Students in Pleasant Hills attend schools that are part of the West Jefferson Hills School District which also serves the communities of West Elizabeth and Jefferson Hills. These communities have a combined population of approximately 20,000 and cover an area of about 20 square miles. The District operates on a budget of approximately $30 million with 71% of revenues coming from local taxes and 27% from the State. Sixty percent of expenditures go for instruction.

There are five schools in the District: Gill Hall Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, McClellan Elementary School, Pleasant Hills Middle School (located right in Pleasant Hills at 404 Old Clairton Road), and Thomas Jefferson High School which is located in Jefferson Hills at 310 Old Clairton Road. Elementary students in Pleasant Hills attend McClellan Elementary School located at 360 School Lane (at the end of McClellan Dr.).

The District is organized on a K-5-3-4 plan. The elementary schools have classes from Kindergarten through Grade 5; the Middle School consists of Grades 6, 7 and 8; and the High School covers Grades 9 through 12.

At the newly renovated McClellan Elementary School, which has an enrollment of approximately 330 students, the curriculum includes integrated language arts, hands-on science, mathematics, social studies and health in heterogeneous-grouped classrooms. It uses the ASSET science program that offers intensive hands on participation for the students. Music, art, library science, and physical education classes are taught by certified staff. Tutorial and Title I support programs are available as are learning and emotional support classes; speech, hearing and vision support programs; and individual education program teams and instructional support teachers and teams.

Children who are five years old on/before September 1 or the first day of school, attend half-day morning or afternoon kindergarten classes.

The 700 students at the renovated Pleasant Hills Middle School study language arts, mathematics, reading, social studies, and science. In addition there are music curricula and performing groups at each grade level. A state-of-the-art, multi-media computer lab allows teachers to deliver technology-based instruction. Support programs include: instructional support for sixth graders; learning and emotional support for special needs students; communication, life and social skills, speech, vision, and hearing support programs; individual education program teams and instructional support teachers and teams. Extracurricular opportunities include: participation in publication groups and student government; participation in SHASDA’s Middle School Athletic League football, girls’ volleyball, track and field, wrestling, girls’ and boys’ basketball. Intramural sports are scheduled during school hours.

Tutorial and Title I developmental and remedial reading programs and math tutorial programs are offered.

Approximately 1000 students are enrolled at the Thomas Jefferson High School in a curriculum that includes: courses in core subjects of English, social studies, science, and mathematics; Advanced Placement courses in U.S. history, European history, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, calculus, Latin, and English; and comprehensive programs in college preparatory including sequential four-year programs of instruction in French, Spanish, and Latin. In addition, there is a comprehensive elective program in art, crafts, home economics, industrial technology, computer science, business education (with major options in Secretarial, Office Technologies, Accounting or Cooperative Education), and the performing arts. Pre-requisites for all courses are identified in the Academic Handbook.

Multi-media computer labs allow teachers to deliver technology-based instruction. Vocational training in more than 20 technologies is offered through enrollment on a half-time basis at Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School.

The school has an athletic program that offers opportunities for competition in football, soccer, cross country, golf, basketball, wrestling, baseball, track, tennis, volleyball and softball. Participation in varied interest groups, performing arts, publication groups, academic related organizations, and student government provide other extracurricular opportunities.

Accreditation: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Membership on College Entrance Examination Board, Member of the Association of College Admissions Counselors and Pennsylvania Association of College Admissions Counselors. The Thomas Jefferson High School SAT Profile for 1997 was: verbal - 534, math - 530.

Applicable phone numbers are:

Administration Building (412) 655-8450
Thomas Jefferson High School (412) 655-8610
Pleasant Hills Middle School (412) 655-8680
McClellan Elementary School (412) 655-2700