According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, 29.8% of the district's pupils lived at 185% or below the Federal Poverty Level[1] as shown by their eligibility for the federal free or reduced price school meal programs in 2012.[3] In 2009, the resident's per capita income was $18,057, while the median family income was $47,347.[4] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[5] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[6] By 2013, the median household income in the United States rose to $52,100.[7] The Big Spring School District is one of the 500 public school districts of Pennsylvania.
Big Spring School District operates five schools: Newville Elementary School, Oak Flat Elementary School, Mount Rock Elementary School, Big Spring Middle School and Big Spring High School. High School students may choose to attend Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School for training in the trades. The Capital Area Intermediate Unit IU15 provides the district with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, speech and visual disability services, a completely developed K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a group purchasing program and professional development for staff and faculty.
Big Spring School District completed construction of a new high school (grades 9–12) in 2003, a new middle school (grades 6–8) in 2005, and operates three elementary schools (grades K-5). One of these elementary schools has recently been renovated, being the middle school, now being an elementary school. In June 2011, the school board closed Plainfield Elementary School.[8]
Extracurriculars
Big Spring School District provides a wide variety of activities, clubs and an extensive, publicly funded, interscholastic athletics program.[9] Varsity and junior varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Big Springs School District operates a natatorium that is available for use of the general public facility during non school hours and over most of the summer .[10]
