East Penn School District
| East Penn School District | |
|---|---|
 Location of East Penn School District in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania | |
| Address | |
800 Pine Street , , 18049 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Superintendent | Kristen Campbell[1] |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Nickname | Hornets |
| Website | http://www.eastpennsd.org/ |
The East Penn School District is a public school district located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, 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% pursuing higher education following graduation.
East Penn School District has one of the most developed advanced placement programs in eastern Pennsylvania; it offers 19 advanced placement courses and 23 honors courses.
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 East Penn Conference, which has produced numerous professional and Olympic athletes. Emmaus High School fields teams in all of the conference's sports. Since the school's founding in 1955, it has won the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (or its predecessor, the Lehigh Valley Conference) at least once in each of the conference's sports. Emmaus High School is second in overall Eastern Pennsylvania Conference championships, behind only Parkland High School.[2]
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school, or homeschool, 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.[3]
Schools[]
High school[]
Middle schools[]
Elementary schools[]
- Alburtis Elementary School[6] (Alburtis)
- Jefferson Elementary School[7] (Emmaus)
- Lincoln Elementary School[8] (Emmaus)
- Macungie Elementary School[9] (Macungie)
- Shoemaker Elementary School[10] (Macungie)
- Wescosville Elementary School[11] (Wescosville)
- Willow Lane Elementary School[12] (Macungie) - feeds into Eyer Middle School
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. Since the report was published, another elementary school was built - Willow Lane Elementary. Plans for additional schools have not yet been made.
2002 "fat letter" controversy[]
In March 2002, East Penn School District received national media attention for its attempts to battle obesity. Articles appeared in hundreds of newspapers and television channels, and the 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 measured each student's body mass index (BMI). Letters were mailed to the parents of students who were found to be overweight or obese. The letters described the effects that being overweight can have on health, and requested that parents consult a family doctor or attend a free health session. Many parents were offended by the letters' approach and language.[13] Some parents said that the school was merely pointing blame without taking action. Partly as a result of this criticism, Emmaus High School removed soda and candy machines, and replaced the cafeteria's whole milk with skim and non-fat milk. It continued its BMI program and letters, and the school district has since seen a 2.86 percent drop in obesity levels.[14]
"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 on 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.[15]
Both students were suspended, but they were not charged with any crime after an investigation.[16]
2018 bullet incident at Eyer Middle School[]
In June 2018, an unknown student found a bullet near the school's auditorium, where 2 assemblies were planned that day. State police were dispatched to the school and students were sent home early.[17]
Notable alumni[]
- Charles Bierbauer, former CNN correspondent
- Howard J. Buss, composer and music publisher
- Keith Dorney, former professional football player, Detroit Lions
- Aaron Gray, former professional basketball player, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Hornets, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors
- Todd Howard, game director, Fallout 3, Oblivion, Skyrim
- Michael Johns, health care executive and former White House presidential speechwriter
- Marty Nothstein, 2000 Olympic Games gold medal winner, track cycling
- Nicole Reinhart, two-time Pan American Games gold-medal winner, track cycling
- Cindy Werley, 1996 Olympian, U.S. field hockey team
- Kevin White, professional football player, New Orleans Saints
- Kyzir White, professional football player, Los Angeles Chargers
- Joe Williams, former professional football player, San Francisco 49ers
References[]
- ^ "Kristen Campbell to Lead East Penn as New Superintendent".
- ^ LVIAC Historical Stats. Archived September 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, November 10, 2005
- ^ Eyer Middle School
- ^ Lower Macungie Middle School
- ^ Alburtis Elementary School
- ^ Jefferson Elementary School
- ^ Lincoln Elementary School
- ^ Macungie Elementary School
- ^ Shoemaker Elementary School
- ^ Wescosville Elementary School
- ^ Willow Lane Elementary School
- ^ "Letters on Students' Weight Ruffle Parents," The New York Times, March 26, 2002.
- ^ "East Penn School District, Emmaus, Lehigh County," Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity.
- ^ "Hit list found at Eyer Middle School ** Official says 2 students suspended "pending further investigation.'".
- ^ "Youths not charged over "death lists' ** 2 at Eyer Middle School allegedly targeted 14 classmates, 4 teachers".
- ^ "Students' emotions peak after bullet found at Eyer Middle School".
External links[]
- East Penn School District official website
- Emmaus High School review at Public School Review
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- East Penn School District
- School districts established in 1952
- School districts in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
- 1952 establishments in Pennsylvania