Education
Halifax County Public Schools uses small learning communities centered on students' interests and aptitudes to create a career-based, yet rigorous, academic environment to prepare students for high-skilled, technology-driven, occupations. Known as the Academy Approach, students learn collaborative 21st century workforce skills necessary in an increasingly complex technological world. Our academies include:
- STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
- International Business
- International Cultures and Arts
- Law and Leadership
- Health and Human Services and
- Motorsports
The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) is advancing Southern Virginia’s economic potential through education, innovation, and collaboration. Located in two repurposed tobacco warehouses in downtown South Boston, the SVHEC provides affordable access to higher education and hands-on workforce training. Local community college partners, Danville Community College (DCC) and Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC), provide one-year certificates and two-year degrees in high demand areas including healthcare, business, human services, and college parallel. Four-year partners Old Dominion University and Longwood University provide access to a range of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The SVHEC is the Commonwealth’s only higher education center providing access to everything from a GED to a Ph.D.
Recognizing the need for workers to have in-demand training and credentials, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center also offers a robust workforce training program. Short-term (less than one year), hands-on training in information technology (IT), mechatronics, welding, and Work Ready Foundations is available for adults who want to earn skills and certifications in high demand fields. Additionally, all SVHEC workforce training programs can be customized to meet the specific needs of regional employers. Soft skills training including resume preparation, mock interviewing, job search and employment placement is embedded in SVHEC workforce training programs, ensuring program completers are prepared for long-term employment success.
Because the SVHEC believes supporting the region’s manufacturing sector is critical for advancing Southern Virginia’s economy, one of the Center’s signature initiatives is the Research & Development Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Energy Efficiency (R&D CAMEE). R&D CAMEE serves as a unique resource for manufacturers and entrepreneurs, connecting them to training, production, proof-of-concept, and commercialization services. R&D CAMEE’s staff leverages their advanced capabilities in Computer Aided Design (CAD), and integrated Computer Aided Machining (CAM) to provide industries and individuals with services, like a working prototype lab, that are typically unavailable in rural communities.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research - IALR - Through IALR's research centers, top-notch Virginia Tech faculty are locating to Southside Virginia to conduct research in the fields of polymers, unmanned systems, high value horticulture and forestry, and motorsports engineering. IALR research centers are designed to conduct cutting-edge research in their specialty fields, as well as attracting small and mid-sized companies who desire access to the expertise they offer. Additionally, each research center provides educational opportunities uniquely focused on their current research.
Other educational institutions include:
- Danville Community College
- Southside Virginia Community College
- American National University - Danville Campus
Additionally, there are a number of universities and colleges within a reasonable driving distance, including: Averett University, University of Lynchburg, Longwood University, NC State, Wake Forest, Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, and University of Virginia.
