The Early History of Bridgeville Schools

Last week’s column on the Chartiers Valley School District jointure got me wondering about the numerous schools that existed in the Bridgeville area in the early years. The principle of free public education for children in Pennsylvania was not mandated in Pennsylvania until the State Legislature passed the “The Free School Act of 1834”. Prior to that, wealthy families hired tutors while the rest of the population relied on informal one-room schools staffed by itinerant teachers supported by the families whose children they taught. There is a report of such an operation, the Higbee School, close to the current location…