The Northwest Area School District (NASD) is a small, rural public school district in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA. The district comprises the boroughs of New Columbus and Shickshinny and the townships of Hunlock, Union, Huntington, and Fairmount,A map of the district serving a resident population of 9,172. The district mascot is Ranger. The student body is known as the Northwest Rangers and separated into a primary school, and a middle/high school. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 9,172. In 2009, the residents' per capita income was $16,665 while the median family income was $42,524.American Fact Finder, US Census Bureau, 2010
History The Northwest Area School District formerly contained three elementary schools that contributed to the student body of the Northwest Area High School. These schools were Huntington Mills Elementary School, Hunlock Township Elementary School and F.L. Garrison Memorial Elementary School.City-Data.com Revised March 13, 2009 At the end of the 2009–2010 school year, the Garrison Elementary School was closed and the remaining two elementary schools were renamed and the students re-distributed between them. The new school names are the Northwest Area Primary School and Northwest Area Intermediate School. The high school retained its former name, Northwest Area Middle/High School. Later on, the school had some financial problems and then condensed schools to the Primary School, and the Middle/High School.
Schools Northwest Area Primary School (grades K–4) in Huntington Mills, formerly Huntington Mills School Northwest Area Middle/High School (grades 5–12) in Shickshinny
Extracurricular activities The district's students have access to a variety of clubs, activities and sports.
Sports Edward "Ed" Gayeski was a long-time coach of the Northwest Rangers basketball team. In his career, he had the most wins among all coaches in Pennsylvania, totaling 744 wins and 195 losses (.792 PCT). Gayeski led the team to become two-time back-to-back PIAA State Class A basketball champions in 1982–83 and 1983–84, going 65–1 in the two years. He also brought the team to 20 wins in 24 of 34 seasons, 13 league titles and 14 District Championships. Gayeski died in summer 1985. The Northwest Area Football Team This Year Has A Score Of 1 Game Won - 8 Games Lost
Former school buildings
Garrison Memorial School
The school is located in Shickshinny on West Vine Street.
On May 11, 2010, in a 6–2 vote, the Northwest Area School Board voted to close the Garrison School. Students attending this school were reassigned to the Huntington Mills and Hunlock Creek elementary schools. According to a Times Leader article, the "Garrison was one of the first schools in the district and a high school at one time. Closure of the school will also mean eliminating the Head Start program, which operates from that building.", Times Leader, May 12, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
References Citizens Voice: Northwest Area reroutes buses Retrieved July 30, 2010 Northwest Area School District website Retrieved July 30, 2010 Retrieved May 6, 2010 Retrieved May 6, 2010 mcall.com Hershey Class AA Title Game First State Retrieved May 6, 2010 EdNA: Northwest Area SD Accessed June 8, 2010