Northern Lehigh School District is a school district primarily serving Lehigh County with a smaller portion serving Northampton County, both within the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. It serves the boroughs of Slatington and Walnutport, and Washington Township.
Students in grades nine through 12 attend Northern Lehigh High School in Slatington. As of the 2021–22 school year, the school district had a total enrollment of 1,527 students between all five of its schools, according to National Center for Education Statistics data.
Their school mascot is a bulldog and their nickname is Bulldogs.
Schools
Northern Lehigh High School
Students in grades nine through 12 attend Northern Lehigh High School in Slatington.
Northern Lehigh Middle School
The Northern Lehigh Middle School in Slatington admits students in grades 7 and 8 from the Northern Lehigh School District. The principal of the Middle School is Jill Chamberlain.
Peters Elementary School
Peters Elementary School is the only grade K-2 Elementary School in the district and is near the village of Friedens in Washington Township. The principal of Peters Elementary is James Schneiderite
Slatington Elementary School
Slatington Elementary School is in Slatington and is the only school that teaches students from grades 3-6 in the Northern Lehigh School District. The principal of Slatington Elementary is Scott Pyne. The building also houses the district warehouse and administrative offices.
Slatington Elementary Renovations
Construction began during the summer of 2010, with completion occurring in late 2011. Changes included adding more classrooms, new computer labs, a different playground, and modifying the setup from an open concept building to closed, individual classrooms.
History
19th Century
Prior to 1858, the children of Slatington attended a school one-half mile north of the Borough of Slatington while the children of "uptown" Slatington attended the Friedensville School, approximately one-half mile south of the borough.
The first school within the present limits of Slatington was in the old stone mill in Lower Slatington in 1820 which was built by William Kern, but it was only operated for a year or two. The next school was opened in 1858. At this time, a Welsh Church divided and the School Directors of Washington Township rented the stone church building located on West Church Street in the borough. This building was used for school purposes until 1868. A school also operated for a time in the second story of the Lehigh Slate Company's store.
From 1857 to 1866 Rev. A.G. Hamed, pastor of the Presbyterian congregation, maintained a private school in the church. It was taught for a part of the term by Solomon Berry of Maine. Other schools were held in private houses, but in 1868 most of them gave way to the Public Schools. In that year, the new school house was erected. It was a substantial structure measuring 47 feet by 50 feet, two stories high and built at a cost of $7,000. Dedicated on Sunday, August 30, 1868, the schools were divided into four departments: primary, secondary, grammar and high school. Enrollment hovered near the 200 pupil mark. In 1875, Professor Frank J. Stettler, who directed the grammar school for two years, became the principal. He re-graded the schools, established a better classification, and introduced a regular course of study. At this time, the attendance increased considerably and another primary school was opened in the McDowell Hall in Slatington. Higher studies were also introduced for advanced pupils in the high school.
In 1879, the number of pupils had increased substantially and more room was necessary. Consequently, an addition, two stories high and 25 feet by 45 feet, was built for $2,500, with the rooms being furnished for $1,000.