Welcome to the Harney County Community

Education in Harney County

Formal education in Harney County is provided for children through the Early Childhood Development Center and the Elementary School system, for teens through the Secondary School system and for adults through the branch campuses of Higher Educational institutions and through other non-traditional facilitates.

Public education in Harney County is provided by ten (10) school districts.  These are each distinct legal entities with their own board of directors, fiscal management, and independent administration, which may be provided by certified administrators or by head teachers.  Because of the geographic diversity of Harney County, there are schools located in the population center of Burns/Hines and schools serving remote, rural regions of the county, some as far as 112 miles distant from this population center.  Seven one- or two-room rural elementary schools are located throughout the remote regions of the County.

Harney ESD provides a multitude of specialized services for these school districts with the express purpose of assuring affordable mandated services for all children of the county.  Administration for this countywide education support agency is delivered from the ESD administrative offices in the Early Childhood Development Center, and led by a seven-member board of directors who represent the various school districts throughout the county.

Harney ESD Regional Services Center provides services including professional offices, an extensive educators library, and a public meeting room designed to serve the entire community.  ESD programs include Technology, Speech & Language, Learning Resource Center, Curriculum & Assessment, Printing/Policy/Group Purchase,  Rural Elementary Music, Rural Special Education, and Administrative Consultation.  Harney ESD also provides a countywide Prevention and Family program plus federally funded IDEA Special Education and Title Programs through consortium management.

Harney ESD Early Childhood Center: Located in the new building next to the former Fillmore School, the Harney ESD Early Childhood Center serves families with children age birth to five, or up to enrollment in public kindergarten.  Individual programs which comprise this family center include Oregon Head Start, Federal Head Start (also known as Harney County Head Start), Great Start, Healthy Start, Early Intervention, and Early Childhood Special Education.

Burns/Hines School District 3: Burns-Hines School District serves 1,247 students in grades K-12.  The schools include Slater Elementary, Hines Middle School, Burns High School, and the Alternative High School located in both Burns and Hines.

The students are served by approximately 84 licensed employees and 61 support staff.  The district is governed by a five-member board of directors. A well qualified special education staff helps to provide for special needs students with additional services available through the Harney County Educational Service District. An excellent alternative education program addresses the needs of at-risk students in grades 7-12. The district operates its own transportation and food services program.

Crane Union High School 1J: Crane Union High School is located in Crane, Oregon, some 30 miles east of Burns. CUHS is one of only a few public boarding high schoo's in the continental US. There are approximately 85 students who attend the high school, and about eight highly qualified teachers providing instruction. Crane has its own special education staff and is focused on maximizing academic achievement for all students. The district operates its own food services and parents provide transportation for their students to and from school.

Crane Elementary School: Crane Elementary School District is located in Crane, Oregon. It is its own independent school district with its own board of directors. There are approximately 80 students taught by seven highly qualified teachers. Students that live within the Crane Elementary School District are within the Crane Union High School District.

Suntex Elementary School: Suntex Elementary School District is located in Riley, Oregon. It is its own independent school district with its own board of directors. School population varies from year to year, but averages around approximately 12 students with two highly qualified teachers providing instruction. Students that live within the Suntex Elementary School District are within the Crane Union High School District.

Pine Creek Elementary School: Pine Creek Elementary School District is located in Pine Creek, Oregon. It is its own independent school district with its own board of directors. Because of low enrollment, Pine Creek students are currently attending school in the Drewsey Elementary School District. Students that live within the Pine Creek Elementary School District are within the Crane Union High School District.

Drewsey Elementary School: Drewsey Elementary School District is located in Drewsey, Oregon. It is its own independent school district with its own board of directors. School population varies from year to year, but averages around approximately 16 students with two highly qualified teachers providing instruction. Students that live within the Drewsey Elementary School District are within the Crane Union High School District.

Frenchglen Elementary School: Frenchglen Elementary School District is located in Frenchglen, Oregon. It is its own independent school district with its own board of directors. School population varies from year to year, but averages around approximately 14 students with two highly qualified teachers providing instruction. Students that live within the Frenchglen Elementary School District are within the Crane Union High School District.

Double O Elementary School: Double O Elementary School District is located in Double O, Oregon, south of Burns 20 miles. It is its own independent school district with its own board of directors. School population varies from year to year, but averages around approximately four students with one highly qualified teacher providing instruction. Students that live within the Double O Elementary School District are within the Crane Union High School District.

Diamond Elementary School: Diamond Elementary School District is located in Diamond, Oregon. It is its own independent school district with its own board of directors. School population varies from year to year, but averages around approximately 15 students with two highly qualified teachers providing instruction. Students that live within the Diamond Elementary School District are within the Crane Union High School District.

Fields Elementary School: Fields Elementary School District is located in Fields, Oregon. It is its own independent school district with its own board of directors. School population varies from year to year, but averages around approximately 15 students with two highly qualified teachers providing instruction. Students that live within the Fields Elementary School District are within the Crane Union High School District.

College course work and training is offered locally by a consortium of Treasure Valley Community College, Blue Mountain Community College and Eastern Oregon University. Each offer college credit classes, in person, by video and inter-active television. Associates, Baccalaureate and Masters Degree programs are available in general studies, vocational specialties, education, business and nursing.

Educational Resources

Help for school reports about Oregon

Other links dealing with education:

  • America's Learning Exchange
    ALX is the national electronic marketplace where individuals and companies can readily find appropriate training and education resources. ALX connects people to the training and education they need.
  • Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development
    The Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development provides state leadership, accountability, and technical assistance to Oregon's community colleges, JTPA service delivery areas, Community Service Commission volunteer programs, and programs of the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps.
  • Links for All Oregon Schools
    Oregon On-Line provides a single point of access to public and private schools in Oregon, from the elementary through the university level.
  • Oregon Blue Book - Education
    The Education Page of this site describes public education in Oregon and an overview of private colleges.
  • Oregon Department of Education
    Look here for comprehensive information on the State's education resources, as well as listings of jobs and careers in education.
  • Oregon School Reform
    This site contains school reform information for educators.
  • State Government Internships
    The Oregon Department of Administrative Services lists internships with state agencies available to college and university students.