EDUCATION
Area Schools
Education
The Camden area has a variety of options for K-12 and higher education.
Higher Education
Southern Arkansas University Tech
SAU Tech is a two-year technical junior college with its campus within the Highland Industrial Park in western Calhoun County. It offers a variety of credit programs that lead to the Associate of Arts, the Associate of Science, and the Associate of Applied Science degrees. The Arkansas Fire Training Academy, Environmental Academy, and a Nursing program join in offering a broad scope of programs by SAU Tech to the people of Arkansas and the Camden area. The college is also known for its CISCO Networking Program and numerous WEB courses available. Four-year colleges within 50 miles of Camden offer other educational opportunities.
Public Schools
Camden Fairview School District
The motto of the Camden Fairview School District is “Truth, Honor, Integrity at Camden Fairview with Cardinal Pride” and they live up to that every day. Camden’s citizens hold a strong belief in the value of education and support a public system that pursues excellence in all aspects. Students in Ouachita County utilize effective communications and thinking skills; develop independent and cooperative learning strategies in a safe, enjoyable atmosphere; achieve respect for self and others; acquire skills necessary for an ever changing society; and promote family and community involvement.
The Camden Fairview School District ranks 30th in the state in terms of student enrollment with approximately 3,000. The school district operates six school campuses. Nearly 50 percent of the 275 certified staff hold a master’s degree or higher.
There are more than 125 courses to choose from in secondary education in addition to advanced placement courses. Many Camden Fairview students consistently score in the top five percent on the ACT and SAT tests.
Harmony Grove Public School District
The Harmony Grove School District serves the areas of East Camden and northeastern Ouachita County, enrolling approximately 800 students per year. The Harmony Grove District maintains one of the lowest dropout rates and some of the highest ACT scores in the region.
Bearden Public School System
The Bearden Public School System is North Central Accredited and is home to the Bearden Bears. The district offers small classroom sizes with a modern, state-of-the-art high school. Distance learning and multimedia classes are available along with athletics, band and a variety of student clubs.
Private Schools
The area has two private schools, Camden Christian Academy and Victory Christian School, which offer parents choices concerning their children’s education.
Learn More about Victory Christian School
Health Service
Ouachita County Medical Center
Ouachita County Medical Center, a 98-bed acute care hospital, is a non-profit facility. The medical staff consists of 22 active staff members and approximately 25 consulting staff members. OCMC has modern, state-of-the-art equipment, including a new Elscint CT Scanner, diasonic ultra-sound, nuclear medicine equipment, a full-body bone densitometer, an MRI, and modern LDRP rooms.
OCMC offers many services not usually found in communities the size of Camden, including a home health program, 23-bed chemical dependency unit, a geriatric psych unit, a hospice program, an orthopedic & physical rehabilitation program, a meal delivery system, and a state-of-the-art day surgery center.
OCMC is fully licensed by the state of Arkansas and all of its services are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. The home health, healthware, hospice and chemical dependency programs are individually accredited by the Joint Commission also.
For long-term care, the Camden area supports four nursing homes, one with a dedicated Alzheimer’s unit and a modern mental health care clinic.
The Christian Health Center
The Christian Health Center serves the working person with no insurance privileges. This medical center has three exam rooms, one dental operatory, lab, charitable pharmacy, conference room, and offices.
Services include:
Chronic disease management for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or asthma.
Acute care for more immediate problems such as infections or injury.
Limited onsite laboratory to include EKG, pulmonary function testing, cholesterol and liver function testing, urinalysis, Hemoglobin A1c, and microalbumin.
Prescription assistance programs through the manufacturers.
Ouachita Valley Family Clinic
Ouachita Valley Family Clinic-A Baptist Health Affiliate offers a wide range of medical services for the entire family serving the healthcare needs of Camden and surrounding communities.
Click Here to Learn More