From pre-school to graduate study, the Clear Lake area's educational systems have received national acclaim for innovative teaching techniques and a commitment to excellence.

     Several area school districts offer public education to the Clear Lake area. Clear Creek ISD is nationally known for higher test scores, fewer dropouts and greater percentages of college attendance.

     At the college level, the University of Houston-Clear Lake, founded in 1974, dedicates itself to providing a solid academic base and serving as a strong catalyst for economic development.

     UHCL is recognized as a national model of an interactive partnership university. The University's cooperative efforts with area petrochemical, aerospace, high-technology and medical industries serve as a forum for its faculty scholars to interface with industry experts. Additionally, UHCLs reputation as a national model for cooperative ventures among private industry, academia and government agencies helped lay the foundation for a team of institutions led by Texas A&M to capture NASA technology for commercial applications. As one of the lead team members, UHCL coordinates the center's marketing and technology-transfer programs.

     This partnership orientation includes community colleges such as San Jacinto Community College, which has an extension center at Clear Lake High School. Degrees awarded include the associate of applied science and associate of arts, as well as the certificate of technology. The college offers approximately 100 programs, about 60 of which are technical, as well as many continuing education courses.

     Throughout the area, educational institutions serve as catalysts for economic development and as hubs of productive interaction that includes business, government, industry and academic efforts.