Sayre Jr.-Sr. High School
Sayre Area School District and Sayre Area High School have a rich history. The present high school building was erected in 1928 and 1929 with additions and remodeling completed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The community gave its swimming pool to the Sayre Area School District in 1951. The first high school building was actually constructed in 1891 and 1892 and renovated with an annex in 1897. It was a recreation center and later became a 4-6 Elementary School.
Although Sayre Area High School is stepped in tradition as the architecture of its building indicates, the exterior quality of its facilities and the instruction that are and have been provided inside its walls are always state-of-the-are and uncommonly innovative. In fact, even the method of financing the construction of the present high school was so unusual at the time that it needed to receive court approval.
As you might expect from the above, Sayre Area High School features education that is a blend of the traditional secondary program and cutting edge instructional practices. Sayre High School is a small 7-12 high school which operates much like an extended family for its students and focuses on both academic and social development.
Graduates of Sayre Area High School are expected to successfully complete 24-1/4 credits of study and a senior project. These 24-1/4 credits must include the following:
English - 4 credits
Social Studies - 4 credits
Mathematics - 3 credits
Science - 4 credits
Health and Physical Education - 2-1/2 credits
Driver Education - 1/4 credits
Arts and Humanities - 2 credits
Electives - 4 credits
Microsoft Office - 1/2 credits
Technology is a critical part of secondary education and is provided through six computer labs and a computer in each classroom for teacher use. A student grade report and lesson program is maintained for parent electronic access to their child (ren)'s school work and academic progress. In addition, Sayre Area High School incorporates a tutorial period in it schedule to assist struggling students and transports them home on a separate bus run.
In addition to the standard honors, college preparatory and general programs, Sayre Area High School Offers accelerated college education (ACE) courses and advance placement (AP) courses as well as a vocational-technical curriculum. Students can receive college credit for ACE and AP courses. For students interested in engineering, Sayre Area High School offers a pre-engineering and engineering technology program jointly with a neighboring school district. A limited business education program is also offered, and students may mix and match courses to their needs as long as they meet the graduation requirements specified above. Because Sayre Area High School is a small secondary school, students can easily become involved in multiple co-curricular and extra-curricular activities at all grade levels (7-12).
H. Austin Snyder Elementary
H. Austin Snyder Elementary School is the creation of its namesake, the beloved former Superintendent, H. Austin Snyder, who served Sayre Area School District from 1946 to 1976. The building was constructed in 1973 to consolidate the numerous small elementary schools within Sayre and to provide the most flexible classroom environment for implementing a variety of effective instructional techniques used at the time and those yet to be discovered. H. Austin Snyder is a flexible or open space school with grade level pods arranged around a central library/media center. Each pod supports four classes at the same grade level except for kindergarten and the pre-kindergarten Ready 4 classes. Kindergarten is divided into two pods with two classes in each pod and the Ready 4 class is self-contained in its own classroom.
Approximately 570 students are enrolled in a complete all-day kindergarten through sixth grade (K-6) program. The Ready 4 program is federally funded and services a number of our district's four year olds based needs.
Programs in art, music, physical education, learning support, enrichment, library, speech, computers, Title 1 Reading, and an after-school tutorial session are provided in addition to our general academic program. H. Austin Snyder Elementary School also contains and outdoor environmental center constructed by students, staff, and volunteers.
H. Austin Snyder Elementary School is a close-knit, family-oriented school known for its positive, friendly atmosphere and the caring concern of the faculty and staff. Teachers welcome parent participation and encourage parents to keep the lines of communication open at all times in order to promote a positive working relationship between home and the School. The parents of the community are actively involved in supporting their children through a classroom volunteer program and through a classroom volunteer program and through the Parent Teacher Group. Together, the students, parents, and staff of the H. Austin Snyder Elementary School work as a team to maximize wholesome development and success which is supported by its flexible space design.
H. Austin Snyder Elementary School has been touted by valley residents as one of the bright jewels of Sayre Area School District where the goal of a sound mind in a sound body is met with a healthy dose of learning can be fun. In addition, H. Austin Snyder Elementary School has served the valley for many years as a community resource with its winter walking program and its David Port Community Room. Nonetheless, H. Austin Snyder is secured electronically before, during and after school hours.
The School Bell Memorial at H. Austin Snyder Elementary School was dedicated on June 29, 1991 to remember the various elementary schools which contribute to H. Austin Snyder Elementary School. (Courtesy of Carl Shay)
Litchfield Elementary
Litchfield Elementary is a small rural school in Litchfield Township. It is located in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, south of the New York border, and across the Susquehanna River from the borough of Sayre. The school is situated on about 100 acres of former farmland with a wooded area that became the Satterlee Creek Environmental Center in 1998.
Originally, Litchfield had a number of one-room schools located throughout the township. In 1926, they were closed and consolidated into one school built in Litchfield Center. This school was for children in grades 1-8. By 1967, the township had become a part of the Sayre Area School District. A new school was built in the township on the Cotton Hollow Road near the intersection with Hill Road. It is a one-story, red brick building with K-6 classrooms, cafeteria/gym, library, health room and office. In 1986, the administration moved grades 5 & 6 to the Snyder Elementary School on Keystone Avenue in Sayre. Children from Litchfield Township, along with some children from Sayre Borough, continue to be taught in the K-4 self-contained classrooms.
Approximately 90 students are enrolled in a complete all-day kindergarten through fourth grade (K-4) program. The educational opportunities at Litchfield mirror those at the Snyder School. Both have special classes of Art, Library, Music, Physical Education, and a computer lab. Speech and Enrichment classes are provided for children with needs as well as an after-school tutorial program. A breakfast and lunch program is also offered at the elementary schools.
Students and teachers value the academic environment provided by the Sayre Elementary Schools. Litchfield students have two outdoor recesses a day on a large playground. There are a number of pieces of playground equipment, plus large fields for baseball, kickball, and just plain fun. In the winter, the small hill next to the school is used for sledding. The parents of the community are actively involved in supporting their children through a classroom volunteer program and through the Parent Teacher Group. The students may also participate in the school district elementary recreation program which includes cheering, soccer, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, softball, punt-pass-kick as well as many clubs. The elementary recreation program utilizes the facilities at the H. Austin Snyder school.
Litchfield School takes pride in creating a memorable learning experience for all students.
