Great PA Schools Designation
The Great PA Schools designation recognizes Pennsylvania public schools that provide students with access to rigorous programming, are community-centric, demonstrate financial well-being and display resilience. Schools are awarded a ribbon valid for a four-year term through an application and review process.
Before you begin your application, it may be helpful to review the selection criteria below and gather the following information. Signatures from the superintendent and school board president are required before submitting your application.
- Contact information and district social media accounts
- Written examples demonstrating your district:
- Serves as a centerpiece of the community
- Provides robust mental health supports
- Is in good financial standing, including your audit and bid solicitation processes
Careful consideration is taken to recognize urban, suburban, and rural; large and small; traditional and innovative districts, as well as those serving students of every social, economic and ethnic background. Applications are accepted and approved on a rolling basis.
To receive a Great PA Schools designation, districts must meet the following criteria:
Academically rigorous
Students feel both successful and challenged daily through curriculum that provides an elevated level of student engagement and learning through a sophisticated understanding of fundamental ideas driven by a curiosity to discover what they do not know.
To meet the “academically rigorous” requirement, districts must:
Resilient
Defined as the mental reservoir of strength that helps people handle stress and hardship, a district’s resilience can be demonstrated specifically in its emergency preparedness plans and implementation of mental health supports for students.
To meet the “resilient” requirement, districts must:
Financially healthy
School districts can control their long-term financial well-being by monitoring certain key indicators and planning accordingly, such as budget development, conducting a
financial audit and following bid requirements. A healthy financial condition leads to a successful academic program.
To meet the “financially healthy” requirement, districts must:
Community-centric
Academic outcomes, social and emotional competencies, and critical thinking skills are all enhanced when students have access to school environments where they feel safe and enjoy a sense of belonging and connectedness.
To meet the “community-centric” requirement, districts must:
SUBMIT APPLICATION
Great PA Schools Designation Recipients
| School District | Date Awarded |
|---|---|
| Bethel Park School District | November 2024 |
| Warwick School District | November 2024 |
| Hanover Public School District | October 2024 |
| Salisbury Township School District | August 2024 |
| Upper Moreland Township School District | July 2024 |
| Mercer Area School District | June 2024 |
| Titusville Area School District | June 2024 |
| Upper Perkiomen School District | May 2024 |
| Sharpsville Area School District | April 2024 |
| Conneaut School District | April 2024 |
| Cranberry Area School District | March 2024 |
| Pennridge School District | March 2024 |
| Pocono Mountain School District | February 2024 |
| North East School District | February 2024 |
| New Hope-Solebury School District | February 2024 |
| Palisades School District | February 2024 |
| Franklin Area School District | February 2024 |
| Central Columbia School District | January 2024 |
| Central York School District | January 2024 |
| North Hills School District | January 2024 |
| Parkland School District | January 2024 |
| Tunkhannock Area School District | January 2024 |