Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School, or PVPA, is a public charter school in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Founded in 1996 as part of the Massachusetts Educational Reform, PVPA was originally located in Hadley, Massachusetts, but relocated to South Hadley for its tenth year in 2005. The school serves students from over 60 towns in Western Massachusetts, but gives priority to students residing in Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties as well as the towns of Petersham, Brookfield, Sturbridge, and Athol. PVPA was founded by Ljuba Marsh and Bob Brick.OverviewPioneer Valley Performing Arts in Western Massachusetts is known for its performing and visual arts concentrations woven into its curriculum. Students are required to take all courses that Massachusetts public schools mandate but also participate in a wide variety of performing arts and visual art courses.Students take dance courses, sculpture and other visual arts, theater, and a variety of athletic activities in addition to arts courses. PVPA serves over a thousand students grades 7-12, from over 60 towns throughout Western Massachusetts. The students also participate in the revision of the school charter as a democratic process when the charter goes through renewals.
