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History

Early School
The Pine-Richland School District has a grand and honored history. Single room schoolhouses gave way to a district with six appealing school buildings. The district's first graduating class was in 1958 with, fittingly, 58 graduates from the Richland Jr./Sr. High School.
 
Today's Pine-Richland High School graduates more than 300 students annually.
 
Reminiscing is always a great time to reflect on our past and envision our future. It is interesting to note that the successful launch of Sputnik I by the Soviet Union in October of 1957 caused a major change in education in the United States. Math and science became a significant focus during the district's early years, and a rigorous math and science curriculum remains a strong emphasis today.
 
We have progressed from the Industrial Age to the Information Age where different generations were and are being educated in our schools.
 
Although classrooms look somewhat different today than yesterday with the infusion of technology and customized learning, the intense caring for children and quality education on behalf of the school community remains constant over time.
 
Likewise, as the school district's name changed from the Pine Richland Joint School District to the Babcock School District to the current Pine-Richland School District, the belief that student activities and valuing the whole child complement a strong academic program remains the same.
 

Timeline

  • The 1800s—Students study in single room schoolhouses.
  • 1932—Washington Elementary is built.
  • 1936—Pine Elementary is constructed. Secondary students travel outside the area to attend high school.
  • 1956—Richland Junior/Senior High opens to educate 750 students in grades 7-12. 
  • 1958—Pine & Richland Townships merge to form the Pine-Richland Joint School District.         
  • 1958—The first class at Richland Junior/Senior High graduates.
  • 1958—Hance Elementary is constructed.
  • 1959—Wexford Elementary in Pine Township opens.
  • 1960—Pine Junior High opens after being built to accommodate the growing student body. Pine Junior High Houses grades 7-9 and RHS accommodates grades 10-12.  
  • 1971—The school district changes its name to Babcock School District.
  • 1971—Wexford Elementary is renovated.
  • 1979—The district completes a renovation of Richland Senior High.
  • 1982—Pine Junior High becomes Pine Middle School for students in grades 6-8. RHS transitions to serve grades 9-12. 
  • 1982—The district changes name to Pine-Richland School District to bring a sense of recognition and commonality.
  • 1985—Pine Elementary School is sold and is now home to Stepping Stones Children's Center.
  • 1992 -1993—Richland High School closes. 
  • 1993—The newly constructed Pine-Richland High School at 700 Warrendale Road in Pine Township opens. Pine Middle is renamed Pine-Richland Middle School. PRHS is dedicated on November 13, 1993, the same day that RHS was dedicated 35 years earlier. Crews begin a transformation on RHS to remodel it into Richland Elementary School. 
  • 1994—Washington Elementary School closes and the building is sold to St. Barnabas.
  • 1996—PRMS is remodeled and expanded.
  • 1998—The district completes the Wexford Elementary expansion and renovation project.
  • 2000—District Administrative Offices are dedicated on October 23, 2000, after being moved from Ewalt Road in Richland Township to PRHS on Warrendale Road. The PRHS expansion is completed.
  • 2001—PRHS Stadium is constructed. Hance Elementary is dedicated after a remodeling and expansion project on October 21, 2001. 
  • 2006—Ground is broken for a new upper elementary school to accommodate grades 4-6.
    Groundbreaking
  • 2007—The district begins a feasibility study on expanding the high school for the second time.
  • 2008—PRSD celebrates 50 years with a community celebration at PRHS (see the 50th video). PRSD opens Eden Hall Upper Elementary School in August 2008 and officially dedicates it on November 2, 2008. Click here for a video of the dedication.
  • 2010—PRHS officially breaks ground in November 2010 as work begins to expand the high school to accommodate a growing population. Click here to see the groundbreaking ceremony details.
  • 2012—The expanded portion of PRHS opens to students featuring the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Center expansion. The newly expanded portion is dedicated in September 2012. 
  • 2018—The district celebrates 60 years. Stadium visitor lockers and team rooms are updated at the stadium.
  • 2019—The district updates its demographic study for redistricting purposes.
  • 2020—The district finalizes the redistricting recommendation for the start of the 2021-2022 school year. The RAM Cage practice field project is completed.
  • 2021—The district implements the first year of redistricting. PRSD celebrates being recognized with the Excellence Award by the Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Performance Excellence program.
  • 2023—Pine-Richland High School debuts a brand new gymnasium, auxiliary gym and fitness space.