Pleasant Hills Middle School a“ School to Watch” Once Again
District Continues to Experience Enrollment Spike
As the 2024-2025 school year reached its midpoint, the West Jefferson Hills School District continued to see enrollment growth, as predicted by the district and forecasting experts. As of January 6, the district’ s total enrollment was 3,540 students which marks an increase of 41 students since August. That enrollment figure is expected to increase throughout the second semester as families continue to enroll students in the district. The current enrollment number is a 3.3 % increase from last school year.
Enrollment has grown by 13.5 % in the last five years and by nearly 24 % from the 2016-2017 school year. Projections from the Pennsylvania Department of Education predict a more than 10 % enrollment increase by 2028. West Jefferson Hills is the only school district in Allegheny County with a projected double-digit enrollment boost in that time period. However, the district is already outpacing the state’ s projections released during the 2023-2024 school year. The district’ s own demographic study completed in 2023 forecasted a nearly 8 % increase in student enrollment from 2025 until 2032.
In addition, the number of English Language Learners has more than quadrupled since 2017-2018. Nearly two dozen languages are spoken by West Jefferson Hills students.
By grade-level, the Class of 2028( ninth grade) has the largest total enrollment with 300 students. The Class of 2025 has the smallest total enrollment with 231 students. The average gradelevel enrollment for K-5 is 276, the average middle school gradelevel enrollment is 275, and the average high school grade-level enrollment is 264.
The West Jefferson Hills School Board and administration continue to work on the development of a comprehensive plan that addresses the district’ s enrollment growth and its current school facilities. The district expects to finalize that plan and share it with stakeholders in 2025.
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This year, the West Jefferson Hills School District’ s communications department introduced Spotted, a monthly e-magazine which shares the stories that make us proud to be Jaguars. This electronic publication is shared with district families on the last school day of each month. Community members are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly e-magazine by emailing goodnews @ wjhsd. net.
Pleasant Hills Middle School a“ School to Watch” Once Again
Pleasant Hills Middle School, part of the West Jefferson Hills School District, has been redesignated as a PA Don Eichhorn Schools:“ School to Watch.” The“ Schools to Watch” program was developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform in partnership with the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education( PAMLE), Kutztown University, and the Horace Mann Service Corporation. Pleasant Hills Middle School is one of only 38 active“ Schools to Watch” in Pennsylvania.
Pleasant Hills Middle School was first designated as a“ School to Watch” school nine years ago, and this is the third redesignation. Schools are recognized for three-year periods and must re-apply to continue in the program. Designated schools are celebrated for their academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structures and processes. As part of the reapplication process, schools must demonstrate progress on specific goals.
In the fall, a state team visited Pleasant Hills Middle School to observe classrooms; interview administrators, educators, students, and parents; and review achievement data, suspension rates, lesson quality, and student work. The site visit followed the submission of a written application from a team of middle school teachers and administrators.
“ Receiving the‘ Schools to Watch’ designation once again is a proud moment for all of us at Pleasant Hills Middle School,” said Dan Como, Pleasant Hills Middle School principal.“ This redesignation is proof of our team’ s tireless efforts to provide a high quality educational experience that puts students first.”
In a letter to Mr. Como and assistant principal Jodi Knight, Pennsylvania State Schools to Watch Director Bruce Vosburgh noted the middle school’ s programs and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“ Pleasant Hills Middle School would not have earned this honor if it weren’ t for the school’ s administration, faculty, and staff and their relentless pursuit of academic excellence and quality instruction,” said Dr. Janet Sardon, superintendent of the West Jefferson Hills School District.“ This recognition highlights the school’ s successes and the commitment to continuously improve.”
Launched in 1999,“ Schools to Watch” began as a national program to identify middle-grades schools across the country that were meeting or exceeding 37 researched based criteria developed by the National Forum. Unlike the Blue Ribbon program, the“ Schools to Watch” initiative requires schools to not only identify strengths but demonstrate progress on specific goals.
As an active“ School to Watch,” Pleasant Hills Middle School will now collaborate with educators from across the country to highlight its academic programs, initiatives, and success stories.
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