Salt Lake City: Education and Research

Salt Lake City: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

The Salt Lake City School District is sixth-largest in Utah. It's mission is to advocate for all students, provide education of the highest quality, and prepare students for opportunities in the future. Many district schools are currently in the midst of a 10-year reconstruction and renovation program.

The following is a summary of data regarding Salt Lake City public schools as of the 2002–2003 school year.

Total enrollment: 24,850

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 27

intermediate schools: 5

senior high schools: 4

Student/teacher ratio: 20.02:1

Teacher salaries

average: $38,268 (State of Utah)

Funding per pupil: $7,284

Public Schools Information: Salt Lake City School District, 440 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-1891; telephone (801)578-8599; fax (801)578-8248. Utah State Office of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4200; telephone (801)538-7500

Colleges and Universities

Salt Lake City is home to the University of Utah, the oldest university in the West. Founded in 1850, the university covers more than 1,000 acres and includes the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum. One of the country's top 30 public research universities, the University of Utah is known for its technology transfer program to move research into practical applications in the business world; it also has a medical school.

Salt Lake City is also home to prestigious Westminster College, a private non-denominational institution offering 24 undergraduate majors and a range of post-graduate degree and certificate programs. Other local colleges include the Salt Lake Community College and LDS Business College. Adult education is available through the Salt Lake City campus of the University of Phoenix.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Salt Lake City Public Library System consists of a main library and 5 branch locations, with a total of more than 750,000 volumes and 600 periodical subscriptions, as well as films, audio tapes, maps, and art reproductions. The library also contains special collections of old and rare material from the region's past. A new Main Library was unveiled in 2003, featuring a six-story curving, climbable wall, spiraling fireplaces, a multi-level reading area and a rooftop garden. The 240,000-square-foot space is double the size of the previous library. Several other branches were also remodeled or expanded in 2003.

The Salt Lake County Library System consists of a main library and 18 branches offering a variety of exhibits, events and collections. Salt Lake City is also home to the Utah State Library Program for the Blind and Disabled, which serves visually impaired, physically disabled, and reading disabled patrons across the western states. The library has more than 14,000 Braille books, 53,000 books on cassette, and 14,000 large-print books. The University of Utah maintains a large library system. A number of private, research, and special interest libraries also serve the city.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Library houses a genealogical library, considered to be the largest of its kind in the world. Open to the public free of charge, the collection contains family history, local history, and vital records. The library is visited by approximately 1,900 patrons each day.

Centers in the Salt Lake City area conduct research activities in such fields as the environment, entomology, engineering design, biomedical engineering, toxicology, lasers, radiobiology, occupational and environmental health, astrophysics, astronomy, communications, nuclear engineering, physical electronics, remote sensing and cartography, mineral technology, isotope geology, seismology, mining, business and economics, finance, public affairs, politics, energy law, gerontology, the American West, the Middle East, and archaeology.

Public Library Information: Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111; telephone (801)524-8200. Salt Lake County Library System, 2197 Fort Union Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT 84121-3139; telephone (801)943-4636; fax (801)942-6323