Dear WSSD Community,

Welcome to the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District (WSSD). Our District has a rich, vibrant history. Together, we will continue to define and write the story of who we are and who we aspire to be as a district and as a community. When Wallingford-Swarthmore School District was established in 1971, as a result of the state-ordered merger between Nether Providence School District and Swarthmore School District, it drew on its grounding principles not only to continue the work of excellence but also to brightly imagine and to collaboratively forge the path ahead. The District and community has seen a great deal of growth and change over the last 130 years. 

Strath Haven is proud of the selection by the United States Department of Education to receive the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award and numerous School of Distinction Awards from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The District is recognized as one of the best school districts in the commonwealth and the country for its rigorous course offerings and post-secondary attainments. However, we have a rich history of supporting our fine arts. More recently, our school district was awarded the Pennsylvania Art Education Association Outstanding Visual Arts Community Award. We aim to uphold high standards for our district to continue excellence in education and excellence in our student organizations. Notably, Strath Haven High School boasts one of the largest marching bands in the country. Over 400 students, more than a third of the student population, participate in this non-competition marching band.  

Committed to ensuring the academic achievement and personal growth of all students, WSSD is dedicated at every level to providing students with the foundational tools needed to become life-long learners. Currently, the District serves over 3800 students and is supported by over 500 dedicated and passionate faculty and staff members who embody the core tenets of our mission and vision and our core beliefs. Respect, equity, engagement, excellence, and leadership (REEEL) are foundational pillars that influence our work. 

The District began the Strategic Planning Process in 2021 with a series of audits examining core areas within the District. It is our hope that through the strategic planning process and resultant strategic plan, we will collectively forge a path that continues to improve the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District. We will achieve our goals by building on our strengths, addressing critical areas for growth, and developing a 10-year vision for an impact plan moving forward. 

Collectively, Wallingford-Swarthmore is not only a destination of choice for families but one of the premier K-12 institutions in the country and a beacon for others. I have the privilege of not only being the Superintendent but a community member and a parent of a child in the District. I am deeply invested in this work and the community. 

Finally, I want to thank each one of you for your continued commitment, collaboration, and investment in student success. I leave you with a message that I shared with our staff that grounds our core values. In the Masai culture of Kenya and Sudan, a traditional greeting begins with “Kasserian Ingera,” which means “And how are the children?”, and if a tribe is prosperous, they respond “The children are well”. I share this message with you as a reminder that we must remain vigilant and steadfast in ensuring that our children are well, as our community's prosperity is dependent on their well-being. 

Sincerely,

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Read the Superintendent's Corner