CRANBERRY TWP — The Community College of Allegheny County recently announced it might open a campus in Marshall Township, becoming the latest of several educational institutions that either are coming or possibly coming to the Cranberry Township area.

As Cranberry continues to grow, it is drawing attention from educational institutions as a place to be. These institutions would add to the economic mix there.

At a meeting this month, CCAC officials said the college needs to expand and said a site off Warrendale Road just over the border from Cranberry Township is one location being considered.

College spokesman David Hoovler said Friday the college recently commissioned a study that will examine the practicality of opening a new campus in Marshall Township. He said that area has long appealed to administrators who want to be closer to the burgeoning population around Cranberry.

“Looking down the road, it appears that the North Hills is one of the faster growing areas of the county,” he said. “There’s already a very strong enrollment at our North campus in McCandless with more than 6,000 students, and we’re facing some challenges with meeting the projected enrollment in the coming years.”

Hoovler also said CCAC would either build its own complex or buy an existing facility in the area to house its new campus, if indeed that campus comes to Marshall Township.

Regardless of whether CCAC comes to the area, that college is just one of several educational institutions that could open in Cranberry in the next several years.

Catholic high school

Butler County’s first Catholic high school, slated to open for the 2013-2014 school year, is in the design phase while officials with the Diocese of Pittsburgh work to raise more money for the $60 million project.

The new Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School will be built on 71 acres on Route 228 in Cranberry, adjacent to the St. Kilian Catholic Elementary School.

The high school is expected to hold more than 1,000 students.

Cyber charter school

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School has plans to move its new science, technology, engineering and mathematics center to the area in 2013.

The cyber school that serves about 10,500 students across the state with more than 750 employees has outgrown its existing facility in Wexford.

The school will likely either chose Cranberry or Adams Township to move to, according to spokesman Fred Miller.

“We’re targeting the Cranberry area because it’s expanding and growing, and because of the proximity of companies such as Westinghouse that we could form partnerships with,” Miller said.

Jerry Andree, Cranberry manager, said that he and other community leaders welcome these new educational opportunities, but added that the township doesn’t have a special plan to attract new educational institutions.

That’s because they are already attracted to the area because of the healthily businesses and industries there and Cranberry’s young population.

“I think it’s all connected,” Andree said. “The average age here is below the national average, educational attainment here is higher, and income is higher. These are all things that make people value education.”

Even without the addition of new educational institutions, Cranberry already has its share of educational facilities.

Butler County Community College

BC3’s Cranberry campus, has been here for more than 20 years.

The township has long been a focus of BC3, which serves about 550 students and employs more than 75 teachers there.

If the college keeps growing, the Cranberry site may need to expand, according to director Alex Gladis.

“It’s a very important part of the mission for the community college to reach out to all the constituents of Butler County,” Gladis said. “And Cranberry seems like the most logical place to be.”

Regional Learning Alliance

Another integral piece helping to make Cranberry an educational hub is the Regional Learning Alliance in the Cranberry Woods business park.

According to Justin Griffith, executive director and general manager, the RLA is a satellite campus for 11 educational institutions that partner with the alliance.

The RLA’s goal is to offer as many programs as on a small college campus “but doing so by having these schools collaborate with us to offer the programs,” Griffith said.

The RLA employs more than 40 people and serves hundreds of students annually.

In addition, Griffith said, more than 40,000 people annually attend seminars, conferences and training sessions at the RLA, while more than 500 companies use the RLA’s employees to help train their employees.

Like many of the other education institutions that have come or are coming to Cranberry, the RLA’s impact on the economy is substantial.

“I think there’s a big effect on the local economy, not only because we offer an education that produces college degrees, but also because of the conference and training center,” he said.

“The thousands of people who come here annually, almost all spend their time and money somewhere in Cranberry Township.”

Others

Waynesburg University has a satellite building for its graduate and professional studies program in Seven Fields, which provides doctoral, graduate and undergraduate programs to students.

And the Seneca Valley School District, with its main campus neighboring Jackson Township, educates Cranberry students. It is the county’s second largest school district.