Highlands School District

Welcome to Highlands School District Located in Southwestern PA, Highlands School District comprises the municipalities of Fawn Township, Harrison Township, Brackenridge Borough and Tarentum Borough. The area is approximately twenty-two square miles with a population of about 25,000. It is located in the northeast corner of Allegheny County along the Allegheny River about 18 miles from Pittsburgh. Route 28 provides easy access to the Greater Pittsburgh area. The immediate area contains major industries, including three major research and development facilities. The four communities offer a mixture of urban and rural residential areas, and a variety of recreational, educational, shopping, dining, entertainment, and health care facilities. Residents are within commuting distance of major Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania colleges and universities, and a wide selection of business and technical schools. Highlands firmly believes that our children's futures begin with a strong foundation, built piece by piece at home, in the community, and in our schools. We set goals each year to improve upon programs, educational services and facilities that will help our students build a solid foundation and establish lifelong skills that they can use to continue to grow. Our students are challenged with innovative curriculum, motivating teachers and continually updated classes. Highlands has consistently received high ratings from local, state, and national evaluation programs on both elementary and secondary levels, and has maintained a maximum accreditation rating. The current enrollment at Highlands is approximately 2,500 students. We have a professional staff of about 225 educators and administrators, and a support staff of nearly 200, including secretaries, aides, food service, custodians/maintenance, security personnel.

At Highlands, we believe that... Parents should be involved in the education of their children. Self-esteem is important for personal growth. Quality education must be accessible to everyone. Every individual must be treated with respect and dignity. Education is a life-long process. All students can learn. Education is a shared responsibility and cooperative effort between home, school, and community. An effective education extends beyond the classroom experience. Achieving success is the most important motivational experience. A caring environment nurtures the desire for learning. Every citizen should be involved in education. Early childhood education begins the formative process of learning. Assessment should guide instruction. Learning experiences are best achieved in a flexible environment. At Highlands, every student's education should be cultivated by a... Desire for learning Comprehensive core of knowledge Developmentally appropriate curriculum At Highlands, every student should be able... To set goals To be responsible To communicate with others To reason and problem solve To work cooperatively To make sound decisions To utilize technology as a tool

-