Education Excellence
 Excellence in Education
Welcome to the education pages of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce! Berkshire County is a rural area, filled with beautiful New England scenery and wonderful historical experiences. The small quaint towns, which make up Berkshire County, are filled with museums, galleries and shops that reflect the Berkshires rich culture.
The Berkshires are a great place to raise a family because of the quality and diversity of the education that is available. The Berkshires open the doors to outstanding education with 4 colleges and 58 public schools which are locally run, allowing parents to stay involved in their child's educational decisions. There are many private/parochial schools to choose from, continuing the Berkshire County reputation of being the center for private schools. With the option of "school choice," parents have the flexibility to choose what school they want their child to attend.
The Berkshires hold a continuing tradition of excellence in education. The per pupil expenditures of $5,547 far exceed the national average, while 70% of Berkshire County schools exceed the Massachusetts average. Progressive schools focused on cutting edge technology led Berkshire County to be the first county in the nation to be wired to the Internet, with 90% of our schools being Internet accessible.
Our last five years, state and local commitments have virtually helped to remodel all elementary and middle schools. We have seen substantial technological upgrades. Investments have resulted in more classroom and specialty education space such as: music rooms, theaters, science labs and exercise rooms. The renovations and upgrades are only a small example of how education in the Berkshires is valued. The Berkshires are dedicated to excellence in education.
Berkshire Compact for Higher Education
The Berkshire Compact for Higher Education was a year-long effort to increase the percentage of Berkshire County residents who have a higher education degree. Currently, the percentage of County residents with a higher education degrees falls below that of the state, and for the County’s low-income residents, the percentage is dramatically lower. The Compact argues that a higher education degree has many benefits – for the competitiveness of the regional economy, for earnings and wages of residents, and for the County’s ability to attract new technology-based employers.
The Compact was spearheaded by the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, with research, writing, and facilitation support from Mt. Auburn Associates. The Compact was overseen by a Steering Committee of employers, educators, municipal officials, state legislators, and leaders from the County’s principal cultural organizations and enterprises. The Compact outlines four major goals: raising the aspirations of residents to view 16 years of schooling as the new educational norm; improving access to higher education, particularly among low income residents; making Berkshire County residents among the most educated and highly-skilled workers in new technology and technology applications; and, developing new partnerships and programs among County employers and higher education institutions.
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