About PVCICS
Highlights from our History
Welcome to PVCICS! We are a tuition-free regional public charter school located in Hadley, Massachusetts. Entrance is by lottery. PVCICS prepares students for academic and cross-cultural success through rigorous study and instruction aligned with state and federal standards, augmented with Chinese language and culture. PVCICS focuses on graduating students with excellent scholarship, high proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English, and sensitivity to multiple cultures.
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PVCICS opened in the fall of 2007 with Kindergarten and 1st grades. Each year since opening, it has added grades and grown. Students come from all over the Pioneer Valley and most have no background in Chinese when they enter the school. PVCICS currently enrolls almost 470 students in grades K-12 from nearly 30 communities in the Pioneer Valley. PVCICS offers an "IB for All" high school program where all 11th and 12th grade students take all International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Some high school students fulfill the requirements for the full International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, while others opt to earn IB Certificates in certain subject courses.
Feb 27, 2007
The Massachusetts Board of Education approved the application of the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School (PVCICS) and the school opened in the fall of 2007.
August 30, 2007
The first day of school. Click to see the press release.
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July 22, 2008
The U.S. Department of Education awarded PVCICS a 5-year Foreign Language Assistance Program grant. Click to see the press release.
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September 23, 2008
The Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded PVCICS a 2-year Creative Schools grant. Click to see the press release.
February 8, 2010
Hanban-Asia Society awarded PVCICS a 3-year Confucius Classroom Network grant. Click to see the press release.
April 12, 2012
PVCICS was 1 of 7 schools nationally to be listed in Asia Society's new immersion book. Click to see the press release.
February 26, 2013
The Massachusetts Board of Education approved a charter amendment to expand to include high school. Click to see the press release.
September 30, 2013
The USDA - Rural Development approved a loan of $10,600,600 to PVCICS. Click to see the press release.
February 11, 2015
PVCICS authorized to be an International Baccalaureate World School. Click to see the press release.
December 14, 2015
PVCICS received the 2015 Confucius Classrooms of the Year award. Click to see the press release.
January 19, 2017
PVCICS was renewed as one of the top performing schools in the state. Click to see the press release.
Directors
Mr. Richard Alcorn is Executive Director and Ms. Kathleen Wang is Principal. As school leaders and lead founders of PVCICS, they are committed to building a public Chinese immersion school for families in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. PVCICS employs a talented group of over eighty educators and professionals from all over the world.
