If you have school-aged children and are thinking about building a new home in the Poconos, there’s little doubt that the schools in the area will be high on your list of important considerations. Here’s a guide to Poconos schools that will provide you with some of the essential information you’ll need to know.

The Pocono Mountain School District (PMSD) is the largest and most diverse school district in northeast Pennsylvania. The district serves some 55,000 people in an area of more than 300 square miles. PMSD isn’t limited to a single community. It serves seven different municipalities (Barrett, Coolbaugh, Jackson, Paradise, Pocono, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock) and one borough (Mount Pocono) in the area.

The district is comprised of two sides. The East side of the district serves the townships of Jackson, Pocono, Paradise, Barrett and Mount Pocono Borough. The West side of the District serves Tobyhanna, Tunkhannock, and Coolbaugh Townships.

To promote increased student achievement, Pocono Mountain School District has developed rigorous and comprehensive curriculum that is aligned to Pennsylvania State Standards in all core content areas. Please click here for a look at the district-wide Elementary Curriculum in areas that include: English Language Arts; Health; Mathematics; Music; Physical Education; Science; Social Studies; and Computers & Technology.

Students in grades 7 through 12 participate in a challenging, rigorous curriculum, enriched by the district's instructional resources and highly qualified instructional staff. Click here to take a look at the secondary curriculum that covers: Art; Business Tech & Computer Programming; English Language Arts; Family & Consumer Sciences; Health; Mathematics; Music; Physical Education; Science; Social Studies; Technology & Engineering; and World Languages.

If you’d like information specifically for parents, please click here.

For a closer look at the specific schools in the district, please click on the links below:

• Swiftwater Intermediate School is one of two intermediate schools in the district that serves students in grades 4, 5, and 6.

• East Junior High School is one of two Junior High Schools in the Pocono Mountain School District serving students in grades 7 and 8.

• East High School is a 4-year high school (grades 9-12) situated on the Pocono Mountain School District’s Swiftwater Campus.
• Swiftwater Elementary Center is located in Swiftwater, PA, and serves students from Kindergarten through grade 3.
• West High School originally opened as the second high school within the district for the 2002-2003 school year. The school hosts 1725 students in grades 9 through 12 and is located in Pocono Summit
• West Junior High School is located in Pocono Summit. Opened in 2006, the school serves approximately 800 7^th and 8^th-grade students. It is one of two junior high schools in the Pocono Mountain School District. 

• Tobyhanna Elementary Center serves students in the townships of Tobyhanna, Tunkhannock and a portion of Coolbaugh. Tobyhanna Elementary Center has approximately 700 students (K through sixth grade) and more than 70 professional employees and support staff.

• Clear Run Elementary Center opened in 1997 with the name of Pocono Mountain Elementary Center. The name was changed to reflect the local history. The schools hosts more than 800 students in grades K-2

• Clear Run Intermediate School is located in Tobyhanna and generally serves students in grades 3 through 6 from the Coolbaugh and Tobyhanna Townships. 

• Academy & PMSD Cyber Learning Programs, located in Pocono Summit, offers several options for students who are struggling academically, require an alternative setting to the traditional classroom, or who are lacking credits required for graduation. Serving grades 7 - 12, the Academy features smaller class sizes, meaningful differentiated instruction, a data-driven school-wide behavior initiative, and the individualized attention needed to assist students in meeting their goals.

Pocono Mountain School District is a strong academic community where students build confidence to be college and career ready. Each of the schools adheres to the district’s rigorous and comprehensive curriculum: one that is cognitively demanding and challenging to students as they apply the essential concepts and skills to real-world, complex and open-ended situations.

Parents who have additional questions that aren't addressed by the online sources listed above are encouraged to contact Dr. Catherine Sweeney, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, at csweeney@pmsd.org. 

The educational opportunities for your children are every bit as important at the location of your new home in the Poconos, and the specific floor plan you choose for your family’s new home.