Overview of the West Chester Area School District

The West Chester Area School District covers a 75-square-mile suburban, urban and rural area in central Chester County.

The mission of the West Chester Area School District, a diverse community rich in heritage, is to educate all students to achieve their personal best, be responsible, contributing citizens and become life-long learners by inspiring each student through challenging curriculum, varied opportunities, effective teaching, respect for diversity, nurturing and caring staff, and involved families and community.

THE DISTRICT SERVES a 75-square-mile suburban, urban and rural area in central Chester County. West Chester Borough is the hub of the district. The surrounding townships of East Bradford, East Goshen, West Goshen, West Whiteland, Westtown, and Thornbury, all in Chester County, are part of the district, as is Thornbury Township in adjacent Delaware County.

A $176.4 MILLION BUDGET for 2006-07 supports close to 12,000 students in 10 elementary schools (kindergarten through grade 5), three middle schools (grades 6 through 8), and three high schools (grades 9 through 12). Class size averages 25 students.

THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF, headed by Superintendent Dr. Alan G. Elko, numbers over 900. Sixty-four percent have at least master’s degrees. Teachers, librarians, reading specialists, guidance counselors, nurses, psychologists, and specialists in art, music and physical education comprise the instructional staff. In addition, an administrative staff serves both in the schools and on the Central Office level.

THE STUDENT BODY has an ethnic distribution of 84.5% Caucasian, 7.4% African-American, 3.4% Hispanic, 4.6% Asian, and 0.1% Native American. The district strives for diversity at each school.

Chester County Connect helps in locating information such as park maps and resource links specific to our region.

COLLEGE BOARD SCORES are consistently above state and national averages. In standardized tests, administered annually in grades 4, 7, and 10, students score above national norms in reading and mathematics. The majority of students also score in the advanced or proficient categories in the annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, which tests reading and mathematics skills in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11, and writing skills in grades 6, 9, and 11. Up to 90% of our graduates seek higher education, and our dropout rate is less than 2%.

BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL Awards have been presented by the U.S. Department of Education to East and Henderson High Schools, Fugett Middle School, and Hillsdale, Mary C. Howse, and Sarah Starkweather Elementary Schools. Mary C. Howse received the award three times, and East High School received it twice.

CURRICULUM IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS is reviewed on a regular basis. Curriculum development is coordinated from kindergarten through grade 12 to ensure continuity across schools and grades. District tests, developed by the staff, measure how well the curriculum is mastered.

GIFTED PROGRAMS are provided for those who possess outstanding intellectual and creative abilities as defined by state mandates. Gifted elementary and middle school students experience both acceleration and enrichment in their home schools. Gifted high school students may conduct independent research projects and enroll in Advanced Placement courses in English, government and history, calculus, physics, and chemistry.

SPECIAL EDUCATION programs are provided for all exceptionalities through district-run classes, private programs, and programs of the Chester County Intermediate Unit.

AN EXTENDED DAY KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM for at-risk learners is available to students chosen on the basis of various assessment tools early in the school year. Other kindergarten students attend half-day sessions. In addition, a special clinical teaching team works with kindergarten through second grade children to overcome early learning difficulties. A summer school program is provided to selected K-5 students who can benefit from learning support over the summer months.

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS reflect the diversity of the student body. College-bound students enroll in Advanced Placement courses and in academic, honors, and seminar-level classes, depending upon ability and commitment to study. Students also study business, distributive education, family and consumer sciences, music, and art. Other options are available at the Center for Arts and Technology operated by the Chester County Intermediate Unit. These options prepare students for a variety of careers.

A TECHNOLOGY FUND is used to develop staff computer skills and to continually upgrade and expand computer technology in all schools. Nearly all computers are connected to the district’s network and to the Internet. In the high schools, wireless technology permits additional flexible network connection within individual classrooms.

A PARTNERS IN EDUCATION PROGRAM links parents, private individuals, civic organizations and businesses with all grade levels. The district also enjoys a partnership with West Chester University, which makes its resources available in a variety of ways.