Downingtown Area School District
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The Downingtown Area School District is an school district based in Downingtown, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
In total, there are 13 schools within the district, consisting of nine elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. As of 2005, the district educates an average of 11,000 students.
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[edit] Geography
The district, located in central Chester County serves all of the following municipalities:
- Downingtown Borough
- East Brandywine Twp.
- East Caln Twp.
- Upper Uwchlan Twp.
- Uwchlan Twp.
- Wallace Twp.
- West Bradford Twp.
- West Pikeland Twp.
[edit] Future plans
On February 15, 2006, the Downingtown School Board approved a 5 year $150 million initiative that would involve renovations to Brandywine Wallace Elementary School, the former Ninth Grade Center, and construction of a third middle school and third high school. This is a first step to address the district's rapid growth and allows administration officials to begin searching for architects and real estate. While no location has been announced for the new middle school and high school, negotiations are occurring. The location has been chosen for the new elementry school has been chosen for, Upper Uwchlan Twp./Wallace Twp. area, where many of the district's 5,800 new and planned homes will be located. The schools name is Springton Manor Elementary School.
[edit] Schools within the Downingtown Area School District
[edit] Elementary schools
- Beaver Creek Elementary - Downingtown
- Bradford Heights Elementary School - West Bradford Twp.
- Brandywine-Wallace Elementary School - East Brandywine Twp.
- East Ward Elementary School - Downingtown
- Lionville Elementary School - Uwchlan Twp.
- Pickering Valley Elementary School - Upper Uwchlan Twp.
- Shamona Creek Elementary School - Uwchlan Twp.
- Uwchlan Hills Elementary School - Uwchlan Twp.
- West Bradford Elementary School - West Bradford Twp.
[edit] Middle schools
- Downingtown Middle School - Downingtown
- Lionville Middle School - Uwchlan Twp.
[edit] High schools
- Downingtown High School - Downingtown High School is split into two campuses: Downingtown East (Uwchlan Twp.) and Downingtown West (Downingtown). While still legally considered to be one school, East and West are generally regarded as being separate entities. A passionate rivalry has quickly sprung up between the two campuses.
Downingtown High School is split into two campuses: Downingtown East (Uwchlan Twp.) and Downingtown West (Downingtown). While some principals and administrators claim that the two entities remain "one school," they are clearly discrete entities, separate and therefore inherently unequal. Fresh rivalries are quickly appearing as the camaraderie of the unified Downingtown High School alumni fades from the memory of current students.
Each school claims certain advantages and superiorities: East boasts star quarterback Pat Devlin, higher average standardized test scores (facilitated by higher average incomes) and more rigorous academics in general, a superior orchestra (thanks mostly to the directors), and a unique, and thought to be better mascot (the Cougar, versus West's Whippet). West brags better sports teams (having won more State Championships), better band and choir programs (though the latter point is a matter of contention and hot debate), a better 2006 musical theater production (Les Miserable greatly exceeding East's performance of Grease in terms of ticket sales and, according to certain ambivalent audience members of both shows, quality and talent), and a more humorous principal (whose speech patterns and first-day tirades on topics such as clothing and displays of affection remain etched in the minds of alumni, especially those of 2006-the first to attend four years of high school under his tutelage). As the title of "Best Downingtown High School Campus" cannot be granted empirically, students of either may consider their respective building entitled to the distinction.
