Washington Elementary School

Washington Elementary School was one of the first schools to be commissioned by the Chartiers Valley Joint Schools in 1958. The structure would contain 12 class rooms, 2 kindergartens, and a dedicated library. It cost $568,294 in 1959 and $6,142,652.74 in 2024.

It would house K - 7 until 1974 when it sent seventh grade students to the Chartiers Valley Middle School.

In 1992, amidst plans from the district to consolidate schools by building a new primary school, residents of Bridgeville Borough planned to secede from Chartiers Valley. If it were to occur, it would have required 51% of all taxpayers in the borough to agree. The borough was likely still feeling the perceived loss of community experienced during the reorganization period in the late 60s. While it may have seemed like a way to maintain an independent identity, secession would have only damaged the education provided by the district. One of the main takeaways from the Council of Education in the 1950s was that larger school districts simply provide more and better education. Splitting off into an independent school district may have maintained Washington Elementary’s physical presence, however the loss of services provided by the Chartiers Valley School District overall would have likely hampered most education efforts and offset good intentions. The secession did not acquire the required votes and failed as predicted.

Washington Elementary would close in 1996 after sending K - 2 students to the newly constructed Chartiers Valley Primary School, then considered state of the art.

A complete history for the Washington Elementary School may be found on the Bridgeville Historical Society website. They cover the 1850's - 1960 when students would be moved to the newly constructed Chartiers Valley Joint Senior High School. Bridgeville Borough was one of the founding members of the Chartiers Valley Jointure.