North Hills School District designated a Great Pennsylvania School

North Hills School District is designated as a Great Pennsylvania School.

The designation, a new initiative of the Pennsylvania School Board Association, recognizes Pennsylvania public schools that provide students with access to challenging programming, strive to be community-centric, demonstrate financial well-being and display resilience.

North Hills is the third district in the state to receive the designation and the first in western Pennsylvania.

“I’ve always known North Hills to be a great Pennsylvania school, but this designation is a testament to the educators in this district who work hard each and every day,” said Superintendent Patrick Mannarino. “Their unwavering dedication and commitment to our success does not go unnoticed.”

During the application process, districts must prove that they meet criteria. Academically challenging programming includes advanced placement and college in high school courses, gifted programs, and career and technical options.

Claiming to be community-centric, districts should have unique or creative solutions for school programming, offer academic and extracurricular activities to students and regularly celebrate the successes of students and staff.

Resilience and fiscal health measure a district’s planning efforts for academic programming.

To meet the resilience criteria, a district shows implementation of an emergency preparedness plan and provides mental health support to students.

Districts meet the financially healthy criteria by having an elected or independent auditor conduct a financial audit annually, making the final district budget available for public review and following school code requirements for bids and quotes when purchasing goods and services.

North Hills’ designation is in effect through December of 2027.