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The Ridgway Area School District is located in the Borough of Ridgway, one of northwestern Pennsylvania's most scenic mountain communities. This community, designated as the county seat for Elk County is situated in a valley which is intersected from north to south by the Clarion River and surrounded by some of the most beautiful state and national forests in Pennsylvania. As a result, Ridgway residents are able to enjoy all the rudiments of rural life while maintaining a travel distance of less than 2 1/2 hours to such major cities as Pittsburgh and Erie. While lumbering and the powdered metal industry are the major sources of employment, the community also serves as residence for many people employed in neighboring communities. Local community services include retail stores, restaurants, an urgent care center, a mental health clinic, a YMCA, a community pool, public tennis courts, a daily newspaper, and a golf club. The Clarion River and state game lands provide for the recreational needs of Ridgway's local residents. The Ridgway Area School District boasts a superior educational program that includes both modern curricular studies and a vibrant extra curricular program. This educational program is augmented by a system of school libraries that includes over 50,000 volumes, an excellent Public Library that boasts 20,000 volumes and a school based computer education system. The Ridgway students are taught by a faculty that is both experienced and capable. Approximately 80% of Ridgway High School seniors attend post high school programs. Community interest in the District's extra curricular activity programs is evident from the sizeable support provided by various booster groups. The Ridgway Area School District is a vital and energetic partner to the Ridgway community as a whole. Ridgway schools are the recipients of the Magna Award, PASBO Award of Achievement, State Performance Funding Awards, and its elementary school is a Pennsylvania School of Distinction. Two of Ridgway's teachers were finalists for Teacher of the Year; one instructor is a Milken honored educator; one faculty member was the WPSX teacher of the year, and one faculty member was named the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's distinguished educator. In 2004, the high school, middle school, and elementary schools met all requirements for NCLB, Annual Yearly Progress and scored above state averages in all PSSA testing. Likewise, Standard and Poor's issued the following 2003 analysis: "Ridgway Area School District is one of 29 districts in Pennsylvania that exceeds the state averages for PSSA (State Tests) mean scores and participation rates, despite serving an above average proportion of economically disadvantaged students. The District may serve as a valuable source of effective strategies and practices for other school districts in Pennsylvania that are looking for ways to improve student performance."