- Keystone Oaks accepted into largest-ever national network of Innovative School Districts 🎉
- Keystone Oaks' initiatives highlighted by Pittsburgh-based Future-Driven Schools cohort 🎓
- Niche.com releases 2026 school rankings, listing Keystone Oaks among the top 20 school districts in Allegheny County 🏫
- From AI to the Appalachian Trail: KOHS students share their summer stories ⛰️
- Celebrating Dormont Memorial Stadium: 75 years of touchdowns, goals, performances, graduation ceremonies, and more! 🏟️
- Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors update and upcoming meetings ✅
- Highlighting Excellence: Celebrating the recent successes of Keystone Oaks students and staff 👏🏻
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Keystone Oaks School District has been accepted into the League of Innovative Schools (The League), a national network of school districts that connects and supports the nation’s most forward-thinking leaders in education. The League is organized by Digital Promise, a global nonprofit working to expand opportunities for every learner by bridging solutions across research, practice, and technology.
Keystone Oaks was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants based on its educational leadership, demonstrated commitment to excellence, innovative vision for learning, key achievements, and collaborative spirit.
“At Keystone Oaks, our goal is to create student-centered classrooms that provide opportunities for students to build upon content knowledge while engaging in project-based learning experiences that develop students’ real-world skills,” said William P. Stropkaj, Ed.D., Superintendent. “In recent years, Keystone Oaks educators have developed interdisciplinary courses, created student-run small businesses, and sought out partnerships that are providing high levels of student engagement in our classrooms."
“We are very proud of the work we have done to improve teaching and learning, and we are excited for the opportunity to share our story while learning from innovative school districts across the country,” Stropkaj added.
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As a member of the Future-Driven Schools cohort, the Keystone Oaks School District is proud to be among 47 local school districts working to reimagine education in order to prepare Pittsburgh-area students for tomorrow.
Co-led by Pittsburgh-area superintendents and powered by Remake Learning and AASA, the School Superintendents Association, Future-Driven Schools provides workshops, expert speakers, networking, and professional development services tailored to each school district’s unique goals.
Keystone Oaks Superintendent Dr. William P. Stropkaj was recently featured on Remake Learning’s Instagram page, where he shared his vision for future-ready learning:
“Future-driven means equipping students with the mindset and skills to navigate and shape the world of tomorrow,” he said.
Keystone Oaks is implementing this vision in a variety of ways:
- Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, Keystone Oaks High School principal Michael Linnert, Ed.D. will lead a cohort of high school teachers focused on redesigning and reimagining students’ high school experience. Building on the success of the KOffee Shop, Golden Oaks Designs, Educators Rising, and cross-curricular courses, this group will explore additional ways to enrich the educational experiences of high school students.
- By the end of the 2025-2026 school year, all Keystone Oaks middle and high school teachers will have received extensive training on project-based learning and will have implemented at least one project-based learning experience in their classrooms.
- The implementation of a Learner Profile for all K-12 students. This electronic document captures students’ interests, strengths, challenges, and assessment data in a format that informs instruction, fosters student agency, and engages families in the learning process.
“This school year, I reminded all students, staff, and families that when you have great expectations, the best is yet to come,” Dr. Stropkaj said. “We have made tremendous strides, and I am excited for the opportunities ahead to engage students through lessons in and out of the classroom and through a robust system of supports that mentor students and staff to become the best versions of themselves.”
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Niche.com released its most recent rankings of schools and the Keystone Oaks School District continues to rank among the top 20 school districts in Allegheny County, earning a ranking of #18 for 2026.
Additionally, Keystone Oaks ranks among the top 30 school districts in the Pittsburgh area and among the top 120 school districts in Pennsylvania.
“Over the past several years, the Keystone Oaks School District has made significant investments to enhance teaching and learning, meet the needs of our students, and provide them with opportunities to build upon their content knowledge through project-based learning experiences,” said William P. Stropkaj, Ed.D., Superintendent. “We are proud of this work and the positive impact it is having on students, staff, families, and the community.”
The Niche website rates schools across the region, county, state, and nation using data from the United States Department of Education, surveys, and reviews. Read more about Niche's methodology.
Additional Allegheny County rankings out of 41:
- #18 Best Districts
- #21 Districts with the Best Teachers
- #26 Best Places to Teach
Additional Pittsburgh area rankings out of 77:
- #27 Best Districts
- #30 Districts With the Best Teachers
- #35 Best Places to Teach
Additional Pennsylvania rankings out of 495:
- #118 Best Districts
- #140 Districts With the Best Teachers
- #183 Best Places to Teach
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By Emily Domhoff
Student Intern, Keystone Oaks Communications Department
For Keystone Oaks High School students, learning doesn’t have to stop during the summer months. The flexibility of summer is an ideal time for students to expand knowledge, gain hands-on experiences, and take advantage of programs close to home and beyond.
Through events like Fuel Your Future, along with guidance from counselors, teachers, and their own research, four high school students filled their summer with valuable opportunities.
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Senior Brenna Purcell-Butchko completed a paid four-week internship at the University of Pittsburgh, where her team developed ideas to increase participation in Artificial Intelligence programs. The program emphasized women in STEM and gave students the chance to explore advanced topics beyond the high school classroom.
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Senior Talia Apollon joined Penn State's six-week Readiness Institute’s Summer Discovery program, working with industry professionals, community organizations, Penn State leaders, and peers. Students attended workshops on financial literacy, digital fluency, and more, toured organizations such as Gecko Robotics and Sheetz. They also worked on a group project addressing a global issue on a local scale.
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Senior Lydia Deimel spent her summer leading campers on a 90-mile Appalachian Trail hike, climbing 4,000-foot peaks, traversing the Presidential Range, summiting the 6,288-foot Mount Washington, and rafting the Deerfield River. A longtime camper, she trained, developed safety plans, and organized activities like canoeing. “This program keeps you active, teaches you to work with others who have different leadership styles, and helps you stay calm in stressful situations,” Lydia said.
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Junior Sophie O’Toole joined the University of Pittsburgh Gene Team, where 15 students studied freshwater sea sponges and their immune responses. They learned to conduct research, analyze data, and present findings. Students also met with Pitt admissions staff and mentors to explore the college application process.
"Over the past few years, we have focused on providing students with hands-on, authentic learning experiences through internships and workplace opportunities that extend beyond our building," said High School Principal Michael Linnert, Ed.D. "These opportunities allow students to learn, grow, and form connections that will be valuable beyond their time at Keystone Oaks High School."
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The year was 1950.
Charles M. Schulz published the first Peanuts comic strip. 💥
I Love Lucy premiered on television. 📺
Bell Laboratories invented the first telephone answering machine. ☎️
Eggs were 60 cents per dozen; leaded, regular gasoline was 26 cents per gallon; and the average family income was $3,300. 📈
And, in our little corner of the world in Dormont, PA, the Dormont High School Bulldogs took the field for the first Friday night football game in a brand-new 7,000-seat stadium at the corner of Hillsdale and Crosby Avenues. That night, the new stadium was dedicated to the "Dormont boys and girls who had served in the armed service," and the Bulldogs secured a 25-6 victory over South Hills.
As the editors of The Torch wrote in the 1950-1951 yearbook, that day - September 15, 1950 - was a day that would “go down in Dormont football history.”
Designed by Michael Baker Engineering Company and constructed for approximately $200,000, Dormont Stadium holds not only the memories of the Bulldogs and, since 1965, the Golden Eagles, but also the stories of thousands of students. They have marched across the field with instruments playing their high school alma mater with pride, walked across the stage to receive their diploma, or sat in the stands as parents and grandparents, proudly watching younger generations carry on traditions that have been part of our story for 75 years.
As Dormont Memorial Stadium celebrates its Diamond Anniversary, we asked the community to submit their favorite memories from Dormont Memorial Stadium. We’ll be sharing those stories - some heartfelt, some funny, some nostalgic - on social media over the next two weeks, leading up to the final home game against Seton LaSalle on October 17.
Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram and share your own story from Dormont Memorial Stadium using this form or on social media using #DormontStadium75.
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Left: The Class of 1965, the first graduating class of the new Keystone Oaks School District.
Right: Keystone Oaks High School's Class of 2019, showing an updated view of the stadium with the press box and a turf field.
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The Board of School Directors will hold its October Work Session Meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at Parkway West Career and Technology Center. The Business/Legislative Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2025 in the Board Room. Both meetings will begin at 7 p.m. Agendas are posted online 24 hours prior to the meeting.
The Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors took the following noteworthy actions at its September meeting:
- The board approved several new hires and appointments to a variety of positions, including coaches and club and activity sponsors.
- The board approved the removal and installation of a new fence at Dormont Memorial Stadium.
- The board approved updates to several district policies as well as one new policy - Education Opportunity for Military Children.
The following Board Committee meetings are scheduled in October and the beginning of November:
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Athletics & Activities Committee | Wednesday, October 15 | 6:30 p.m. | Board Room
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Policy Committee | Thursday, October 30 | 6:30 p.m. | Board Room
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Communications Committee | Wednesday, November 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Board Room
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Education Committee | Thursday, November 6 | 6 p.m. | Professional Development Center
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Eradicate Hate Student Summit. On September 15, Keystone Oaks High School’s Eradicate Hate Club participated in the Eradicate Hate Student Summit, held as part of the 5th annual Eradicate Hate Global Summit - the most comprehensive anti-hate conference in the world.
Students learned from global leaders, keynote speakers, and a variety of nonprofit organizations. They heard from survivors of the Tree of Life synagogue tragedy, networked with other student leaders, and planned for ways to reduce hate-fueled violence at their schools.
The Eradicate Hate Club is a student-led group that focuses on promoting kindness, inclusion, and respect throughout the school and community. The club hosts service projects, awareness events, and positive conversations that educate students about the importance of standing up against hate, bullying, and discrimination - helping to create a more welcoming and supportive school environment.
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National Merit Commended Student. Keystone Oaks senior Elijah Hubinsky has been named a Commended Student by the National Merit Scholarship Program. He is one of nearly 34,000 students to receive a Letter of Commendation in recognition of his outstanding academic promise based on his performance on the PSAT exam and plans to attend college after high school. |
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Keystone Oaks in the News. Check out recent media coverage about the Keystone Oaks School District.
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