Sep 26, 2025 By Paul Paterra 3 min read

Charleroi Area Elementary Center is one of 13 schools across the state selected as a Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon School for closing the achievement gap and fostering excellence in student learning.

“This is great for the entire community,” said Ed Zelich, Charleroi superintendent. “This goes beyond the school district. We’re just ecstatic.”

The program was formerly known as National Blue Ribbon Schools, but the 40-year-old initiative was ended in August by the Trump administration. After that happened, state officials created the Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon Schools initiative to recognize schools for their overall academic performance, the progress made to close the achievement gap among students, or both.

Zelich said Charleroi Area Elementary Center has made tremendous strides in building a safe, supportive, and academically rigorous environment in which students can succeed.

He cited two initiatives that were instrumental in this achievement: Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and a multi-tiered system of supports.

In Charleroi, PIBS comes in the form of the schoolwide program ROARS (Respect, Ownership, Attitude, Responsibility and Safety). Through ROARS, the elementary center has reduced discipline referrals and improved attendance.

The multi-tiered support system, in place for kindergarten through fifth grade, provides timely academic and behavioral interventions, ensuring that the needs of every child are identified and addressed.

The programs provide all elementary students with the opportunity for continued growth, Zelich said.

“Not every student can be proficient or advanced, but do they grow throughout the year academically? As the state looked at our data, they noticed outstanding academic achievement in closing the achievement gap in our district,” he said.

Zelich said many steps are taken to create a positive atmosphere for the students, including monthly visits from a therapy dog that greets students off the bus or days when they’re greeted with music and bubbles filling the air.

“This is a special community that puts students first,” he said. “Every student that walks through these doors is supported, and we believe they’re reaching their fullest potential.

Another school recognized was Southmoreland Middle School in Westmoreland and Fayette counties, where learning is supported by a carefully designed schedule that makes room for robust, tiered systems of support, according to a release from the state Department of Education.

Dedicated time is built into the day for academic interventions, enrichment, student services and arts access, ensuring students receive what they know to grow and thrive.

The structure also allows students to explore a rich rotation of electives such as STEM, financial literacy, the arts, wellness and digital media, the PDE release noted.

Pennsylvania’s Blue Ribbon Schools will be recognized at an award ceremony later this year.