Hampshire County School Districts
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AMHERST
The Amherst Regional Public Schools are located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The area is rich in cultural, recreational and academic activities and opportunities. Our mission is the academic achievement of every student learning in a system dedicated to social justice and multiculturalism. The school system educates a diverse population of approximately 4000 students, including native speakers of more than 25 languages. Three elementary schools are located in the town of Amherst and one in the town of Pelham. Our middle school and high school are located in the town of Amherst, and draw students from the towns of Amherst and Pelham, as well as Leverett and Shutesbury. The central office for the district is located in the middle school building at 170 Chestnut Street in Amherst.
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AMHERST-PELHAM
The Amherst Regional Public Schools are located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The area is rich in cultural, recreational and academic activities and opportunities. Our mission is the academic achievement of every student learning in a system dedicated to social justice and multiculturalism. The school system educates a diverse population of approximately 4000 students, including native speakers of more than 25 languages. Three elementary schools are located in the town of Amherst and one in the town of Pelham. Our middle school and high school are located in the town of Amherst, and draw students from the towns of Amherst and Pelham, as well as Leverett and Shutesbury. The central office for the district is located in the middle school building at 170 Chestnut Street in Amherst.
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BELCHERTOWN
Our school district is comprised of five schools: Cold Spring School (PK & K), Swift River Elementary School (grades 1-3), Chestnut Hill Community School (grades 4-6), Jabish Brook Middle School (grades 7-8), and Belchertown High School (grades 9-12). Approximately 2600 students attend our schools. We have much of which to be proud and continue to move forward in our quest to ensure our students are adequately prepared for the challenges of the twenty-first century and ready for college and career.
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EASTHAMPTON
Easthampton is a model small city of the 21st century. It retains its mill town soul, while fostering innovation. Community members treasure the abundant resources, dynamic downtown, and vibrant neighborhoods. By adapting, evolving, and making tough choices, Easthampton is sustainable, inclusive, balanced, and a great place to live.
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HAMPSHIRE
The mission of Hampshire Regional High School is to empower students to be capable and confident and prepared to meet the challenges of life. In partnership with our five towns, we create a supportive and respectful environment that fosters cooperation, critical thinking, and creativity. We encourage our students to explore opportunities that develop the knowledge and skills needed to be life-long learners and responsible participants in society.
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HATFIELD
Smith Academy and Hatfield Elementary endeavor to use their resources to enable all students to achieve their fullest potential by providing a learning environment conducive to growth. This includes acquiring an appreciation for the values of our society, a respect for self and others, and an academic background necessary for the students' understanding of their role as citizens in a pluralistic society. This learning environment will stress the importance of independent and critical thinking, while recognizing individual strengths and talents. It will also encourage a closeness which will assist students to overcome adversity and provide hope for the future.
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HILLTOWN COOPERATIVE CHARTER PUBLIC (DISTRICT)
The Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School was founded in 1995 as a Massachusetts Public Charter School. Our mission is: • To involve young people in a school which uses experiential, hands-onactivities, the arts, and interdisciplinary studies, to foster critical thinking skills and a joy of learning. • To sustain a cooperative, intimate community of students, staff, families and local community members which operates through a consensus-based governance structure. • To cultivate children's individual voices and a shared respect for each other, our community, and the world around us.
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NORTHAMPTON
The Assessors are the government officials responsible for establishing the value of property for tax purposes. We are responsible for discovering, listing and valuing all taxable property. The Assessors collect, record and analyze information pertinent to residential, commercial and industrial properties and classify every parcel according to the Massachusetts General Laws. We review building permits each year by measuring, listing and valuing all new construction and tracking this new value for new growth, allowing the levy limit to increase accordingly. The office maintains records, documents and liens, answers public inequities, assists the public as needed, processes application or tax exemptions for the elderly, disabled veterans, widows or widowers and blind people. Assessors are also required to tax personal property for businesses in the City – such as furniture and fixtures, inventory and machinery used in the conduct of their business. The office reviews abatements and handles appeals to the Appellate Tax Board, prepares Chapter 61, 61A and 61B land as required by law. Changes are made to legal files each year reflecting deed transactions recorded at the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds. All map changes, new subdivisions and legal decisions are reconstructed for valuations and ownership. Class codes are adjusted each year to prepare the assessment roll which is the basis for City and County property taxes. The Assessor works with the Finance Director preparing various financial reports for the Department of Revenue in preparation for the setting of the tax rate each year. This office holds responsibility for reviewing excise commitments, committing to the Tax Collector for collection and adjusting excise for the citizens of this City, as required by law. It is the Assessors’ mission to ensure fair and equitable assessments for all property owners in this City. The Board of Assessors have an obligation according to Massachusetts General Law to plan and carry out the reassessment program necessary to achieve full and fair cash value assessments in accordance with the requirements of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 56 and Chapter 58, Sections 1, 1A and 3 for FY 2004. We will be working with Cole-Layer-Trumble Company, an appraisal company, to complete this mammoth task. The Department of Revenue provides guidelines for this procedure and they will monitor our work as we proceed. Before a tax bill can be generated for FY2004, all work will have to be certified by the Department of Revenue.
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PIONEER VALLEY CHINESE IMMERSION CHARTER(DISTRICT)
The Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS) prepares K- 8th grade students for academic and personal success through rigorous study and instruction aligned with the state and federal government standards, augmented with Chinese language and culture. PVCICS's goals are to graduate students with excellent scholarship, high proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English, plus sensitivity to multiple cultures. PVCICS serves the Pioneer Valley region.
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PIONEER VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CHARTER PUBLIC (DISTRICT)
PVPA is a regional public charter school serving 400 students grades 7-12, from over 60 towns throughout Western Massachusetts. We seek to connect the creative process with critical thinking to inspire a love of learning. As a charter school, the work we do informs educational policy at local, state and national levels.
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WESTHAMPTON
The mission of Hampshire Regional High School is to empower students to be capable and confident and prepared to meet the challenges of life. In partnership with our five towns, we create a supportive and respectful environment that fosters cooperation, critical thinking, and creativity. We encourage our students to explore opportunities that develop the knowledge and skills needed to be life-long learners and responsible participants in society.
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WILLIAMSBURG
We wish to guide our children toward a lifelong love of learning for its own sake; toward an appreciation of the limitless power of knowledge; toward a vision of the future founded on lessons of the past; toward reverence for health of mind and body; toward dedication to principles of truth, friendship and justice in human affairs; and toward a desire to enjoy, to enhance and to preserve the beauty of the world in which their children will one day live.