Renton Area Information
Renton is a community that’s
ahead of the curve, an exciting place to live, learn, work and play. It’s
evident in the new energy in downtown – fine dining, housing, a Farmers Market,
and transit center. Renton has several new amenities including a renovated
pavilion, performing arts center, parking garage, and a fantastic new aquatic
center. Several new schools and a technology resource center are now open to
serve an enterprising population.
The time has never been better to
take part in the right opportunity – Renton!
Community Marketing Campaign
Seven years ago, the Renton Community Marketing
Campaign was initiated by six key community organizations – the Greater Renton
Chamber of Commerce, the City of Renton, Renton School District, Valley Medical
Center, Renton Technical College, and the Renton Lodging Association. They
launched a proactive, comprehensive marketing campaign to help stimulate
Renton’s economic future.
When companies or residents look at locating in
Renton they look at the community as a whole – schools, parks, housing,
amenities, higher education, public safety, and health and medical care. The
goal is to collectively market Renton, to help maintain a healthy community.
Stakeholders developed a brand, “Renton. Ahead of the Curve,” to promote a
consistent identity that builds on the appeal of the community’s residential,
educational and business opportunities, and positions the community for future
success. The theme captures Renton’s community and the innovation and creativity
of all key stakeholders. By leveraging marketing dollars, stakeholders
collectively promote Renton.
The Renton Community Marketing Campaign has been
an overwhelming success. Everybody in the region is talking about Renton. The
national award-winning campaign has been a catalyst that has raised awareness
about the community, opened the door to new business opportunities, and helped
ensure Renton’s future success and economic viability.
The Renton Community Foundation
Through the Renton Community Foundation,
individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and private foundations have
an effective way to support the work of non-profit organizations and groups that
are addressing critical community needs. A tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organization
spearheaded by the Greater Renton Chamber, the Renton Community Foundation was
established by a group of community leaders to attract, manage and distribute
the income from gifts for the betterment of the community. The foundation, in
partnership with the community, Renton School District, and the City of Renton,
successfully raised $1.5 million to turn a planned auditorium at Renton High
School into a 550-seat, state-of-the-art community performing arts center. Gifts
to the future touch lives in many ways. Through the Renton Community Foundation,
each gesture, each gift, is a catalyst for community giving – and community is
what it’s all about.
Education in Renton
Top-quality education is another reason
businesses and families choose Renton. The Renton area draws on one of the most
educated workforce populations in the nation. There are six four-year colleges
and universities, eight community and technical colleges, and numerous private
schools within a 25-mile radius of Renton.
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Highest
Education Level
for Current Population, Age 25+
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Less than 9th grade |
5.66% |
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9th to 12th grade, no diploma
|
7.77% |
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High school graduate (includes
equivalency) |
25.02%
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Some college, no degree |
26.04%
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Associate degree |
7.69% |
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Bachelor degree |
21.43%
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Graduate or professional degree |
6.38%
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Source: 2004, Claritas, Inc.
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Renton School
District
(425) 204-2300 •
www.renton.wednet.edu
Dr. Mary Alice Heuschel, Superintendent
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Enrollment |
13,010 |
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Teachers |
860 |
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Average teacher salary |
$44,260 |
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Teachers with advanced degrees |
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(master’s and above) |
62% |
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Student/teacher ratio |
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Kindergarten |
21/1 |
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Grades 1-3 |
12/1 |
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Grades 4-5 |
27/1 |
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Middle 6-8 |
28/1 |
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High 9-12 |
28/1 |
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Renton School District serves over 13,000
students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade at four high schools, three
middle schools, 13 elementary schools, and an early childhood center. District
programs also address the needs of gifted and special needs students.
The Renton community has a long history of
supporting its schools. School levies, which make up nearly 24 percent of the
district’s budget, are consistently approved here. Additionally, the community
supports the long-range plan to rebuild or renovate school buildings. Voters in
2003 approved a $150 million investment to make school improvements.
Construction projects remain on time and on budget.
Test scores on the Washington Assessment of
Student Learning (WASL) are increasing every year. Increases in tests scores
have come most notably from students in the district’s most demanding schools.
More students are taking difficult classes – each year, enrollment increases in
college-level Advanced Placement classes including English, calculus,
statistics, chemistry, government, history and four foreign languages.
Graduating students are awarded more than $2 million in scholarships each year.
City University
(425) 637-1010 •
www.cityu.edu
City University is a private, non-profit
institution of higher education founded more than 20 years ago. The university
serves working adults who want to build on their education but cannot interrupt
their careers to become full-time students. Programs include degrees in
business, public administration, and education. The university’s Masters of
Business Administration program is the fifth-largest in the nation, and its
Masters of Education program is the largest in the state.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University
(425) 226-2484 •
www.erau.edu/seattle
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is the world’s
oldest, largest, and most prestigious university dedicated to aviation and
aerospace. The Seattle/Renton facility is one of 128 extended campuses of ERAU
located worldwide. ERAU offers undergraduate and graduate master’s level
aviation and technical business degrees. Faculty members are working
professionals, skilled in the facilitation of adult education.
Green River Community College
(206) 464-6133 •
www.grcc.ctc.edu
This public, two-year college offers programs in academics,
vocational training and basic skills. More than 8,000 students are educated in a
large service area that spans 3,200 miles from Puget Sound to the Cascade
Mountains.
Highline Community College
(206) 878-3710 •
www.highline.edu
Highline Community College has served South King County
residents and businesses since 1961, offering associate degrees for transfer to
four-year colleges and universities, 56 professional-technical degrees and/or
certificate options, continuing education, customized training programs for
businesses and organizations, and pre-college, basic education, and short-term
training programs. The Central Washington University-Des Moines Center is now at
Highline, allowing area residents to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
their community as well.
New Horizon School provides a supportive learning environment
that enables students who have learning differences in grades 6-12 to succeed.
New Horizon students typically face challenges such as dyslexia, ADHD,
Asperger’s Syndrome, and communication disorder. NHS attracts learners from four
counties and over 16 school districts in the greater Puget Sound area.
Pima Medical Institute
(425) 228-9600 •
www.pmi.edu
Pima Medical Institute, the oldest Allied Healthcare School in
Washington State, offers programs in the Allied Healthcare field – Dental
Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Administrative Assistant, Pharmacy
Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and Veterinary Assistant. They provide
educational opportunities that turn students into competent medical
professionals who can meet the expectations of 21st-century employers.
Rainier Christian Schools
(425) 255-7273
Rainier Christian Schools is an inter-denominational Christian
school ministry that has been serving South King County for more than 40 years.
From its founding days, Rainier Christian Schools has grown into one of the
largest Christian school systems in Washington State, serving over 900 students
and offering comprehensive educations and extra-curricular programs.
Renton Technical College
(425) 235-2352 •
www.RTC.edu
Dr. Don Bressler, President
 Renton
Technical College (RTC) provides pre-employment training, retraining,
apprenticeships and basic skills remediation to more than 14,000 students each
year.
The college also provides customized training and
services to Puget Sound area businesses, both on-campus and at business sites
through its Business Training Centers program.
RTC opened a new $10.5 million Technology
Resource Center that offers hundreds of computer workstations in lab and
classroom settings for student and community use, a state-of-the-art media
classroom and lecture hall, and a new library facility emphasizing library
sciences and use of information technology, as well as new adaptive software
programs for individuals needing assistance. The college is committed to
developing this center and keeping it on the leading edge, honing the
community’s skills.
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