Purpose

Valley Pathways opened during the fall of 2000 in response to the growing number of students that Burchell was serving from both Palmer and Colony High’s attendance areas.  Initially, Pathways and SeeUOnline were a joint effort to achieve enrollment that would support “full” funding from the State, which was 200 students combined. During the fall of 2003, Pathways and SeeUOnline were separated for funding purposes.

Open enrollment for grades 9th-12th, serving primarily students and families in the Palmer and Colony High School attendance areas who are looking for a small school environment.  Instruction is highly individualized and class sizes are smaller than a traditional school setting.  Class instruction is traditional as well as computer based providing opportunities for both remediation and acceleration.  Graduates will be prepared for continued education, vocational training, military, or joining the work force.  An application and interview are required for enrollment – please contact the school registrar.

History

Phase I:  Fall 2000 marked the creation of Valley Pathways School which included the lease and development of land for the site and necessary infrastructure to open the school.  This provided an opportunity to see if the community would support the school, and demonstrated the ability to sustain a population for funding purposes.

Phase II:  During the spring of 2003, the borough established a site selection committee to find a permanent location for Valley Pathways. It was clearly established by this time that Pathways was a needed community asset and could sustain itself through enrollment.  A borough bond was set, and subsequently passed, which enabled Phase II of the development of the Valley Pathway’s campus.  Phase II facilitated moving the portables to the borough-owned land.

Phase III:  Valley Pathway's School was included in the approved borough bond package for a new building during the 2012-13 school year.  Construction of the new building began in the fall of 2013 was completed during the summer of 2014.  The building was open for the 2014-15 school year and we also started a middle school program serving students in 7th and 8th grades.