Lehigh Valley School District News Roundup: October 2026

This roundup compiles current news, upcoming events, and calendar items from 15 of the Lehigh Valley's public school districts across Northampton, Lehigh, and Carbon Counties: Bethlehem Area, Allentown, Easton Area, Parkland, Northampton Area, Whitehall-Coplay, Nazareth Area, Saucon Valley, Southern Lehigh, East Penn, Catasauqua Area, Northwestern Lehigh, Northern Lehigh, Bangor Area, and Pen Argyl Area.

Every item below was verified directly against the district's official website on October 21, 2026, and each section links to the official page where the item was published. Dates and times are exactly as the districts posted them; districts sometimes adjust schedules, so check the linked page before you plan around anything.

The roundup reports what each district officially published and does not rank, rate, or compare districts or schools. If you are house hunting and want to know what district serves a particular home, or what is happening across the Valley's classrooms this fall, this is a useful snapshot.

1. Bethlehem Area School District

BASD's performing arts calendar has the Nitschmann Middle School band marching in the Bethlehem Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 25 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The district marks a half day for middle and high school students only on Wednesday, October 28, and schools are closed on Tuesday, November 3 for Election Day and teacher in-service, with district offices and child care programs open. As part of the district's "Planning for the Future of BASD" process, community design input meetings are scheduled for November 4 and November 5. Board committee meetings continue on November 2 (Facilities and Curriculum), November 9 (Finance and Human Resources), with the regular board meeting on November 16.

At Liberty High School, the weekly update noted that PSAT testing took place on Saturday, October 17, and a senior breakfast is planned for Friday, October 30.

Sources: BASD homepage, district events, performing arts calendar, board meetings and agendas, Liberty High School weekly update

2. Allentown School District

ASD's upcoming events include a Committee-of-the-Whole school board meeting and regular board meetings on Thursday, October 22 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., a Family Advisory Council on Tuesday, October 27 at 5:00 p.m., and a Special Education Advisory Council on Thursday, October 29. October 28 is the grade cutoff and the end of the first rating period for secondary students.

Recent district news includes a Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program grant award, a rollout event where students received internet-connected devices through Verizon Innovative Learning, a new mental health partnership with Cartwheel for students and families, a 2026 National Moonshot Grant to launch a cross-state student policy forum, an upgraded bond rating from S&P Global Ratings, key leadership appointments for the 2026-2027 school year, a new five-year contract agreement for custodial and maintenance staff, and the appointment of Jack Trent as Chief Financial Officer.

Sources: ASD homepage, ASD news, district calendar

3. Easton Area School District

EASD's EASD PD Winter Coat Drive has collection events on Monday, October 26 and Sunday, November 1, 2026, with details on the district home page. Parent conferences and early dismissals run October 26 through October 28 per the adopted 2026-2027 school calendar, which was amended in August for elementary conferences. The regular board meeting was held Tuesday, October 20 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Easton Area Education Center at 1801 Bushkill Drive. The district also posted a Cottingham Stadium procedures update on October 6 with new varsity football entry and seating procedures that took effect with the October 9 home game, and online registration remains open for 2026-2027 kindergarten, for children who turn five on or before September 1, 2026.

Sources: EASD homepage, EASD news, school calendar

4. Parkland School District

Parkland is observing Digital Citizenship Week from October 19 to 23 in partnership with Common Sense Education, and Wednesday, October 21 is Unity Day, when the district asks the community to wear orange to stand against bullying. The Parkland High School fall play, "Shakespeare in Love," opened October 16 and ran through October 18. The Parkland Education Foundation hosts a football tailgate before the Friday, October 23 home game, starting at 5:45 p.m. with catering by The Sticky Pig, end-zone tent seating, and lawn games.

The district home page also highlights its 2026 Best Communities for Music Education recognition and ongoing Vision 2030 updates on the high school expansion, which broke ground in spring 2026 and adds 30 classrooms and 16 labs, with work underway on a new parking lot near the marquee and renovations to the main office, counseling, and nursing areas.

Sources: Parkland homepage, weekly updates 2026-2027, district calendar, Parkland High School

5. Northampton Area School District

NASD's redistricting plan for 2026-2027 is moving forward with construction of a new K-5 East Allen Elementary School and an Educational Center on New Seemsville Road in East Allen Township, as detailed in the district's posted redistricting update. The district also posted the transportation presentation from its October 19 special board meeting. The Northampton Area Middle School fall dance is Saturday, October 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and October 27 is the end of the first marking period for high school and middle school students.

Sources: NASD homepage, NASD news, district events, public meetings portal

6. Whitehall-Coplay School District

Whitehall-Coplay published a revised school board meeting schedule effective October 12, 2026. Committee meetings now meet on the fourth Monday at 5:00 p.m. in the board room at the Education Center, 2932 Zephyr Boulevard in Whitehall, with October 26 set for Finance and Personnel followed by Education, Student Activities, and Operations and Transportation. The Education Center, the former Gockley Elementary building, has hosted board and committee meetings since March 2026. The Whitehall-Coplay Middle School Studio Team attended a regional journalism summit, and the district launched its "Profile of a Zephyr" framework. Late-October athletics on the district calendar include boys middle school football at Northampton Area on October 24 and boys 7/8/9th and JV football hosting Parkland on October 26.

Sources: Whitehall-Coplay homepage, district calendar, athletics calendar, Education Center

7. Nazareth Area School District

The Nazareth Area superintendent is hosting a community forum series, "Your Voice. Our Schools. Our Future.," focused on long-range facilities planning, with sessions on Thursday, October 29 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. and March 18, 2027 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., registered by QR code through the district's live feed. The school board's general regular meeting is Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the Walter Fry Room at the district office. The high school's Eagle Nest Gallery is currently showing the "X-ray Vision" art exhibit, and the district now posts board items on BoardDocs. The high school also hosted PMEA District 10 chorus auditions on October 19.

Sources: Nazareth Area news, high school live feed, high school events and calendars, Nazareth board on BoardDocs

8. Saucon Valley School District

Saucon Valley's winter sports registration is open through Saturday, October 31, closing at 11:59 p.m. The district and the Northampton County District Attorney's Office are co-hosting parent safety nights this fall. Recent district news includes a student earning a District 3A golf championship, a third-place finish at the Ethics Bowl with a $1,000 scholarship, high school students recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist and Commended Scholars, the high school's improved U.S. News & World Report ranking (third in the Lehigh Valley and 65th in the state, per the district's announcement), sixth-grade student artwork published in print, and the new Panther Awards recognizing district employees. The board-approved 2026-27 calendar sets 184 student days and 192 teacher days, with the school year beginning August 24.

Sources: Saucon Valley homepage, district news, Panther calendar, school board

9. Southern Lehigh School District

Southern Lehigh's next school board meeting is Monday, October 26 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the high school media center at 5800 Main Street in Center Valley, with the Finance and Facilities Committee meeting on November 3 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the administration building conference room. The district launched full-day kindergarten with the 2026-2027 school year, and its "Spartan Spirit" community newsletter for September 2026 is posted on the community updates page. The district also published a measles information fact sheet on September 29.

Sources: Southern Lehigh homepage, district news, district events, community updates, full-day kindergarten

10. East Penn School District

East Penn's calendar shows the end of the first marking period at Emmaus High School on Friday, October 30, and a staff development day on Wednesday, October 21 with early dismissals (12:30 p.m. at the elementary level, 11:00 a.m. at Emmaus High and the middle schools). The district is celebrating National Principals Month, and Emmaus High School Principal Beth Guarriello was named the 2026 East Penn Employee of the Year. The East Penn Food Coalition continues its weekly Wednesday food distributions at Emmaus High School from 10:30 a.m. to noon and at Lower Macungie Middle School from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The next school board regular meeting is Monday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the board room of the administration building at 800 Pine Street in Emmaus. Building-level fall events include Lincoln Elementary's fall parade on October 30 at 1:45 p.m. and Eyer Middle School's PAWS Cookie Day on October 30.

Sources: East Penn district news, student and teacher calendar, board meeting schedule, Lincoln Elementary, Eyer Middle School

11. Catasauqua Area School District

Catasauqua Area scheduled an early dismissal for all buildings on Wednesday, October 21, and October 28 marks the end of marking period one. The district highlights its Morning Call Top Workplace 2026 recognition and Sheckler Elementary's annual fire prevention awareness day. Looking ahead, committee meetings are set for Wednesday, November 4 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the district administration offices, followed by the board meeting on Tuesday, November 10. The district's 2026-2027 calendar is posted for download.

Sources: Catasauqua homepage, news and announcements, district calendar, Sheckler Elementary calendar

12. Northwestern Lehigh School District

Northwestern Lehigh's board of school directors meets Wednesday, October 21 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the district board room, with a workshop meeting on Tuesday, November 4 at the same time and location. November 9 is a teacher in-service day, and the calendar shows an early dismissal K-12 on November 25 for Thanksgiving week, with the Thanksgiving holiday on November 26. The district published "The Best Kept Secret," a new video highlighting the district, is hiring for open positions, and has elementary supply lists by grade level available for 2026-2027.

Sources: Northwestern Lehigh homepage, district calendar, district announcements, Northwestern Elementary

13. Northern Lehigh School District

Northern Lehigh's next districtwide committee meetings are Monday, November 2 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the board room at the district office, the same day Slatington Elementary holds picture retakes. The middle school held its picture re-take day on October 19. The district is also promoting registration for its adult ESL classes, "Gateway to English 2026-2027," and has posted an alumni survey on the effectiveness of its guidance services and college, career, and military preparation.

Sources: Northern Lehigh homepage, district calendar

14. Bangor Area School District

Bangor Area's "Slater Spotlight" feature is highlighting 2026-2027 kindergarten registration for the Class of 2037. Winter sports registration opened October 5 and closes November 17, with PIAA physical forms, ticket information, and HudlTV streaming details on the athletics site. The school board's regular meeting is Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Slater Conference Room (per the 2026 schedule, board meetings are Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.). Late-October building items include picture re-take day at Bangor Area Middle School and the DeFranco Elementary Halloween Bash, both on the district calendar. The district's "Community Connections" section links the Slater Family Network, Alumni Association, and Educational Foundation.

Sources: Bangor Area homepage, district calendar, board meeting schedule, Bangor Area High School, Bangor athletics

15. Pen Argyl Area School District

Pen Argyl Area's posted news includes 2026-2027 athletics passes and game tickets now sold online and at events with a cash option, and the 2026-27 school calendar available as a PDF from the school calendar page. School board meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Russell H. Roper Auditorium at Wind Gap Middle School on October 20, November 17, and December 1, 2026, with agendas and minutes managed through the Keystone Agenda platform. The district also provides Skyward parent access instructions, and new student registration is completed at the child's attendance building. The athletics site lists a head girls softball coach vacancy updated in July 2026.

Sources: Pen Argyl Area homepage, board meeting dates, school calendar, Pen Argyl athletics

About This Roundup

This is the school district roundup for the communities featured on this site, covering Bethlehem Area, Allentown, Easton Area, Parkland, Northampton Area, Whitehall-Coplay, Nazareth Area, Saucon Valley, Southern Lehigh, East Penn, Catasauqua Area, Northwestern Lehigh, Northern Lehigh, Bangor Area, and Pen Argyl Area. Every item was verified against official district sources on October 21, 2026, and each section links back to the page where the district published it.

If you are also following the local market, the October 2026 housing market update has the latest numbers, and the full blog covers events, community news, and market reports across the Lehigh Valley. Site pages for several of these districts, including Bethlehem Area, Parkland, Nazareth Area, Northampton Area, Whitehall-Coplay, Saucon Valley, and Catasauqua Area, are available from the schools index.

About Tim Tepes

Tim Tepes is a Pennsylvania Licensed Associate Broker and REALTOR® with more than 36 years of experience serving the Lehigh Valley. He is the founder of Tim Tepes Real Estate LLC, affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Cassidon Realty, and has helped more than 2,000 clients buy, sell, and invest in real estate since 1990. He specializes in residential resale, new construction, investment properties, probate and estate sales, downsizing, and small multifamily assets across Northampton, Lehigh, and Carbon Counties.

Tim Tepes, Broker Associate

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Tim Tepes is a licensed Associate Broker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PA License #AB062628L), affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Cassidon Realty, and a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS (GLVR). Equal Housing Opportunity. REALTOR®.