For the Family Child Development Care The child development center is a new, modernized facility located at 201 Avenue D. Programs provide a diverse and rewarding developmental experience for the full growth of a child. Parents will find a safe environment with a professional and caring staff. Full-time childcare is available during the week. Parents can take advantage of hourly, weekly and monthly rates. The facility accepts children from 6 weeks through 6 years of age and serves breakfast, lunch and snacks at no extra charge. Fees are charged on a sling scale based on the current year family income. Parents need to provide their child's immunization card on the first visit. Immunizations are recorded, kept on file at the center and updated as required. Call (325) 696-4337. Family Child Care As the number of working parents increases, so does the need for childcare with greater flexability. Here, parents have an option of selecting different types of care. The choice may be a home environment with smaller child/adult ratios. This type of care can be found in a Family Child Care home. A Family Child Care home provides high quality care within a safe environment. In addition to attentive supervision, age appropriate activities are offered to the children that will promote development in all area: social/emotional, cognitive and physical. Children's positive self-esteem will be promoted through appropriate expectations and guidance as well as varied learning opportunities. Family Child Care has a large inventory of child care items from cribs to toys that are checked out on a loan basis to assist individuals with their home child care. Youth Activities The youth center programs provide a variety of constructive leisure time activities for youths, ages 5 through 18.Wide ranges of athletic activities are available, including soccer, basketball and skating. Instructional programs are offered throughout the year. Other activities include a variety of workshops, youth dances and athletic classes. The center provides a before- and after school program that includes transportation to several of the local elementary schools as well as a summer program geared to a full day of sports and field trips or other activities. Programs and activities planned for teenagers include trips, canoeing, overnight lock-ins and other events throughout the year. The youth center has two soccer and baseball fields, an outdoor basketball area and a scoring center. Call (325) 696-4797. Schools The Abilene Independent School District has an enrollment of approximately 18,300 students in three high schools, seven middle school, 20 elementary school and nine special programs campuses. The distric is rated "recongized" by the Texas Education Agency for achievement in academics, attendance and lowered dropout rates. The district has two regular high schools of approximately 2,400 students each in the grades nine through 12--Abilene High "Eagles" and the Cooper High "Cougars." The third high school, Excel Learning Center, has approximately 200 students in an alternative, self-paced setting designed for students who have fallen behind in earning graduation credits. The six middle schools with enrollments of 600 to 800 students are Mann, Franklin, Lincoln Madison, Jefferson and Clack. A seventh middle school, Project PASS, is an alternative school operated as a companion school to Excel. The district's 20 elementary schools include students--kindergarden through fifth grades. Dyess Elementary serves students who have parents living on base.