Welcome to the Kutztown Area School District page. The Kutztown Area School District is a combination of three municipalities and three townships.
Germans who arrived in the area during the eighteenth century settled all the boroughs of Kutztown, Lyons, and Lenhartsville; as well as the townships of Maxatawny, Greenwich and Albany. The German people came from the southern regions of Germany in the 1700's for many reasons including agriculture, the crafts and intellectual endeavors. There is a long history of schooling in the area. Many of th
e schools, including St. John's Parochial School in Kutztown Borough (the first school), were church schools. Kutztown accepted the Public School Law (passed in 1834), which required each community to have free school supplied by a tax on property in 1938. The Pennsylvania Germans opposed the free schools because they feared English would take the place of German as the language of the school and community. The parochial school continued to serve as the major school for several years. Although the township school directors erected a four-room building in 1862, the movement toward a greater acceptance of public education in Kutztown began in 1892 with the construction of another school in Kutztown Borough. This structure was utilized by the school district until 1977. Today the district is comprised of two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. There are numerous other examples of a strong educational stimulus within the community. Kutztown University was established in 1866 and continues to be a valuable part of the area's educational program. In addition, the district is "dotted" with one-room schoolhouses, some of which are open to tours. Although there is an appreciation of the past on the part of residents, there is also a feeling that future educational programs should allow students to compete with those of other districts. Educational programs in the elementary schools provide all students with a solid academic and social foundation. In addition, specialists are employed to provide students with valuable experiences in special subject areas. All levels of curriculum incorporate manipulatives and resource materials. The middle level curriculum utilizes the team teaching approach and flexible grouping emphasizing Language Arts, Reading, Science, Math and Social Studies. In addition, all students receive instruction in Music, Art, Family & Consumer Science, Technology Education, Wellness & Fitness, and Career Explorations. The senior high school offers a wide selection of courses. Individuals can choose from programs in college preparation, business education, agricultural science and vocational-technical education. The high school program includes courses in Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Languages, Business Education, Art, Music, Industrial Technology, Family & Consumer Sciences, Wellness & Fitness, Agricultural Science, and Computer Applications. Accelerated / Honors Courses are available across the curriculum for students seeking further academic challenges. In addition, students have the option to enroll in Advanced Placement Courses in Language Arts, Calculus, Chemistry, Art, Physics, Environmental Ed., History and Government. Additionally, students can enroll in our Berks Career and Technology Center for technical and career exploration. Students choose from 37 career pathways across the following career clusters: Business & Information Technology, Communications, Construction, Engineering & Manufacturing Technology, Healthcare, Services, and Transportation. Our students are also able to participate in numerous extra and co-curricular activities to further enrich their school experience.
