While today it ranks among the top school districts in Pennsylvania, Unionville-Chadds Ford had a humble start, writes J.F. Pirro for Main Line Today. 

The school district started as the Unionville Joint Consolidated School, which was the first consolidated school in Pennsylvania. 

“It was the hick school,” said Ray McKay, who was a student there in 1960. “It was all farms.” 

McKay later returned to the district and has been teaching there for over three decades. 

“The farmers all sold to developers, so it’s not a country school anymore,” he said. 

Unionville High School recently celebrated its 100th graduating class grandly. There were confetti cannons, the school’s marching band, and Lenny the Longhorn mascot, as well as the dedication of a large bronze Longhorn statue. 

McKay is now adding an extra layer to the ongoing centennial celebration by coordinating a tour of historical sites such as Locust Grove, a one-room schoolhouse that was restored to its 1890s glory. The aim is to make the tour part of opening-day activities for district personnel in the fall, and then open it to the public throughout the school year. 

Read more about the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District in Main Line Today. 

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