Education

Education flourishes in St. Lucie County, with a system of 41 outstanding public schools. Of those district facilities 21 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 5 high schools and 1 exceptional student school have received awards for academic excellence. And the county's district-wide career and technical education programs provide high-quality, industry-driven education for high-school students.  And most recently, the district's superintendent Michael Lannon, was named "2007 Superintendent of the Year" by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. 

Additionally, St. Lucie County boasts three outstanding post-secondary institutions.  Two leading State Universities and one nationally recognized Community College, these community assets provide degree programs in areas ranging from Agribusiness Management to Computer Engineering, as well as many others. 

• Indian River Community College
  Indian River Community College (IRCC) is one of Florida's most innovative and nationally acclaimed community colleges serving a four-county community of more than 500,000 area residents. IRCC provides a wide variety of certificate, two-year and four year degree programs designed to prepare students for transfer to a university and to produce a skilled work force.  IRCC is a leader in providing the education and training needed to enhance the labor force and support and attract successful businesses.
  
  Recently named the number one community college in the nation for the use of technology for the 3rd straight year, IRCC, through its $20 million Kight Center for Emerging Technologies can provide high-quality video conferencing capabilities, interactive instruction and training in the emerging technologies of rapid prototyping, photonics and robotics.
  
  A 50-acre Public Safety Training Complex will enhance current training for regional first responders in the skills necessary for law enforcement, corrections, fire, hazardous material response, and emergency medical services. The Complex will also offer counter-terrorism defense, disaster preparedness and response, and humanitarian relief training programs. 
  
  A longstanding 2+2 program with Florida Atlantic University also ensures students can start here and stay here, gaining advanced degrees locally through an IRCC/FAU Joint Campus in St. Lucie West.
  
  
• Florida Atlantic University
  Florida Atlantic University (FAU) also serves the community with recognized educational excellence. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recently classified FAU as a "Research University - High Research Activity" institution, and it enjoys a partnership with IRCC and the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI). Recently, FAU has partnered with Scripps Research on their Jupiter Campus and with Torrey Pines on their Port St. Lucie Campus. Programs currently offered at the Treasure Coast Campus include Education, Nursing, Business, Computer Engineering, Social Work, Criminal Justice and Marine Sciences.
  
  
• University of Florida
  The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal, state, and local government partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences and making that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life.  The UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) at Fort Pierce conducts research to develop and disseminate new scientific knowledge and technology on commercial citrus, vegetable, ornamental crops, invasive plants, and aquaculture.  University of Florida offers undergraduate degree programs in Agribusiness Management and Environment Management and graduate level degrees in Agricultural Education and Communication, Entomology, Environmental Horticulture, and Environmental Science. 
  
  
• Florida State University
  Florida State University and Indian River Community College will be partnering to locate a branch of Florida State University's College of Medicine on the Fort Pierce campus.  This partnership will bring third and fourth-year students to the four-county region to intern directly with area physicians and medical personnel.  More information to follow.