Educational+Community

__**Educational Community**__

"All human beings are born with unique gifts. The healthy functioning of our community depends on its capacity to develop each gift." - Peter Senge

The Northwestern Lehigh School District comprises 1/3 of Lehigh County which equates to approximately 107 square miles.The District includes one high school, one middle school, and two elementary buildings with a total enrollment of 2378 students. The District is primarily rural with many farms still in operation. As farmland is slowly being converted to housing developments, families moving into the District tend to be upper-middle class professionals who make daily commutes to work in neighboring cities, anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours away from home. The District is becoming a mix of stakeholders with differing expectations for our students.
 * Current Educational Community Statement:**

__**January 25, 2012**__

Understanding your educational community is an important first step toward understanding your strengths, challenges, trends and conditions. In addition to contextual information, such as geographic and demographic data, your educational community description may include perceptual data culled from surveys, forums and advisory groups. This process is typically referred to as an “environmental scan.” An environmental scan considers present and predicted influencers of the direction of your organization and should examine both internal and external factors.
 * Directions:**

Describe your educational community. (Consider the following questions)
 * Brainstorm - Share ideas:**
 * Is your community rural or urban?
 * What is the economic status of your community?
 * What types of industries are in your community?
 * What are your community resources?
 * What are your organizational resources?
 * How many and what types of students do you serve?
 * What opportunities do you offer to your students or community?
 * What opportunities does your community offer your students?
 * How do your community and organizational members feel about your entity?

Describe the District's educational community.
 * Begin drafting the educational community statement:**

Group 1 - The Northwestern Lehigh School District comprises 1/3 of Lehigh County which equates to approximately 107 square miles.The District includes one high school, one middle school, and two elementary buildings with a total enrollment of 2378 students. The District is primarily rural with many farms still in operation. As farmland is slowly being converted to residential properties, families moving into the District are becoming more diverse culturally and economically. The community values continuous education through a vast array of post-secondary educational, technical and career opportunities. Community support of educational and extra curricular activities, such as parent/teacher organizations, alumni foundation, and sports organizations, is important in the district. This also includes support from community businesses both within and neighboring the district.

Group 2 -

The Northwestern Lehigh School District comprises 1/3 of Lehigh County which equates to approximately 107 square miles.The District includes one high school, one middle school, and two elementary buildings with a total enrollment of 2378 students. Background of students Although the district is primarily rural, its distinct in its geographical location in its proximity to major US cities such as New York and Philadelphi

Group 3- The Northwestern Lehigh School District is situated in Northwest corner of Lehigh County which equates to approximately 107 square miles out of 349 square miles. Our district has many geographical and historical attributes such as the Appalachian Trail and the Leaser Homestead, which is noted for the preservation of the Liberty Bell during the Revolutionary War. Our District includes one high school, one middle school, two elementary buildings and a digital academy program. Our district averages a total enrollment of 2400 students. Our District is primarily rural, including many agricultural areas. With sensitivity to preserving our open space careful zoning has been put into place to maintain our rural character. We are within a one hour commute to our state capital, Harrisburg, and historical Philadelphia and as well as, a two hour commute to New York City. Our students have access to vast educational and cultural opportunities. Which include a variety of courses ranging from career and technical (LCTI) to advanced placement many obtain college credits during their high school career. Since our district campus is the central hub of our community we provide a healthy balance of athletic and student activities. We have a strong level community involvement that includes parental support through various volunteer and financial contributions.

Group 4-


 * We are a rural, with a broad range of income levels, from fairly wealthy to quite poor. Our perception is of an increasing spread between New Tripoli and Weisenberg in income levels because of existing housing. The tax base is adversely affected by relatively little commercial and industrial development, and there is at times conflict between those who favor more development and those who favor preservation of open space.
 * Our community resources include people: active volunteers, PTO, parents and grandparents who volunteer and support children.
 * Active religious organizations involved in schools
 * NYAA – coaches, other volunteers
 * Families very involved in children’s education
 * 4H, Scouting
 * Supportive local businesses, like New Tripoli bank, funding various projects, scholarships
 * Organizational resources
 * Technology resources
 * Good people
 * Strong leadership at the top historically, at the school board level and administrative level
 * Strong team feeling within and between departments and parts of the organization.
 * We serve 2378 students, fairly homogeneous, but of increasing diversity. More ESL students than in the past.
 * Opportunities offered to students:
 * athletic, drama, AP classes, range of courses from applied to college-level, distance learning. LCCC & Penn State “emerging professional” courses.
 * Lost some academic offerings in languages and music.
 * Community members reflect a mixture of views about the school. Some members may not value education as much, based on their own educational experience or on tax burden.

__**February 29, 2012**__

**Does this answer the essential questions?**
 * Is your community rural or urban?
 * What is the economic status of your community?
 * What types of industries are in your community?
 * What are your community resources?
 * What are your organizational resources?
 * How many and what types of students do you serve?
 * What opportunities do you offer to your students or community?
 * What opportunities does your community offer your students?
 * How do your community and organizational members feel about your entity?


 * Educational Community - DRAFT**


 * The Northwestern Lehigh School District comprises approximately 110 square miles in the Northwest corner of Lehigh County. The District is primarily rural, including many agricultural areas. The District is slowly becoming more diverse; culturally and economically. Our district has many geographical and historical attributes such as the Appalachian Trail and the Leaser Homestead, which is noted for the preservation of the Liberty Bell during the Revolutionary War.**


 * The District includes one high school, one middle school, two elementary schools, and a digital academy program with a total enrollment of approximately 2400 students. The District offers a variety of courses ranging from applied courses, career and technical education, advanced placement courses, and many students obtain college credits during their high school career. Since our district campus is the central hub of our community, we provide a healthy balance of academic, athletic and student activities. Our facilities are frequently utilized by the community. Community support including active volunteers, business partnerships, parent/teacher organizations, alumni and educational foundations, and athletic and activity organizations, is important to the District residents.**

At February 29, 2012 session

**Educational Community - DRAFT**

**The Northwestern Lehigh School District comprises approximately 110 square miles in the Northwest corner of Lehigh County. The District is primarily rural, including many agricultural areas, but is also within driving distance of several major cultural centers, such as New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Washington D.C. The District is slowly becoming more diverse, both culturally and economically. The District has many geographical and historical attributes, such as the Appalachian Trail and the Leaser Homestead, which is noted for the preservation of the Liberty Bell during the Revolutionary War.**

**The District includes one high school, one middle school, two elementary schools, and a digital academy program with a total enrollment of approximately 2400 students. The District offers a variety of course options, including applied-level courses, career and technical education courses, and Advanced Placement courses, and many students even obtain college credits during their high school career. Our district campus is the central hub of the Northwestern Lehigh community and our program of studies provides a healthy balance of academic, athletic, and extracurricular activities. Strong community support is defined by active volunteerism, business partnerships, parent/teacher organizations, alumni and educational foundations, and athletic and activity organizations and** **school district facilities are frequently utilized by the community to house these events.** **Our District lacks a strong industrial presence, however, the small businesses within the district are primarily owned by Northwestern Lehigh School District residents. The District's community and business leaders support the educational and extracurricular programs of the school district by providing financial, moral, and physical supports to our students. It is evident that the community revolves around the activities and accomplishments of the school district which signifies that the Northwestern Lehigh Schools are the heartbeat of this local community.**