Welcome to Quaker Valley School District 

Dear Friend of Quaker Valley School District:
 
Welcome to Quaker Valley online!  I am delighted that you are visiting our school district’s website to learn about one of the top school districts in our nation.  Quaker Valley serves over 2,000 students from 11 municipalities in four nationally recognized Blue Ribbon Schools.  
 
At Quaker Valley, we are committed to providing a comprehensive, rigorous and personalized education for all students. Our mantra, One Child at a Time, clearly articulates our desire and commitment to identify the needs and interests of each child in order to assist him/her in successfully reaching his/her full potential.
 
Quality teachers have a powerful impact on their students.  Our teachers strive to create positive teacher-student relationships and a caring, supportive, and safe environment ~ two essential aspects for personalization of the educational process.
 
As you read about Quaker Valley, you will learn that we are a high performing school district. Here are just a few recent examples of the accomplishments of our students and teachers:

• The 2010 Pittsburgh Business Times Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools ranked Quaker Valley School District 8th out of 105 public school districts in western Pennsylvania and 19th out of 497 school districts in Pennsylvania.
  
• Newsweek Magazine designated Quaker Valley High School as one of "America's Top Public High Schools" for the sixth consecutive year.  QVHS ranks in the top six percent of public high schools in the United States, and is among nine high schools in Allegheny County and twenty-nine state-wide to make the list.
• Apple Corporation named Quaker Valley High School “An Apple Distinguished School.”  QVHS is one of only four schools in Pennsylvania to receive this distinction.
• Quaker Valley was named one of the “Best Communities in Music Education in America” for the sixth consecutive year by the National Association of Music Makers.
• The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recognized Quaker Valley School District as the first in the North Atlantic region to earn district-wide "Recognized American School Counseling Association Model Program (RAMP)" status with the addition of Edgeworth Elementary.  QV Middle School was also recognized for a second time.  This prestigious designation was awarded to the guidance department of Osborne Elementary in 2009, Quaker Valley High School in 2008, and the Middle School in 2007.  The Middle School was the first in Pennsylvania to earn this designation.
• Two additional Quaker Valley teachers earned National Board Certification.  QV has twenty-five national board certified teachers, more per capita than any other district in the commonwealth.
• Three Quaker Valley teachers were named semi-finalists, and one was named a finalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.
• Three high school students were named Finalists in the 54th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
• Five high school students dual enrolled in nine college courses during the past school year.
• QV student-athlete Tabitha Bemis was named “Female Athlete of the Year” by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.  Tabitha joins a select few including Dan Marino, Susie McConnell, and Lauryn Williams— professional and Olympic athletes — who earned this title since the newspaper started naming top high school athletes in 1979.
• 92% of the Class of 2010 planned to pursued higher education.

Our students are bright and able; they are top performers in academics, the arts, activities, and athletics. For those children who require special assistance, we have exemplary programs in place to help them to be successful. Through high-stakes testing, accountability is at an all time high. We are committed to making sure that each child in our care is making steady gains as an academic learner and emerging citizen. Our personalized approach and focus on One Child at a Time enhances the growth and achievement for all students.
 
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Quaker Valley School District.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Joseph H. Clapper, D.Ed.
Superintendent