East Penn School District

East Penn School District

Location of East Penn School District in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Address
800 Pine Street
Emmaus, Pennsylvania, Lehigh, 18049
United States
Information
Type Public
Superintendent Dr. Thomas L. Seidenberger, Ed.D.
Grades K-12
Mascot Hornets
Website http://www.eastpennsd.org/
A map of East Penn School District in relation to other school districts in Lehigh County

The East Penn School District is a public school district located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Originally known as the East Penn Union School District, the district was established in 1952. It currently serves the Boroughs of Alburtis, Emmaus and Macungie and Lower Macungie Township and Upper Milford Township in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania.

The district operates one high school (Emmaus High School), two middle schools (Eyer Middle School and Lower Macungie Middle School) and seven elementary schools.

Academics

East Penn School District is noted for its academic excellence as measured by post-graduate collegiate admissions. As of the Class of 2011, 55% of Emmaus High School graduates attended four-year colleges or universities, 24% attended two-year colleges and 3% entered business, nursing or technical schools for a total of 82 percent pursuing higher education following graduation.

East Penn School District also has one of the most developed advanced placement programs in eastern Pennsylvania. 19 advanced placement courses and 23 honors courses are offered at Emmaus High School. Also reflecting the quality of its academic programs and the intelligence of its students, Emmaus High School has won more Scholastic Scrimmage championships than any Lehigh Valley high school in the history of this popular academic quiz show.

Athletics

Emmaus High School competes athletically in the Lehigh Valley Conference, which is renowned for the high quality of its athletic programs and has produced numerous professional and Olympic athletes. Emmaus High School fields teams in all of the conference's sports. Since Emmaus High School's founding in 1955, the school has won the Lehigh Valley Conference at least once in each of the conference's sports. Emmaus High School is also second in overall Lehigh Valley Conference championships, behind only Parkland High School.[1]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.[2]

Schools

High school

Middle schools

Elementary schools

Future development

On March 27, 2006, the East Penn School District board issued a strategic growth plan to meet the district's rapid growth in its student population. Eyer Middle School has been expanded. A new elementary school will open in the Fall of 2010. By 2014, the plan calls for the construction of a second high school, a third middle school and two more elementary schools in the district, but plans for these schools will depend on many factors. The addition of another high school has faced many issues, especially involving the distribution of the Athletic Program. Willow Lane Elementary School is fully operational at this time. The second new elementary school is being constructed at this time.

2002 "fat letter" controversy

In March 2002, East Penn School District received national media attention for their attempts to battle obesity. Articles appeared in hundreds of newspapers and television channels and their effort was the subject of numerous political cartoons. These articles were in response to East Penn School District's "fat letter" program, which began in November 2001. At the time, obesity was becoming a growing national health concern, especially due to its increasing prevalence in children. As a result, the school district took each student's body mass index. For students who were found to be overweight or obese, letters were mailed to their parents. The letters informed the parents of the effects that being overweight have on one's health and requested that parents consult a family doctor or attend a free health session. Many parents reportedly were offended by the letters, especially their approach and language.[3] Many parents responded by saying that the school was merely pointing blame without taking action. Partly in result to this criticism, Emmaus High School removed the schools soda and candy machines and replaced the cafeteria's whole milk with skim and non-fat milk. It continued its programs with the letters, and the school district since has realized a 2.86 percent drop in its obesity levels.[4]

"Hit list" incident at Eyer Middle School

In early 2007, an unidentified student of Eyer Middle School was caught in class writing names of students under a hit list. Another copy was later found possessed by a second student, who was also involved in developing the list. The list contained the names of fourteen students and four teachers.[5]

Both students were suspended, but they were not charged with any crime after an investigation.[6]

Prominent alumni

References

  1. ↑ LVIAC Historical Stats.
  2. ↑ Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, November 10, 2005
  3. ↑ "Letters on Students' Weight Ruffle Parents," The New York Times, March 26, 2002.
  4. ↑ "East Penn School District, Emmaus, Lehigh County," Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity.
  5. ↑ http://articles.mcall.com/2007-01-27/news/3718882_1_state-police-list-police-friday-night
  6. ↑ http://articles.mcall.com/2007-01-30/news/3718423_1_death-lists-two-students-state-police

External links