Local Schools

West Chester's youth population attends the schools of the West Chester Area School District. Ten elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools are all located in West Chester. Additionally, there are a number of private and parochial schools located throughout the county that are ready to serve the educational needs of students in a faith-based learning environment.

Colleges & Universities

Students and adult learners that are ready to further their higher learning ambitions may conveniently do so at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCUPA). The university was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its Master's program, ranking the university 69th in the Master's Universities (North) category. However, there are also plenty of other colleges and universities that students may choose to attend, many which are located a short commute from West Chester. These include Immaculata College, Delaware Community College, Eastern College, Villanova University, Widener University, Saint Josephs University, and University of Pennsylvania, among others.

Historical Sites of Interest

West Chester is located near a few historical areas of interest, such as Valley Forge National Historical Park, the Brandywine Battlefield, and Longwood Gardens.

History buffs will remember that Valley Forge was the area where the Continental Army spent the cold winter of 1777-1778 during the American Revolutionary War. The site did not become a national park until 1976 and if you visit today, you'll find that many of the historical buildings are still in-tact and that many of the encampment structures have been recreated. Memorials, recreational areas, and museums can also be found at the park. Even though this is a site of historical interest, there are plenty of trails for hiking and biking available for visitors, as well as opportunities to fish and boat along the Schuylkill River.

Another American Revolutionary War battle site is the Brandywine Battlefield, also referred to as the Battle of Brandywine Creek or the Battle of Brandywine. The Battle of Brandywine was part of the British's initiative to gain control of Philadelphia, also known as the "Philadelphia campaign." As a result, the British were victorious in this battle, occupying the area until June of 1778. Today, visitors making the pilgrimage to this historic battle site will find reenactors portraying the daily lives of Quaker famers, British and Continental soldiers, as well as Hessian mercenaries. Visitors may also take guided tours of the park and battlefield.

Located in the Brandywine Creek Valley, the Longwood Gardens is known as one of the premier botanical gardens in the country. Longwood Gardens is home to 20 outdoor and 20 indoor gardens that feature both native and exotic plants (11,000 total), heated greenhouses, fountains, and one of the largest pipe organs in a private residence. The gardens are open to the public and hosts over 800 horticultural and performing arts events throughout the year.