Indiana, Pennsylvania is situated sixty miles northeast of the city of Pittsburgh.  Indiana area residents enjoy the “best of both worlds” – the benefits of proximity to a major city, as well as the lifestyle and sense of community afforded by a smaller town.  The total population of the district is approximately 32,000.

Indiana is also home to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), the largest university in the State System of Higher Education.  More than  14,000 students are enrolled in IUP’s undergraduate and graduate programs.  IUP is the area’s largest employer and its presence in the community offers accessibility to many educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities exclusive to a university town.  

The Indiana Regional Medical Center is the community's second largest employer, and serves Indiana County as a full-service healthcare provider.

The District:

Indiana Area School District is located in the county seat of Indiana County and encompasses 82 square miles.  The district serves students from Indiana and Shelocta Boroughs and the surrounding White and Armstrong Townships respectively.  The district has provided quality, student-centered education for over 170 years.  District facilities consist of four K-6 elementary schools, one 7-9 junior high and one 10-12 senior high school.   

In the past several years, the district's exemplary academic program has continually been recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the US Department of Education.  These recognitions include:  achieving AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) on the Pennsylvania System of School Achievement (PSSA) state tests; narrowing the achievement gap for lower socio-economic students; being in the top 10% of 616 Pennsylvania high schools on the SAT test; and achieving a high success rate on competitive federal//state grant applications submitted.

Student achievement in PSSA tests, Advanced Placement (AP) scores, and ranking on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), are consistent indicators of the district's commitment to high academic standards and programs.  The Indiana Area School District, also, has a highly professional staff that provides a nurturing learning environment for students, using strategies that are tailored to address the needs of all abilities and learning styles.  The district recognizes and encourages respect for issues of diversity and multi-cultural awareness. 

Unique Programs and Partnerships:

24 Challenge and Quiz Bowl regional academic competitions  

Advanced Placement courses (12) in Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies - Above average student participation rate (32 %)

After School Elementary Foreign Language Programs (University students volunteer at elementary schools)

After School Math Tutoring Program in all elementary schools and junior high school

Annual series of dramatic and musical productions at junior and senior high schools

Business Advisory Committee (comprised of community & business representatives and business educators)

Character Education Curriculum K-12

Classrooms for the Future grant

Co-ed Café (an in-house mini restaurant operated by junior high students)

Communities that Care Initiative – “Caring Homes” (partnership with community agencies)

Education Initiative Grants for innovative programs  

Elementary District String Ensemble

Foreign exchanges for students and educators (France, Spain, China, Ireland, England)  

Highmark Healthy Schools Grant (2007-2008)

Horace Mann Elementary School Art Gallery (local artists)

Indiana County Technology Center  

IUP/HOMEPLATE Math Education Partnership (2005-2008)

Keystone Integrated Framework Project

Lutherlyn Environmental Science Center  

National Science Foundation Math Science Partnership Grant 2003-2008

PTA at elementary schools; PTSA at junior high school; Parent Advisory Councils at secondary schools

Partnership with Indiana Area Arts Council - ArtsPath artist-in-residence program

Pre-school program at the senior high school (student operated)

Project Fit America Grant - East Pike Elementary School

School to Work Shadowing Program

Suzuki method of violin instruction – all third grade students  

Teaching American History USDE Grant (2004-2008)

TV/Video production in junior and senior high schools  

Walking School Bus in two elementary schools 

Western PA Writing Conference via IUP  

Wireless computer labs

YMCA fourth grade swimming program

Young Writers’ Conference

Awards and Recognition:

Year 2000 “Top 100 Schools in the Nation – ‘Offspring, The Magazine of Smart Parenting’”

   - “Pittsburgh Magazine” 2001 School Report Card:

   - Third in state – Math PSSA Scores

   - Third in state – AP Science Scores

   - Second in state – Average level of Education of Teachers  

National PTA Parent Involvement School of Excellence - Junior High

Middle States Accreditation (Grades 10-12)

National Merit Finalists/Semi-Finalists - yearly

National Forensic League - Merit/Honor level membership

All-State Band, Chorus, Orchestra  

2003 Fiesta Bowl Parade participation - 2nd place

Numerous athletic titles  

2002-2003 WPIAL Scholar Athlete Award

Top state and national awards for school newspaper (PenSPRA)

State awards for yearbook and literary magazine

Awards in numerous academic contests (Math, Science, Foreign Language, Business, etc.)

Congressional High School Art Competition

Heartwood Prize for use of Ethics Based Education

PSBA Award for Parent Information Publications

School Match Awards 1999-2005 (What Parents Want Award)

Governor’s Schools – numerous participants

Standard and Poor’s report identifying district strengths in PSSA and SAT scores  

Standard and Poor's 2006 - recognition of 55 Pennsylvania school districts as academic "outperformers."  (Three consecutive years)

SAT Reasoning Tests - Well above average participation (71 %) and scores

Numerous regional awards in music, art, and drama performance

Numerous teacher recognition awards and grants

Adequate Yearly Progress State Recognition, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005

PSSA Academic Achievement Awards 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 for all elementary and junior high schools

Class of 2009

The percentage of graduates from the class of 2009 who are continuing in some type of post-secondary education is more than 84.7%:

Four-year College/University.................. 72.8%
Community/Junior College.....................   5.3%
Business and Technical Schools...........   6.6%

                                                            84.7%

Average SAT Scores

National Merit

Commended Students                       1

 

Student Enrollment
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School (K-6)	476
East Pike Elementary School (K-6)	401
Eisenhower Elementary School (K-6)	298
Horace Mann Elementary School (K-6)	284
Junior High School (7-9)	674
Senior High School (10-12)	723
Total Enrollment (As of October 1, 2009)	2,856

Professional Staff

Number of Professional Staff:  256

Master’s Degree or above:  199

1-10 years with district: 107

11-20 years with district:  73

21-30 years with district: 51

31+ years with district: 25

(As of Fall 2009)