About Us
Northwestern Lehigh School District
We pride ourselves in working hard to create nurturing environments in which all children can learn. Northwestern Lehigh has been called "the best kept secret of the Lehigh Valley", a school district on the cutting edge of progress. As a small rural district with goals that focus on academic excellence; data informed decision-making; the infusion of technology to improve learning, teaching, and operations; improved communications among all stakeholders; and the implementation of a facilities Master Plan to renovate and expand facilities, Northwestern Lehigh continues to advance and prepare our community of learners for success in the twenty-first century. We welcome you to visit our website and learn more about our past, our present programs and activities and our goals for the future!
History
The first settlers came to this area around 1730. These immigrants came mainly from the Rhine River Valley and its tributaries in Germany. They settled from the Lehigh River to the Schuylkill River, a ridge and valley region known as the Gravel, named after the composition of the soil. Since they had come from a beautiful part of Germany, these immigrants sought a place of similar conditions with forests, soils, stone, and above all, rivulets of pure drinking water. This area of Lehigh County was the place that seemed to them most like home because the contour, landscape, and nature of the region was so similar to the scenic land from which they had come. The original settlers and their children encouraged their descendants to remain here, grow and prosper, and build here for future generations. They established themselves as farmers, thus making this area one of the most important farming areas in the country. The district as been predominantly a successful agricultural area with conservative industrious people who are proud of their heritage, their homes, their schools, their churches, and their soil. Pride in agriculture achievement and reluctance to alter nature in the area is witnessed today by the conspicuous lack of industry.
Community
Northwestern Lehigh School District was formed by the jointure of four townships: Heidelberg, Lowhill, Lynn, and Weisenberg. One school board consisting of nine members conducts all the business of the school district, making it unified in policy-forming, administrative, supervisory, and instructional programs. The school district is located in the northwestern section of Lehigh County. It serves an area of approximately 110 square miles, or 1/3 of Lehigh County. The population of the School District is approximately 13,500 residents.
Student Information
Northwestern Lehigh consists of two elementary buildings, a middle school, and a high school. Each building has the necessary resources to provide outstanding educational opportunities for students. Total pupil enrollment is approximately 2,100 with 800 students at the elementary level in K-5 programming. The Middle School addresses the educational process for approximately 500 students in grades 6-8, while the High School meets the needs of approximately 700 students in grades 9-12.
Northwestern Lehigh Staff
The District staff includes 163 certified classroom teachers. Approximately 76% of the professional staff hold Masters Degrees. The average class size in the elementary schools is 21 students per classroom teacher. In the secondary schools, class size average is 26 at the middle school and in core subjects at the high school. Specialty area courses in the high school average 20 students per class. Support staff includes teacher assistants, secretaries, food service, transportation, and maintenance and grounds personnel. The building administrators include an elementary principal in each building, one middle school principal and one middle school assistant principal, and one high school principal and one high school assistant principal. The District Administrative Staff includes a superintendent, assistant superintendent, business administrator, assistant business administrator, director or curriculum and instruction, director of student services, director of athletics & student activities, director of operations, and supervisor of food service.
Volunteers
A supportive presence of parents and community members is witnessed through active Parent and Booster Organizations and volunteer initiatives.