Editing Lancaster, California (section)

==Education==
===Public schools===
There are three elementary school districts in Lancaster: [[Eastside Union School District]], [[Westside Union School District]], and [[Lancaster School District (California)|Lancaster School District]].

The city has taken an active role in education through its ''Lancaster CARES'' after-school program created in collaboration with the Lancaster School District. CARES provides learning and enrichment activities as well as mentors and positive adult role models to give children the encouragement and personal attention essential to building future leaders.

The [[Antelope Valley Union High School District]] covers all high schools in Lancaster.

SOAR (Students on the Academic Rise) is a specialized high school which is located on the Antelope Valley College campus, but is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. It is an Early College High School which integrates college courses into the high school curriculum. Successful students receive both a high school diploma and an Associate's college degree within five years. SOAR High School has an emphasis in mathematics, science, and engineering. In the 2011–2012 academic year, SOAR students received an API score of 945, which is ranked in the top 1% of all high schools in the nation.

In March 2015, two students from Lancaster's SOAR High School demonstrated a [[blood alcohol content]] detection wristband at the fifth annual White House Science Fair.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mynewsla.com/education/2015/03/24/lancaster-students-make-mark-at-white-house-science-fair/|title=Lancaster students make mark at White House Science Fair - MyNewsLA.com|date=March 24, 2015|website=mynewsla.com|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref>

The Antelope Valley Union High School District currently houses 6 Career Academies, all of which include some STEM component: Green Enterprise at AV High School (Project Lead the Way pre-engineering and business); Law and Government at Highland High School (crime scene investigation); Digital Design and Engineering at Knight High School (PLTW pre-engineering, 3D simulations); Agriculture and Environmental Science at Littlerock High School; Health Careers Academy and Falcon Academy of Sustainable Technology (FAST) (PLTW pre-engineering, automotive, construction, 3D simulations) at Palmdale High. AVUHSD also has 3 middle school academies, which include Soar Prep, Knight Prep, and Palmdale Prep.

In addition, STEM career pathways and courses are in place at other high schools, including: PLTW pre-engineering at Lancaster and Quartz Hill High School; Health Science with dental concentration at Antelope Valley High School; Automotive technology at Highland, Littlerock, Quartz Hill, and Desert Winds; Agriculture science at AV High School and Palmdale High; Computer multimedia design at every AVUHSD comprehensive site.

Quartz Hill High School of the AVUHSD houses the district's International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The IB program combines advanced content knowledge with a focus on the development of critical thinking. Earning an IB diploma requires a multi-year commitment across disciplines.

The U.S. News & World Report education site shows the district falls below the California Academic Performance Index Evaluation.  70% of students receive a free lunch, with 8% participating in Advanced Placement courses or credits.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/antelope-valley-union-high/antelope-valley-high-1765/test-scores |title=Antelope Valley High in Lancaster, CA &#124; Test Scores &#124; US News Best High Schools |access-date=September 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915160815/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/antelope-valley-union-high/antelope-valley-high-1765/test-scores |archive-date=September 15, 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Private schools===
There are also several private schools in the city including [[Bethel Christian School (California)|Bethel Christian School]] (K-8), [[Desert Christian Schools (California)|Desert Christian Schools]], Grace Lutheran Christian School, Sacred Heart School (TK - 8th grades), [[Paraclete High School]], Lancaster Baptist School, Desert Montessori Academy, Antelope Valley Adventist School, Country Christian School, and Desert Vineyard Christian School.

===Charter schools===
Charter schools include Academy for the Advancement of Children with Autism,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autismacademy.org/|title=Autism Academy &#124; Special Education &#124; K-22|website=Autism Academy}}</ref> Antelope Valley Learning Academy, Assurance Learning Academy,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://assurancelearning.org/|title=Assurance Learning Academy|website=assurancelearning.org}}</ref> Desert Sands Charter High School, Gorman Learning Charter Network, iLEAD Innovation Studios High School,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150602002822/http://ileadinnovationstudios.org/ iLEAD Innovation Studios High School]</ref> iLEAD Lancaster Charter School, Learn4Life Concept Charter School, Life Source International Charter School, and Options For Youth Charter School.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ofy.org/program/|title=Programs - Options For Youth - Public Charter Schools}}</ref>

===Higher education===
Lancaster is home to [[Antelope Valley College]], the [[University of Antelope Valley]], as well as a satellite campus of [[California State University, Bakersfield]]. In 2005, [[Charter College (United States)|Charter College]] was opened. The city has spearheaded the development of the Lancaster University Center to provide local students with a chance to receive a first-rate education in [[engineering]] and [[technology]]. The $3.5 million reconstruction of Challenger Hall, located at the old Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, gave the new campus 13 classrooms, two of which are high tech distance learning rooms and 2 of which are lab classrooms, as well as office space. Through partnerships with local [[aerospace]] companies, and [[California State University, Bakersfield]]. Previously [[California State University, Fresno]] offered two Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering in association with the Lancaster University Center. However, CSUF began phasing out these programs in the Antelope Valley in 2010, ceasing course offerings at the end of the 2011 spring term. Beginning in fall 2011, [[California State University, Long Beach]] will now be offering Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering at the LUC, ensuring students in the Antelope Valley will receive a first-rate education without leaving the area.

====Antelope Valley College====
Antelope Valley College is the oldest institution of higher learning in the Antelope Valley. It was founded in 1929 on the campus of Antelope Valley High School. In the mid-1950s, it moved to its current location.

====California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley====
California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley (CSUB-AV) is located on the north side of the Antelope Valley College campus. Many bachelor's and master's degrees are offered on this campus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.csub.edu/av/|title=CSUB Antelope Valley &#124; California State University, Bakersfield|website=www.csub.edu}}</ref>

====West Coast Baptist College====
Lancaster is also home to [[West Coast Baptist College]], an accredited independent Baptist Bible College offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in pastoral studies, evangelism, missions, church ministries, music, Christian education, youth ministry, and secretarial studies. West Coast opened in 1995.

====University of Antelope Valley====
The [[University of Antelope Valley]], formerly known as Antelope Valley Medical College, was a private, [[For-profit education|for-profit]] institution<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uav.edu/modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=184|date=April 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422134128/https://www.uav.edu/modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=184|archive-date=April 22, 2014|title=University of Antelope Valley - }}</ref> approved by the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges]] (WSCUC). In June 2009, the institution received approval from the [[United States Department of Education]] to offer Associates, Bachelors, and master's degrees. On February 29, 2024, the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education ordered the university to cease all operations by March 8, 2024 due to its "severe financial position," at which point it closed permanently.