Bethlehem, PA: Schools

Bethlehem is a city in the United States, particularly in the Lehigh and Northampton counties of the State of Pennsylvania. Lying in the Lehigh Valley region of the state, it is the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania. The city is primarily divided into four general sections, namely central Bethlehem, south side, east side, and the west side. Each section has its own highlights and landmarks. But in this feature, let’s take a look at the city’s schools from the primary to the college level.

Lehigh University

Lehigh University is considered as premier research university, even distinguished as a top tier of national research universities in the whole country each year. This institution is classified as a private, coeducational, and nondenominational university offering a unique academic environment for both undergraduate and graduate students. The school campus is located on a 1600-acre lot and is near to the major cities of Philadelphia and New York.

Moravian College

Located at 1200 Main Street in Bethlehem, PA, Moravian College is considered as the sixth-oldest college in the entire United States. The school is highlighted by its offering of a broad-based liberal arts education. The institution is also renowned for its caring environment, being able to nurture students in terms of developing their capacity for lifelong learning, leadership, and positive societal contributions.

Northampton Community College

Perhaps the most enticing quality of Northampton Community College is that it always has maintained a low student to faculty ratio of 24:1. According to the administration, the purpose is to maintain high quality of education for over 36,000 students they serve each year. The main campus is located in the city of Bethlehem while there’s a branch campus in Tannersville. The college is also a parent school of satellite sites in Monroe, Northampton, Pike, and Wayne counties. Furthermore, there are more than 16,000 students enrolled in credit programs while another 21,000 are in youth classes, workforce training, and adult literacy classes. The school is granting certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees in more than a hundred fields that include the arts and humanities, education, allied health, and business and technology.

Primary and Secondary Schools

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is the home of the Bethlehem Area School District (BASD). The district covers about 40 square miles of area that includes the city and the boroughs of Freemansburg and Fountain Hill, as well as the Townships of Bethlehem and Townships. There are two high schools for grades 9-12, namely the Liberty High School and Freedom High School. The same district is also home to four public middle schools built for grades 6 to 8. These schools are the East Hills Middle School, Broughal Middle School, Nitschmann Middle School, and Northeast Middle School. Meanwhile, there are sixteen public elementary schools under the Bethlehem Area School District intended for grades K-5.

Lastly, the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts is operated by the district, although it accepts students in grades 9-12, too, covering Northampton and other nearby counties.