Do you have an academically-inclined child who's getting close to entering high school in the next couple of years? If so, you should definitely consider West Career & Technical Academy, a.k.a., West Tech or WCTA. The newest tech academy in Clark County, WCTA opened in 2010 to much fanfare: It's got four greenhouses! It's partially powered by solar energy! There are Apple computers everywhere on campus for the students to use, even the cafeteria! Like other magnet high schools in the valley, students must apply and then go through a lottery to gain acceptance. WCTA is geared towards college prep with nine programs: Veterinary and Medical Sciences, Biotechnology, Nursing, Sports Medicine, Environmental Science & Natural Resources, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Business Management, Digital Media, and Information Technology. The emphasis here is definitely on learning and it helps if your son or daughter already has an idea of what they want to major in when they get to college, as you can tell from the programs offered. This is not like the traditional high schools around, so don't expect there to be NIAA sports teams or cheerleading because there are none. If a student here wants to play basketball, baseball, run track, etc., he/she must go the to high school they're zoned for and play for that school's team (if they make it through try-outs like everyone else). There are numerous clubs to join, though, as well as dances, yearbook, etc.
West Tech is like a junior college for high school students. There is a lot of homework and there are students who transfer out because they can't handle the rigorous workload. However, if you want to see your tax dollars being put to good use, it's definitely happening here. West Tech students are basically getting a private education for free and I have no doubt that when my son enters college, he'll be more prepared because of his time here. There are open houses every year so you can tour the high tech campus for yourself. Read more about it here: https://sites.google.com/a/westcta.ccsd.net/westctawebsite/home
Five stars for a five-star school.