Northern York County School District
650 South Baltimore Street
Dillsburg, PA  17019
Telephone (717) 432-8691;  Fax (717) 432-1421
Steven Kirkpatrick, Superintendent
Matthew Meakin, Assistant Superintendent 

Intellectually Prepared,
Civically Engaged, 
Personally Responsible

District

The Northern York County School District is located in south central Pennsylvania at the northwestern tip of York County.  It is bounded on the northern border by Cumberland County and on the west by Adams County.  The District, with a total of 119 square miles, is strategically located between three major population centers: Harrisburg, the state capital on the northeast; York, the county seat to the southeast; and Gettysburg, to the southwest.  The major population center of the school district is Dillsburg, a community of approximately 2500 people.  The school district is comprised of eight municipalities, five townships, and three boroughs.  The townships are Carroll, Franklin, Monaghan, Washington, and Warrington.  The boroughs are Dillsburg, Franklintown and Wellsville.  The combined population of all eight municipalities is approximately 24,500.

Schools

The six school buildings include a high school housing grades 9 through 12, a sixth through eighth grade middle school, and four elementary schools. The district is divided into four attendance areas for elementary enrollment.  The elementary buildings are: Dillsburg Elementary, Northern Elementary, South Mountain Elementary, and Wellsville Elementary.  Additionally 80-90 students are enrolled and transported to the Cumberland-Perry Area Career and Technical Center for specialized training in a trade.  Programs for special needs students are provided in accordance with federal and state guidelines.  Student Assistance programs are available at the high school and middle school levels.

The total student population in 2021-2022 is 3393 and has remained stable over the past ten years. The building enrollments for the 2021-2022 school year are 1,072 in the high school, 777 in the middle school, 457 in Dillsburg Elementary, 374 in Northern Elementary, 430 in South Mountain Elementary, and 238 in Wellsville Elementary.

Administration

The District educational program is directed by an elected nine member school board responsible for determining and setting operational policies.  The central office administration is comprised of a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Assistant to the Superintendent, Chief Financial & Operations Officer, Director of Special Education, Director of Human Resources, and a Director of Technology.  Building leadership includes: a High School principal and two assistant principals, an athletic director, a Middle School Principal and Assistant Principal, and four elementary principals.

Staff

With 250 professional employees and a support staff numbering 175, the School District is the largest employer in the eight municipalities it serves. Over 50% of the professional staff has a Master’s Degree or better.  The District maintains a comprehensive professional development program for its staff and encourages members to continuously update their teaching skills through available professional workshops, conferences, and seminars.  A negotiated agreement with the teachers is currently in effect for the years 2021-2026.

Curriculum

The School Board, Administration and Faculty are committed to providing the best educational programs available to meet the needs of the students and the community.  Curriculum improvement is a continuous process guided by a Six Year Cyclic Plan of Curriculum Review and Development.  The planned courses of at least three curricular areas are reviewed each year for renewal, update or complete redesign.  Instructional materials are purchased as needed to complement and enhance newly revised courses of study.  Each student receives a computer in grades KG-12.

Student Achievement

Student Achievement, as measured by the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is characterized as follows:  The 2019 SAT results show Northern High School students scoring 571 on the critical reading portion of the test and 565 on the Math portion.  The average composite score of 1136  with a total of 142 or 61% of students participating in the assessment.   In addition, 56 students participated in the ACT with a composite average score of 23.  

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is administered to students in grades 3 - 8, in English Language Arts, Mathematics.  Science PSSA's are administered in grades 4 and 8. Keystone Exams are administered at the middle school and high school following the appropriate coursework.  These exams include Algebra I, Biology, and Literature exams.  

 Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement courses are offered in Art Studio, American Government, U S History, Statistics, Calculus, English Literature, English Language and Composition, French Language, Spanish Language and Culture, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Athletic and Activities Programs

An extensive program in athletics and activities is available to all students.  Twenty-one different interscholastic sports are available for boys and girls at the intermediate and secondary levels.  The School District participates in the Mid-Penn Athletic Conference.  The musical program includes competitive band, marching band, jazz band, chorus and band front.  Outstanding students qualify for district, regional / state band and chorus each year.  The marching band is very successful in Cavalcade competitions and are recognized each year for their performances.  Students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities as well as student clubs.  In the high school there are 40 different student organizations including DECA, Model UN, Aevidum, Future For Agriculture and many others.  At the middle school, students are exposed to 21 different student activities including Envirothon, Mini-Thon, and Student Council.  Each elementary school also has activities for students to become involved in outside of the normal classroom routine.  These include broadcast studios, running clubs, envirothon, and K-Kids.

Budget and Taxes

The 2021-2022 Northern York County School District general operating budget totals $55,455,275.  Instruction accounts for nearly 57% of budgeted expenditures.  Local effort is a major source of revenue to balance the operating budget.  The current budget relies on local sources for 68.5% of the total revenue, while the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides 30.3% and the Federal Government provides approximately 1%. Total anticipated revenues are $55,198,478. The local revenues are comprised of real estate, personal and earned income taxes. The current rates of taxes are: real estate- 18.7339 mills, personal taxes- earned income- .75%.

Equal Rights and Opportunities Policy

The Northern York County School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, religion, race, color, age, national origin or other protected class in its education programs and activities or in its employment, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendment, Section 504, of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act of 1955 as amended and the American Disabilities Act of 1990. 

Northern York County School District
Intellectually Prepared, Civically Engaged, Personally Responsible