Indiana Area School District

General Information

The Community

The District

Unique Programs and Partnerships 

Awards and Recognition

Current Budget

Class of 2007 Facts 

Student Enrollment

Professional Staff

Home

Contact: webmaster@iasd.cc

The Community:

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

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 (2005-2006)

HIV/STD Prevention Grant (2005-2006)

Horace Mann Elementary School Art Gallery (local artists)

Indiana County Technology Center  

IUP/HOMEPLATE Math Education Partnership (2005-2007)

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)

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

2008/2009 Budget

RECEIPTS

Local sources.......................... $ 27,230,275

State sources.......................... $ 15,000,940

Federal sources.........................   $ 863,171

Other sources.............................. $ 140,250

Reserves...................................... $ 897,593

TOTAL....................................    44,132,229

EXPENDITURES

Employee Salaries ...................$ 22,277,968

Employee Benefits................... $ 10,564,629

Professional Services.................... $ 929,653

Property Services.........................  1,063,587

Other Services............................$ 4,361,864

Supplies.................................... $ 1,509,654

Property and Equipment ............... $ 250,315

Other Objects............................... $ 223,594

Other Financing Uses................. $ 2,950,965

TOTAL.................................... $ 44,132,229

Class of 2008

The percentage of graduates from the class of 2008 who are continuing in some type of post-secondary education is more than 80%:

Four-year College/University.................. 70.3%

Community/Junior College.....................   3.5%

Business and Technical Schools...........   6.2%

                                                            80.0%

Average SAT Scores

National Merit

National Merit Finalists                   1

National Merit Semi-Finalists              1

Commended Students                        3

Student Enrollment

Total Enrollment

(As of September 1, 2007)

2,942

Professional Staff

Number of Professional Staff.................................. 256

Master’s Degree or above.......................................193

Average years of teaching experience

within the district.................................................... 14.3%

(Fall 2007)