A Galaxy of Opportunities
Radcliff offers excellence and variety in education

It’s a rare place where technology, good school systems and a local commitment to excellence all combine to create an atmosphere conducive to learning. It’s even more rare to find these things in a city the size of Radcliff (with a population of about 22,000). In Radcliff and Northern Hardin County, one can be educated from kindergarten through graduate school without ever leaving the area.

The children of Radcliff residents do not have to travel far to go to school. The central offices of Hardin County Schools are in Radcliff, as is the newly-opened John Hardin High School, the most modern facility of its kind in Kentucky. Within the city limits are also North Hardin High School, two middle schools and four elementary schools.

“I’m proud of the education we provide here,” said Lois Gray, superintendent of Hardin County Schools. “Both of my sons graduated from North Hardin High School; each got an excellent education. Hardin County has had a progressive school system for years.”

According to Gray, Hardin County’s solid school system owes its success to more than good leadership. “The quality of education you get at Hardin County Schools speaks well for our staff. The quality of the people I associate with at work every day gives me a great sense of satisfaction. Our staff are friendly, caring and bright. Their attitude has a way of rubbing off. Our students end up with the same positive attitudes toward life and learning.”

Perhaps the prime example of the Radcliff community’s commitment to learning is the Challenger Learning Center, which is located at the intersection of U.S. 31W and Route 313. The Challenger Learning Center is an educational facility targeting middle school students. It utilizes a simulated space travel as a teaching tool to create a long-term interest in math, science and technology in middle school students. It is the only such facility in the country owned by a municipality.

The center is one of only three in Kentucky affiliated with the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, an international not-for-profit educational organization headquartered near Washington, D.C.

During a simulated mission, students take the roles of scientists and engineers who serve as astronauts and mission controllers on an exploration of comets. Their goal is to successfully plot a course to rendezvous with a comet and launch a probe to collect scientific data. At first, the mission may seem routine, but it is sprinkled with surprises and emergencies.

The Hardin County School system and Challenger Learning Center both greatly benefit from local volunteers.

“This community is very generous and caring,” Gray said. “A lot of our business people go out of their way to clothe and put shoes on kids who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it. They also make sure that kids will have the funds to be able to participate in extracurricular school events. There are also a lot of seniors who volunteer with our schools.

“I think of one gentleman who volunteers at the local middle schools. He selects a couple of students who need help honing their reading skills. He reads to them and they read to him and we end up seeing great improvement on the part of these kids. This gentleman is just one of a bunch of volunteers I could talk about.”

In higher education, Radcliff and Northern Hardin County residents can attend McKendree College. Students can study a broad curriculum, ranging from nursing and computer programming to accounting.

At Fort Knox, more higher education opportunities abound. Academic programs available to military personnel and their families are also available to area residents.

“We have a very strong partnership with the University of Louisville,” said Maj. Gen. R. Stephen Whitcomb, base commander at Fort Knox. “Here you can earn a master’s degree or study subjects like robotics, computer science or simulation technology.”

Along with U of L, Sullivan University, the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University are among the accredited institutions offering classes on base.

“Everyone here knows that education is a key to a bright future for themselves and their children,” said Radcliff Mayor Sheila Enyart. “That’s why the people of this city are so positive about learning.”



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