The Douglas Unified School District (DUSD) encompasses 552 square miles, extending from the border with Mexico onthe south to 15 miles to the north, and from the Arizona/New Mexico border on the east to a line one mile west of King’s Highway. In 2005, DUSD served nearly 4,300 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and employed over 560 people. The district has over 260 certified staff, made up of 230 teachers, 17 administrators, seven counselors, four nurses, and a communications coordinator. The district employs more than 300 support staffincluding 118 teaching assistants. The Early Learning Center/Challenge Center consists of pre-kindergarten classesfor four year-olds and a pre-school for disabled children. There are six elementary schools serving students from kindergarten through the fifth grade. Two middle schools serve sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students, while Douglas High School educates students in the ninth through 12th grade. Approximately 66 percent of the district’s

students are considered English Language Learning (ELL) or Limited English Proficient (LEP).  

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OFFERED by DUSD

Speech Therapy Program: screening, assessment, and intervention services to students with a wide range of communication needs;

Occupational Therapy Program: emphasis on the use of self-care, work, and play activities to increase the student's independent functioning and success in the school environment;  Physical Therapy Program: students are evaluated for their physical abilities in the school setting and, if the student would benefit from therapy services, a plan of care is written that may include exercises and therapeutic interventions.

Homebound Program: designed to accommodate students with medical reasons for not being able to attend school on site; and a special education program designed to help students with disabilities.

CHARTER SCHOOLS

In addition to the DUSD schools, the City of Douglas also has five charter schools: Center for Academic Success #2 (grades 9-12), Center for Academic Success #3 (grades K-4), Center for Academic Success #4 (grades 5-8), Omega Alpha Academy School (grades K-12), and PPEP TEC - Raul H. Castro Learning Center (grades 9-12).

 POST SECONDARY EDUCATION

COCHISE COLLEGE - Cochise College, a comprehensive “learning community” college, provides learning opportunities by offering a diverse curriculum in general ducation and liberal arts, direct employment programs, and various community courses and events that provide educational cultural, and recreational services beyond formalized classroom instruction. Cochise College was established in 1961 as one of the first community colleges in Arizona. For more information visit  www.cochise.edu.

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SOUTH - The University of Arizona established UASouth in Sierra Vista, an official branch campus of the university, as part of its landgrant mission to serve the citizens of theState of Arizona. In 1999, UA South established an office in Douglas through a partnership with the city. For more information, visit  www.uas.arizona.edu