The Parkland School District is located in a suburban-rural setting approximately 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 70 miles west of New York City in the semi-metropolitan region known as the Lehigh Valley. The regional population is approximately 600,000 including Allentown, the third largest city in Pennsylvania. The Lehigh Valley International Airport, Interstate 78 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike have attracted numerous industries and commercial businesses to the Lehigh Valley. With six major institutions of higher learning – DeSales University, Cedar Crest College, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Moravian College, and Muhlenberg College – the Lehigh Valley maintains a strong commitment to educational excellence.
The 72 square miles of the Parkland School District encompass three townships – North Whitehall, South Whitehall and Upper Macungie – with a total population of 50,000. The district’s wide socio-economic range results from its bordering the city of Allentown on the southeast and extending to farmlands at the western and northern extremities.
2011-2012 Facts and Figures:
Budget: $138 million
Student Enrollment: 9,280 (October 2011)
Building Enrollment:
- Elementary (8 schools) 3856
- Middle Schools (2 schools) 2284
- High School 3140
- Staff: Total Personnel 1369
- Teachers 625
- Paraprofessionals/ Teaching Assistants 131
- Administrators 62
- Non-instructional Employees 551
2011 Performance Profile:
SAT Critical Reading
- National Average: 497
- State Average: 493
- Parkland Average: 542
SAT Math
- National Average: 514
- State Average: 501
- Parkland Average: 552
SAT Writing
- National Average: 489
- State Average: 479
- Parkland Average: 531
Curriculum
Parkland High School offers a demanding college preparatory program supplemented with strong offerings in fine arts, technology and business. Co-curricular activities are also encouraged as more than 65 clubs are offered as well as 23 sports at the high school level. Graduation requirements are 24.25 credits and students have access to more than 160 electives during their 4-year high school experience. Approximately 85% of the Class of 2011 chose to attend a two or four year college.
Advanced Placement
Parkland offers 22 Advanced Placement (AP) courses as part of the high school curriculum. In 2011, 86% of the 550 Parkland High School students taking AP tests achieved a score of three or higher which makes them eligible to receive college credit for the equivalent course at one of more than 2,900 colleges nationwide.
National Merit Semi-Finalists – Class of 2012: 8, Class of 2011: 13
National Merit Commended Students – Class of 2012: 7, Class of 2011: 15
Students receiving Gifted Education Services: 8%
Students receiving Special Education Services: 15%
Diversity of Student Body: 78% White, 8% Hispanic, 4% African American, 9% Asian/Pacific Islander, 1% American Indian, Alaskan Native or Multi-Racial
Students receiving Free or Reduced Lunch prices: 15.8%
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