Cutting Edge Style Academy

A new cosmetology training center, designed specifically for students who attend high schools in the 12 West-MEC districts, is scheduled to open this summer. The facility, called Cutting Edge Style Academy, is located at 75th Avenue and Peoria Avenue. The 10,000 sq. ft. facility will be operated through a partnership of the West-MEC and Gateway Community College’s Maricopa Skill Center.

“The purpose of the new training center is to prepare our students to meet the growing demand for skilled persons in all areas of cosmetology,” said Gregory Donovan, West-MEC Superintendent.

Donovan pointed out that a recent survey conducted in the latter part of 2007 by the National Accreditation Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences revealed that nearly three-quarters of the salons in the country were not able to find qualified applicants to fill positions. He said that according to this survey the owners of Arizona salons alone were hoping to hire more than 6,800 individuals during this year.

All students in the West-MEC districts will be eligible to enroll in the center. According to the State Board of Cosmetology, students will have to complete at least ten high school credits, including two in English and one in Mathematics, before they can begin their cosmetology training. The state requires a minimum of 1,600 hours of instruction before certification. Because of the number of hours that are required for certification, students will be urged to begin the cosmetology course during the summer prior to their junior year.

Donovan said that the center will offer three time slots during the day to accommodate the number of students who choose to enroll. In addition, he explained that some summer school and Saturday classes are necessary in order to fulfill the required number of training hours. The center is expected to enroll up to 240 new students each year. At full capacity the center can serve 480 students.

The students will be concurrently enrolled in both West-MEC and the Maricopa Skill Center. They will receive six elective high school credits for each of their junior and senior years. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the state cosmetology board exam to become certified cosmetologists.