Schools
Pittsburgh Public
About Pittsburgh Public
The Pittsburgh Public School District is the largest of 43 school districts in Allegheny County and second largest in Pennsylvania. The District provides students, in PreK through Grade 12, a variety of options to help them succeed in school and prepare them for college, career, and life.
Stories about Pittsburgh Public
Got thoughts about PPS schools? Families are invited to upcoming Community Input Sessions.
Pittsburgh Public School District is asking for your input. Details here.
PPS back-to-school event on Monday offers backpacks, books and more
This PPS back-to-school event is designed “empower families with the essential tools for a strong beginning to the 2023-2024 school year.”
PPS wants to hear from parents: How did the last school year impact your kids?
Details here on the new PPS survey for parents and caregivers.
What’s new this week? PPS wants your feedback, local students’ art at the Carnegie, and upcoming fun at MuseumLab
All the Pittsburgh parenting news you need this week.
‘What about Black history bothers you?’ Allderdice students value AP African American Studies course criticized in other states
AP African American Studies students at Allderdice share their thoughts.
Curtain up: Your guide to all the high school musicals in the Pittsburgh region this spring
Spring is high school musical season, and the Pittsburgh region has an incredible lineup of shows.
Absenteeism in Pittsburgh schools: Check out KDKA’s report
New strategies are helping fight absenteeism in Pittsburgh schools.
Heyward House brings ‘Craig’s Closet’ to 10 local schools
Craig’s Closet locations will open in 10 Pittsburgh Public Schools buildings.
Pittsburgh Public Schools and police show no hurry to reach agreement as a new school year begins
As schoolhouse doors open, Pittsburgh’s district and its police bureau remain in apparent defiance of a 12-year-old law requiring that they agree on communication and coordination.
‘Kindergarten camps’ aim to fill in social and emotional gaps for those who missed preschool
Important learning time has been lost in kindergarten as teachers had to work with students who were not used to the routines of school. Kindergarten camps can help.
This flower-filled Larimer rain garden is officially open for outdoor education
This beautiful Larimer rain garden will help kids learn about pollinators, stormwater, native plants and more.
Pittsburgh Public Schools summer programming gives students a BOOST from pandemic learning losses
PPS’s Summer BOOST program was created to address pandemic learning loss. Details here.
Summer School 2022: New and different programs aim to address pandemic learning loss
Once a time for make-up courses or addressing special needs, summer is now some school districts’ best shot at tackling pandemic learning loss.
PPS leaders look for solutions to alarmingly low math proficiency, especially among Black students
Does tutoring + culturally relevant lessons + double math periods = math proficiency?
For Pittsburgh’s homeless students, transportation issues mean new schools and unfamiliar classrooms
As COVID eases its grip on education, local homeless students have yet to return to a normal school day.
Local startup KEF Robotics provides mentorship and STEM learning to Obama Academy students
Students interested in a robotics internship at KEF Robotics don’t need top-notch programming skills. But they do need drive and a desire to learn.
KDKA: It’s been a challenging 2 years of school, and the PSSA test scores show it
Pennsylvania’s standardized test scores are out and they show just how far kids fell behind during the pandemic. From learning online at home, to hybrid with no routine, to days […]
PINJ: First pandemic state test results paint a somber picture for Pittsburgh Public Schools
What does new data show about proficiency in English, science and math throughout Pittsburgh Public Schools? Details here.
Kidsburgh Hero Clark Ehman: This 14-year-old collected over 450 baseball bats and other equipment to send to the Dominican Republic
“The equipment just kept coming and coming and coming. It was pretty wild.”
PPS and other districts find obstacles as they address pandemic learning interruptions and gaps
Students’ social and emotional needs, chronic absenteeism, discipline issues, staffing shortages and high COVID infection rates make progress with learning gaps difficult.
Sala Udin, Pittsburgh Public Schools’ new board president, wants to focus on healing and search for a superintendent
The Pittsburgh Public Schools board is ready to move on after facing the challenges of the pandemic and the resignation of Anthony Hamlet as superintendent.
Girls of Steel team creates BuzzBand for children with autism
“I can honestly say a big part of my STEM journey is that it isn’t about being perfect.”
PublicSource: A+ Schools finds chronic absences and loss of students adding pressure to Pittsburgh Public Schools’ long-term inequalities
A+ Schools’ annual report to the community finds Pittsburgh facing segregated schools, inequitable funding and the loss of thousands of students.
Post-pandemic chronic absenteeism plagues the Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Schiller 6-8 may hold attendance solutions.
Volunteering at school can make a big difference in your child’s education. Here’s how.
Great ideas for volunteering at schools in the Pittsburgh area — and why it can help your kids succeed!
After-school activities in Pittsburgh help kids learn about themselves
After-school activities in Pittsburgh go way beyond sports to include everything from tech and maker learning to chess classes.
Personalized learning looks different in every district - - just like the students it supports
How working groups, Moonshot Grants and dedicated educators are changing the face of personalized learning.
PublicSource: Pittsburgh Public superintendent offers resignation amid ethics controversy
Hamlet’s resignation will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2021.
15 ways to donate (or receive) essential back-to-school supplies in Pittsburgh
When kids are equipped with the learning tools they need, they participate more in class and have more academic success.
Two Pittsburgh teens win $20K for their Grade-Up app in the CGI I.T. Girl Challenge
“I was thrown a bunch of challenges and difficulties, and once I solved it, it was the best feeling ever.”
Joey and Christy Porter develop a former church and school into a Sheraden community hub
“Our mission is to be great neighbors and service providers.”
A plea from young people: Don’t lose the lessons of the pandemic
How would today’s students create the schools of tomorrow?
KDKA survey looks at the social, emotional and academic impact of remote learning
“It’s just been really hard. I’m just ready to go back to normal.”
Keys to concentration: Why meeting basic needs means everything for kids in school
In addition to healthy food, kids need to feel safe, accepted for who they are and represented in their school communities.
Pittsburgh families find silver linings to a full year of social distancing
“I tend to like the intimacy that we tend to have right now.”
Music lessons in the time of Covid: How Pittsburgh schools are making it work
Being challenged to do something difficult and then mastering it creates trust and satisfaction.
Kidsburgh Heroes: 2 Pittsburgh history teachers win national recognition from Yale
“I hope what the kids take out of it is that understanding history helps us understand ourselves and helps us understand the world.”
Oct. 5 is World Teachers’ Day — and you’re invited to the party
Reserve your free ticket for CelebratED 2020.
Black Girls Equity Alliance reports shocking biases in Allegheny County
One of the key findings is that black girls are ten times more likely than white girls to be referred to juvenile justice.
Check out these winners in the Carnegie Library Teen Media Awards
The awards highlight the amazing talents of young artists as well as showcase the library’s services to teens.
9 things to do with kids this week in Pittsburgh, from RADical Days to bumper cars
Rain or shine. Indoors and outdoors. Little kids and teens. We’ve got covered.
Building tomorrow’s citizens: Pittsburgh kids can change the world. Teaching them civics can help make it happen.
Youth are taking action and working to make the city of Pittsburgh a more racially just place.
A+ Schools report: 4 critical points to consider for schools operating during the pandemic
Many parents have trepidation about what’s to come — whether schools open or distance learning continues.
JAM clubs, Fab Labs and more: How innovative programs are teaching the skills every child needs
These innovative learning organizations are teaching kids practical and social emotional skills for life.
Former Steeler Joey Porter and his wife are opening a center for kids (and adults) with special needs
When their daughter was born with severe autism, Joey and Christy Porter struggled to find resources to help them care for her.
10 ways to prevent summer brain drain in Pittsburgh kids
“Even though they’re resilient, kids still need support.”
Pittsburgh’s tech community and nonprofits partner to get laptops to kids
“Bridging the digital divide is just a start. … We encourage others to join us.”
Pittsburgh Public Schools scrambling to get all 23,000 kids learning from home
It’s a mammoth task to get all the students ready to learn online by April 16.
These 4 Pittsburgh writing contests give kids a creative outlet at home
These four spring writing contests will keep literacy skills sharp for kids from kindergarten through high school.
Here’s how Pittsburgh kids spread joy and connections during coronavirus quarantine
No one is better at finding the joy in new situations than children.
Where to get help in Pittsburgh as we adjust to life with coronavirus
“It can be tempting to get glued to the news, but that may only increase anxiety.”
Pittsburgh kids take the stage with Disney Musicals in Schools
“If you want to get me to school every day, give me something I really enjoy doing.”
A+ Schools’ James Fogarty embraces role of positive deviant as an advocate of Pittsburgh Public Schools
“We have everything we need to succeed. Let’s just get to work.”
What makes kids successful? The Pittsburgh Study hopes to find out by following 25,000 kids over 20 years
The longitudinal study is a major undertaking that aims to identify opportunities and assets that lead to positive change for youth.
Pilot program hopes to reduce racial achievement gap in Pittsburgh Public Schools’ kindergarteners
Educators are realizing the value of play and of the simple messages of Mister Rogers.
$800,000 in Pittsburgh education grants revealed at celebratED
“Pittsburgh is one of the places we point to as being on the leading edge of education innovation.”
9 organizations helping Pittsburgh kids with back-to-school supplies
For many families, buying back-to-school supplies wreaks havoc on the budget.
12 Pittsburgh innovations that “broke the mold” will be presented at Finland education summit
Pittsburgh has become a hub for education vision. That reputation will continue to grow as word spreads globally.
Help your kid prepare for kindergarten with this Kidcast advice
How to help your son or daughter have the best possible start in school.
Kidcast explores kindergarten options for Pittsburgh kids
Now is the time to register for kindergarten, but in the City of Pittsburgh, there are lots of options.
New discipline techniques could be key to improving student outcome at Pittsburgh Public Schools
“It’s encouraging to see something we feel in our gut is helpful actually be supported by research.”