning for children 6 weeks to 12 years old.

"We strive not to be just another child care," Lowe said. "We believe in hands-on learning through play and instruction. We teach sign language as early as infancy. We teach some Spanish and Japanese.

"We were the first school to teach sign language. In fact Fox 5 News and (PBS) 'Signing Time's' Rachel Coleman did a live remote here at our school."

The facility is not for dropping off children while parents work, but for parents to pick up lifelong skills that will help their children grow and the family to bond. The lengthy interview process for teachers assures that the Lone Mountain Creative Center has the best staff on hand to meet its strict guidelines for educators.

"We believe it's important to have strong teacher-parent relationships," she said. "This is why we ensure every year we hold two carnivals and at least one other major event in December. We also celebrate the completion of preschool and kindergarten through a graduation ceremony."

Since opening in 1999, the elementary-age school has added a child care center and a private, full-day kindergarten, as well as surveillance cameras, artificial grass in its expansive play yard. The school also accepts child subsidy funds.

The school averages about 145 students on its campus. Popular classes and programs include the infant and toddler classes that include movement, music and speech, its preschool and kindergarten programs as well as its before- and after-school care for busy parents who work early mornings or late nights in the Las Vegas area.

Teachers are the key to the center's success, she said, as well as the parents' involvement.

"When we hire staff, we look for someone who is creative with good energy, a love for young children, someone that is a self starter and can work well with others," she said. "(We look for) someone who enjoys helping young children to learn and grow. (Our teachers) have lots of patience and are able to stay calm in stressful situations, and just like to have fun."

The Lone Mountain Creative Learning Center is solely owned by a local family.

"We are one of a kind, not a chain," Lowe said. "The owner bought the land in 1999 then worked side by side with the architect. You can see all the creativity designed into the building. It's truly a beautiful place. The owner is very proud of the school. He always says, 'We broke the mold when we made this school.'

"I think he's right. Not only is our school's building amazing but everyone inside it is also. The families, children and teachers all work together to create the best child care."