Education

Quite simply, Harlan has one of the more successful school systems in the State of Iowa, academically, athletically and otherwise!

Harlan Community Schools are among the state's leaders in combining a top-quality academic education with a wide variety of successful extracurricular activities.

Over 110 teachers, 101 support staff and seven administrators work with a present enrollment of 1,689 students.  The school district covers 279 square miles and includes the communities of Corley, Defiance, Earling, Harlan, Jacksonville, Panama, Portsmouth and Westphalia.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the construction of a new $5.89 million, 64,500 square foot middle school located next to the high school.

The school system ranks as one of the state's finest for some of the following reasons:

• Over 70% of HCHS's graduates pursue advanced education
• Flexible Education Center for non-traditional students
• Talented and Gifted Programs
• Over $100,000 in scholarships available annually from local businesses and foundations
• Work study programs available to seniors through a cooperative agreement with Iowa Western Community College (up to 27 hours of college credit available)
• PC Computer labs in all buildings, Internet Access and Iowa Communications Network Fiber optic classroom

Harlan Community Schools have educational opportunities for handicapped children and adults.  

Historic Merrill Field where the Harlan Cyclones have dominated
Class 3A Football for the past 30 years, with 10 State Championships

Parochial Schools

Shelby County Catholic Schools (St Michael's In Harlan, St Joseph's in Earling and St. Mary's in Panama) provide parochial schooling for graces K-8 and pre-school.

College Degrees

At the Harlan campus of Iowa Western Community College, a wide variety of academic programs are available including a two-year associate degree.

Computer Training

Several area companies and schools offer  computer-related areas of training.  Examples of what is offered might include:

• What your computer includes, how to run and maintain it

• Microsoft Windows operating system

• Internet and Email instruction

• Scanning and Graphics instruction

• Microsoft Works, Publisher, Word, Excel,  Access, PowerPoint, PhotoDeluxe, Windows, and so much more

• QuickBooks, Quicken, and Microsoft Money for accounting

• How to Protect the Information in your computer (backups, antivirus, fire walls, etc.)

Or, call the individual listed for more information.

The City of Harlan in no way endorses or recommends one company/school over another.  Click on the text in the left column to link to Web sites and class schedules information.

Please contact the entity/person listed below for additional information on what classes cover, cost, etc.