The Mission Then and Now

The Wayne Highlands School District, located in central and northern Wayne County was organized on July 1, 1970.  The District is comprised of three boroughs and eleven townships: Honesdale, Prompton, and Bethany Boroughs; and Berlin, Buckingham, Dyberry, Damascus, Cherry Ridge, Lebanon, Manchester, Oregon, Preston, Scott, and Texas I and Texas II Townships.

Located in one of the most picturesque areas of the state, the Wayne Highlands School District covers 435 square miles and is the second largest geographic school district in the state (1/3 the size of Rhode Island).

While the mission of all Pennsylvania public schools is defined by a series of regulations, the Wayne Highlands School District has traditionally required a standard for its graduates well beyond those of the state.  Consequently, the faculty and administration adopted a District Mission Statement and Goals that reflect these ideals.  These ideals are based on a foundation of excellence in teaching, scholarship, school citizenship and service.   They also focus on the demands that will be placed on our students as they enter the next century.  With these things in mind, the mission of the Wayne Highlands School District is to promote a school-community alliance dedicated to:

• Dynamic and Flexible Education Processes
• Success for All Students
• Interdependent Lifelong Learning
• Respect for Oneself and  Society

In short, our mission supported by teaching excellence, remains and will remain a focal point of the daily operation and strategic planning for our District's future.

District Opportunities for Learning

Facilities:

The administrative offices for the District are located in Honesdale, the County seat of Wayne County.  The district operates six schools which serve approximately 3,600 students.  These schools are the Honesdale High School (Grades 9-12), the Wayne Highlands Middle School (Grades 6-8), the Preston School (Grades K-8), the Damascus School (K-8), the Stourbridge Primary Center (Grades K-2), and the Lakeside School (Grades 3-5).

Curriculum:

Our commitment to excellence is reflected in an on-going process of curriculum revision, staff development and high achievement.  It is important to acknowledge the District's commitment to education for all students.  It follows then that the District provides an exemplary Special Education Curriculum for our special needs and gifted students..

Faculty:

The Wayne Highlands School District employs 230 professional faculty and 110 non-professional support staff members.  The faculty-student ratio is approximately 1:22.  While the academic accomplishments of the faculty are exemplary, even more noteworthy is their sincere care for the welfare of all our students.  This fact is demonstrated by the numerous athletic, service, musical, artistic and extracurricular activities that are run by faculty advisors.  The esprit de coups fostered through these activities, linked with a cooperative approach to problem solving, has created an enviable working and learning environment.

The District's Commitment to Student Achievement and Well Being

A Tradition of Accomplishments:

The District defines accomplishment in a variety of ways.  For us, while we are justly proud of the academic achievements of our graduates, we are equally proud of the fine records of our service men and women and those students who have chosen to enter the world of work.  We are sensitive to the challenges that meet today's youth and the abundant pride in our overall citizenship and patriotism. Traditional values such as respect for oneself and others are necessary in every productive society and these are stresses in all schools.

Student Outreach:

Meeting the temptations, challenges and disappointments of today's world create the need for special coping skills on the part of our students.  To meet this demand, the District employs eight school counselors, a Crisis Intervention Counselor, and a Psychologist.  Additionally, all schools have developed  a Student Assistance Program to help students in at risk situations.

Student Activities:

The Wayne Highlands School District supports the philosophy of student participation in activities.  Because of this, we have tried to develop programs to meet the wide variety of student interests.  At appropriate grade levels, these activities include vocal music, instrumental music, drama, intramural sports, interscholastic sports, clubs and service activities.

District Financing:

The Wayne Highlands Budget is funded by federal and state sources, local taxes and earnings on investments.  During the 1999-2000 school year, approximately 57% o the revenue came from local sources, 40% came from the state and 3% came from the federal government.

The local taxes are the eighth lowest of the 501 school districts in the state, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  It should be noted, however that the District has been successful in winning a variety of state and federal grants in order to insure a "State of the Art" approach in many curriculum areas.  For example, each of the District's six libraries is fully computerized and in addition, the High School Library is linked to over 400 libraries in the state via "Access Pennsylvania".  Also, all the schools have computer labs or integrate the use of computers directly in to the classroom.

District Transportation

The District transportation system is one of the largest in the state and includes 57 buses and 30 automobiles.  The transportation budget equals approximately 9% of the total District expenses and covers approximately 5000 square miles per day, transporting students to 18 different schools including parochial and private schools.

The district has a rigid in-house bus inspection program and recently installed video cameras and back up alarms in all buses.

District Telephone Numbers