Message from the Superintendent
As I look back on the past school year, I reflect on the many accomplishments, awards, and achievements and I am proud of the work of the Fox Chapel Area students and staff. As you read through the pages in this State of the Schools, you will see that they continue to bring national, state, and regional recognition to our district through their success in academics, athletics, technology, the arts, and community service. Their achievements, and the commitment of all residents of the district, build a sense of community pride for the past – and great anticipation for what the future holds.
There were so many wonderful successes last school year, and this year is no exception. Already we have achieved state and national recognition for our programs.
• Our high school School Performance Profile( SPP) came in at an incredibly high 99.5. The SPP provides information on the academic performance of each school in Pennsylvania. Scores range from 0-100, with points for academic achievement on assessments such as the Keystones, SAT / ACT, and industry-specific exams for our technical school students; points for academic growth; points for closing the achievement gap; points for other academic indicators such as graduation rate, promotion, attendance, AP credit, and PSAT participation; and extra credit points for advanced scores on various assessments.
• In September, Fairview Elementary School was named a 2016 Blue Ribbon School, one of 329 schools from across the nation and one of two from our entire region. Fairview was selected as an“ Exemplary High Performing School” based on the high performance of our students.
• The Fox Chapel Area School District was accepted into the League of Innovative Schools in early October. Only 19 districts nationwide were inducted into the League this year and Fox Chapel Area’ s selection was based on our innovative vision for learning and our commitment to collaboration. Specifically, we were recognized for our comprehensive K-12 computer science curriculum with digital badging at the elementary level, the district’ s infusion of maker-education and project-based learning, and the various educational technology and research partnerships we have developed with institutions of higher education and local entrepreneurs.
The recognitions from last school year and these current honors are well-earned and welldeserved by our students, staff, and the community. However, it is also important that we not just focus on the past, but that we continue to pay attention toward building our future. As always, we continue to look forward and take additional steps to provide an environment that maximizes learning, achievement, and development for every student. Our goal is to prepare students for the 21 st century world of technology and collaboration through deeper learning opportunities. Our promise to you is that we will continue to make learning meaningful for our students.
It is important to note that none of these recognitions and the day-to-day mission of the school district can be accomplished without the support of the entire community – the students and their families, the staff, and the community at large. The journey we are on is a significant and important one, and we must never lose sight of that. Every day is another step toward our destination of teaching and engaging tomorrow’ s leaders. Thank you for taking this journey with us, and for your support along the way.
Sincerely,
Gene Freeman, Ed. D. Superintendent
2015-2016 fox chapel area school district state of the schools
Fox Chapel Area | Fall 2016 | icmags. com 9