Fort Cherry
Innovation
The Fort Cherry School District maintains two buildings on a 70-acre school campus. One houses the elementary school serving grades kindergarten through six. The other building houses grades seven through twelve. The district administration includes the superintendent, business manager, director of curriculum, director of pupil services, elementary principal, senior high principal, junior high principal, technology coordinator, director of student services, and director of facilities. The district offers a full day kindergarten program. Wireless Internet access is available in both schools. Over 700 computers and other technologies are available for student use, including 3D MakerBot Printers, MakeyMakey, Hummingbird robotics, and WeDo. Two modern libraries (one in each building) hold a collection of over 33,000 titles for student use and are a part of the state-wide library loan system.
The district provides instruction in ELA, STEM, social studies, arts, computer programming, game design and development, humanities, career education, health safety, and physical education, family and consumer science, world languages, and other subjects. The district also has a state approved vocational agricultural science program. The district also teaches bullying prevention, character development and skills for adolescents. Special needs students have individually designed educational programs. Students in the senior high school are also offered the opportunity to attend career training at the Western Area Career and Technology Center in subjects such as Mechatronics, Computer Networking, and apprenticeship programs. Advanced placement and College in High School programs are offered in Calculus, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics 1, Physics 2, English, American Government, U.S. History, Psychology, and Spanish. The district has a partnership for educational services and programs with the University of Pittsburgh, the Community College of Allegheny County, Delaware Valley College, and Penn College of Technology.
Additionally, the district offers students opportunities in sports and other activities. Lastly, our most important resource is our human resource. Our students help tutor each other, our parents are actively involved in the schools, our faculty and staff are engaged learners themselves, and our community members and volunteers truly make Fort Cherry "First Class."
The Fort Cherry School District was recently awarded the 2015-16 STEAM Grant, funded by the Benedum Foundation, Grable Foundation, and Chevron. The $20,000 grant will fund the Fort Cherry Outdoor Discovery Zone that will feature a solar energy station, weather station, and ecology study station for students and teachers in grades K-12.
Upcoming Projects:
About Us
Fort Cherry School District
110 Fort Cherry Road
McDonald, PA 15057
Mission Statement
To achieve a life-long quest for knowledge and individual excellence by providing students with a quality educational process in a safe and challenging environment, to nurture pride and respect for self and others in partnership with school, family, and community, so that our students become contributing citizens in the global society.
Vision Statement
The Fort Cherry School District is a premier learning organization combining rural values with big city cultural and educational opportunities, integrating traditional and emerging state-of-the-art pedagogies in the context of a community-family-student-school partnership that is technologically advanced and globally aware - focusing on individual student success as its number one priority.
Shared Values
Education begins at home - the family is the primary influence of the child - supported by the community - of which the school is a key partner.
As a key partner in the education of children, the school begins a continuing formal life long educational process - providing skills for students to succeed in life, to suport themseles, and contribute to humanity and society.
Learning is for life.
Students should have an equal opportunity to the best education and to achieve to their potential in a safe, appropriate, and quality learning enviornment.