About Us

More about DHSW

Overview: Welcome to Downingtown West!  We are one of three highly-rated high schools in the Downingtown Area School District.  At West, we offer a comprehensive high school educational experience, as well as a full slate of athletic and extracurricular programs.

In 2017, Downingtown West received a second Silver rating from the US News and World Report, ranked #48 in the State of PA.  The first Silver rating was received in 2014 when Downingtown West was ranked 31 out of 690 total PA high Schools.  In 2012, Downingtown West was selected by Newsweek Magazine as one of America’s Best High Schools.  Over ninety-five percent of our students go on to further their education after high school.  Schooldigger.com has ranked us 15th out of 676 high schools in the Science Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and 30rd out of 676 in the Mathematics/Reading portions of the assessment.

We were also recognized as a member of the “Advanced Placement Honor Roll” as we have steadily increased the number of students taking AP exams while increasing our overall AP test scores – an extraordinary task.  Each year, we recognize a number of National Merit Scholar semifinalists and finalists, and a large percentage of our graduating seniors receive scholarships. 

As educators, we recognize that extracurricular activities help to develop well-rounded and resilient young adults.  Over the past ten years, our athletic teams have won multiple league, district and state championships.  Our music programs are very well regarded on the state level, and our students have performed at the Rose Bowl, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall.  Each year, our students put on an incredible musical production as well as perform plays that they write.

More importantly, our students are well-known for their citizenship.  In order to graduate, all students must complete a graduation project that requires them to volunteer or intern in the community. Most students gladly volunteer more time than what is required.  Each year, students sponsor many drives that benefit local charities, food banks and families in need.

We recognize that the success of our students and school is a result of a partnership.  Our staff, teachers, counselors and administrators are here to ensure success.  Our parent community values hard work, effort and communication.  We meet students where they are, and work together to ensure they reach their goals.

DW School Performance

• School Performance Profile  
  • The AP honor roll consists of the 425 school districts in the U.S. and Canada that simultaneously achieved increases in access to Advanced Placement® courses for a broader number of students and also maintained or improved the rate at which their AP students earned scores of 3 or higher on an AP Exam.  Downingtown has achieved this honor for multiple years. 
  • The Pennsylvania School Performance Profile offers a web-based resource for districts/schools to communicate performance results to various constituencies and assist districts and schools in aligning and focusing resources for continuous improvement.

News at Downingtown West
The Pittsburgh Business Times (PBT) annually ranks Pennsylvania’s top schools.  The PBT ranking is based on the 2017 PSSA and Keystone results.  DHS West was ranked 105 out of 675 Pennsylvania High Schools.