Page 20 - Delaware County Chamber of Commerce - 2017/2018 Directory
P. 20
About the County
D
in its public and private schools in prekindergarten through 12th grade and almost 40,000 students enrolled in its institutions of higher learning. Clearly, education is an important engine for community stability and growth.
Fifteen separate public school districts, serving more than 86,000 students in 116 schools, make up the largest piece of the county’s pre-K–12 education picture. In addition, two other districts — West Chester Area Schools and Unionville-Chadds Ford School District — overlap into the county. Many of these districts and their schools are typically ranked among the highest in the state and the nation.
In Delaware County, private and parochial schools actually outnumber public schools. There are 126 private schools, many of them preschool only, enrolling more than 22,000 students.
(DCIU), a regional education services agency, supports all the schools in the county, providing leadership in the development of innovative and cost-effective programs to meet the needs of local students. The agency offers more than 60 programs and services ranging from videotaping services to summer literacy camp to instruction for students in juvenile detention.
The DCIU also operates Delaware County Technical High Schools, which offer students from the 15 school districts real career and technical experiences. There are two campuses, Aston and Folcroft, offering an array of programs in the health sciences, tourism and construction technology, among others.
Local educational organizations also support individual districts:
was incorporated in 1989 by a consortium of local and state leaders to support educational excellence and promote community revitalization. Among its programs are after-school services for 500 students, adult education and workforce development.
was established by the Springfield School District to provide educational opportunities for students. For the last 10 years, the foundation has provided academic, artistic and athletic programs to local students and awarded scholarships to the district’s graduating seniors.
BLOCS (Business Leadership Organized
for Catholic Schools) is an independent charitable organization supported by individuals, companies and foundations in the five-county area. Since 1980, BLOCS has provided financial assistance for thousands of children. It links members of the business community to Catholic schools to establish financial assistance for families in need, bolsters school infrastructure and expands educational opportunities.
is a faith-based, nonprofit organization serving residents of Eastern Delaware County and West Philadelphia. Services include the BLAST after-school program, a summer day camp, the “College in Your Neighborhood!” program, the Community Nurse Health Ministry and English language learners (ELL) classes.
Delaware County’s public school districts include: Radnor School District (Radnor Township); The School District of Haverford Township; Upper Darby School District; William Penn School District; Southeast Delco School District; Interboro School District; Ridley School District; Springfield School District;
All images courtesy of Delaware County Community College
Marple Newtown School District; Rose Tree Media School District; Wallingford-Swarthmore School District; Chester Upland School District; Chichester School District; Penn-Delco School District; Garnet Valley School District.
Private and Catholic schools include: Benchmark School; Chester Community Charter School; Chesterbrook Academy; Fredrick Douglass Christian School; Holy Child Academy; Lansdowne Friends School; Lightbridge Academy; The Malvern School; Media-Providence Friends School; Shiloh Development Academy; Sonshine Christian Academy; St. Andrew School.
is a private, coeducational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1856, the main campus is in Reading with
18 DelawareCountyChamberofCommerce
