Blairsville Elementary School is located in Burrell Township, Indiana County at the junction of Routes 22 and 119. Our school is approximately 45 miles northeast of Pittsburgh and is one of two rural elementary schools in the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District. BES shares a thirty-six acre campus with Blairsville Middle School, Blairsville High School and the Central Administration Office.

BES serves students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade and features a well-appointed library, computer lab, spacious classrooms and specially designed areas for music and physical education. The facility is air conditioned and is networked to the district. Each instructional area has a telephone, four computers and a TV/VCR enabling classes to have access to Cable in the Classroom and a local area network with Internet access. Teachers are encouraged to utilize all areas of technology in instruction.

The Blairsville Elementary curriculum focuses on instruction in a Comprehensive Balanced Literacy Reading Program and Everyday Math, and includes computer technology instruction, library skills, social studies, health, science, art and music through an integrated and thematic approach. A variety of enrichment, remedial and extra-curricular activities extend the basic curriculum. Some of these include, Chorus, Band, Gifted-Challenge Program, Title I Reading, Tutoring Program, field trips and assembly programs.

Blairsville Elementary School has developed support systems to assist students. The guidance program includes preventative, behavioral, social and academic support components. The Child Study Team, composed of teachers, counselor, principal, nurse and psychologist also provides support for students who have been identified as at risk of school failure. A full range of Special Education Services is available to students who need Individual Education Programs. (IEP'S)

The Blairsville Elementary School formally reports student progress three times per year. Parents are invited to attend Parent-Teacher conferences at the end of each nine-week grading period. Ongoing communication between home and school is a priority with the faculty and parents in our school community.

Parents are involved in many aspects of Blairsville Elementary School. The BES School Community Council provides ongoing collaborative initiatives focusing on School-Home Communication, Reading, Study Skills and Student Responsibility. The Blairsville PTO also sponsors many diverse annual events and encourages parents to become involved in all areas of our school community. There is a community based athletic Booster Program that supports our Cheerleading, Basketball, Football and Wrestling programs.