Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania

Geography

Carroll Valley is located at 39°44′52″N 77°22′44″W (39.747668, -77.378846).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (1.10%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,291 people, 1,176 households, and 952 families residing in the borough. The population density was 610.4 people per square mile (235.7/km²). There were 1,261 housing units at an average density of 233.9 per square mile (90.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.81% White, 0.61% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.

There were 1,176 households, out of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 14.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $54,659, and the median income for a family was $55,000. Males had a median income of $40,135 versus $27,090 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,286. About 1.7% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

Politics and government

The Borough is governed by seven locally elected council members. The government building is located at 5685 Fairfield Road. The borough operates its own police department. Carroll Valley Borough is served by two volunteer fire companies: Fairfield Fire Company and Fountaindale Fire Company. Carroll Valley Borough levies several taxes including: 0.5% on earned income (pension and social security is exempt), 0.5% net profits tax on businesses, Realty Transfer Tax 1%, and an amusement tax.

Three, elected at large, County Commissioners. In 2014, they are: Randy Phiel, Chairman; Jim Martin, Vice Chairman; and Marty Karsteter Qually.

Parks and recreation

Carroll Valley Borough has 3 lakes (2 offer public fishing and boating), 2 recreation areas, several auxiliary playing fields and a pavilion with picnic area. Carroll Commons hosts a large playground, picnic area and a pavilion. The park has a beach volleyball court, basketball court, bocce court, horseshoe pits, and shuffle board. Public restroom facilities are open from dawn to dusk daily on the Commons grounds from April 15th until October 1st.

Education

Residents of Carroll Valley may attend the local, public schools operated by Fairfield Area School District which provides full day kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, the Fairfield Area School District's enrollment had declined to just 1,117 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Fairfield Area School District 303rd out of 498 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils. In 2012, Fairfield Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), even though the Fairfield Area High School was in Warning AYP status [1], due to lagging student achievement, especially in reading.

Carroll Valley residents may also choose between two local public charter schools:Vida Charter School and Gettysburg Montessori Charter School. In Pennsylvania, residents may attend public charter schools at no cost to the parents. The tuition is paid by their public school system. By Commonwealth law, if the public school district provides transportation for its own students, then the district must also provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders, as well as, all schools within its borders.

Vida Charter School is a public school located in the Eisenhower Center, 120 E. Broadway, Gettysburg. Vida Charter School offers full day kindergarten through 6th grade. In 2013, Vida Charter School achieved a score 81.1 of out of 100 for student achievement. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. In 2012, Vida Charter School achieved Adequate yearly Progress (AYP).

Children residing in Carroll Valley may also attend Gettysburg Montessori Charter School which offers full day Kindergarten through 6th grade. This public charter school operates at 120 E Broadway, Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Montessori Charter School achieved AYP in both 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Gettysburg Montessori Charter School achieved a score of 64 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement.

Carroll Valley residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public cyber charter schools (in 2013) at no additional cost to the parents. The resident’s public school district is required to pay the charter school and cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools. By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders. Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In 2012, the tuition fees for Fairfield Area School District were: Elementary School - $9,208.47, High School - $9,232.05.

High school aged students living in the borough of Carroll Valley can attend the taxpayer funded Adams County Tech Prep [2] for training in the building trades, the culinary arts, Diesel Mechanics, allied health including Emergency Medical Technician certification and other areas. The school is located on the Gettysburg Area High School campus at 1130 Old Harrisburg Road. Adams County Tech Prep is funded by a consortium of the school districts, which includes: Gettysburg Area School District, Littlestown Area School District, Fairfield Area School District, Conewago Valley School District and Bermudian Springs School District.

Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Carroll Valley. Early screening, special educations services, speech and hearing therapy, Head Start preschool classes and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements.

Community members have access to the Fairfield Area Library which is located at 31 Worts Drive in Fairfield; the Adams County Historical Society Library which is located on 111 Seminary Ridge, in Gettysburg; the Adams County Law Library located in the Court House, 117 Baltimore St Rm 305 in Gettysburg and to the statewide PA Power Library [3] which is an online library funded with tax dollars from the state's education budget.

At Harrisburg Area Community College Gettysburg Campus, Township residents have access to college courses at a discounted tuition rate for state residents. Fairfield Area School District is not a tax funding district of the College. Carroll Valley residents contribute to the community college through state taxation.