Palmyra Area School District receives recognition as a Great PA School

Palmyra Area School District was recently designated as a Great Pennsylvania School, a designation that recognizes public schools in the commonwealth that “provide students with access to rigorous programming, are community-centric, demonstrate financial well-being and display resilience,” according to a press release from the district.

District superintendent Dr. Bernie Kepler noted in the release that, during the 2023-24 school year, Palmyra was 490th in per-pupil spending out of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, yet student achievement is among the highest in the mid-state.

“Considering only 10 school districts in the state of Pennsylvania spend less per student than Palmyra, we are incredibly proud of students and staff for the level of student achievement evident in our school district,” Kepler said in the release.

Dr. Nate Frank, the district’s new assistant superintendent, said in a statement, “I have been incredibly impressed with Palmyra’s focus on students and the community,”and highlighted the rigorous coursework included in the K-12 curriculum, the opportunities at the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, as well as the support services put in place for students at Palmyra.

To receive the Great PA Schools designation, districts must meet the criteria established in each of the four categories, according to the release.

Districts that provide students with academically rigorous programming must confirm that 100% of their teachers are certified and that students have access to career and technical education, gifted education, advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses, and JROTC programming.

To demonstrate a district’s position as the centerpiece of the community, it must exemplify innovation in school programming, regularly celebrate the successes of students and staff, and provide academic and extracurricular offerings for the benefit of students.

The final criteria – resilience and fiscal health – measure a district’s planning efforts that ultimately lead to successful academic programming. To meet the resilience criteria, a district must implement an emergency preparedness plan and provide mental health supports to students.

A district meets the financially healthy criteria by having an elected or independent auditor conduct a financial audit annually, making the final district budget available for public review prior to adoption, and following School Code requirements for bids and quotations when purchasing goods and services.

In addition to the GPS designation and success stories from schools across the state, the campaign website also houses information about the role and responsibilities of a school board, how to run for a position on a local school board, and a collective vision for the future of public education in Pennsylvania.

Palmyra Area School District covers approximately 37 square miles and has an enrollment of about 3,500 students.