Bayard Rustin High School
A better fit for the district
Rather than ballooning its existing campuses into massive mega-schools, the West Chester Area School District built Bayard Rustin High School as a third campus to keep class sizes small, give more kids a shot at varsity rosters and stage time, and build a closer-knit community.
To blend in with the local countryside, the building features warm stone, classic brickwork, and sloped roofs that mirror the surrounding rural neighborhood.
Built into the landscape
Step inside, and the three-level design uses the site’s natural slope to keep high-energy student hubs separated from quiet study spaces:
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Lower level: Anchors the loud, active programs—housing the gymnasium, cafeteria, main auditorium, media center, and specialized studios for art, music, business, and tech ed.
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Main level: Welcomes visitors into the main entry, placing administration, guidance, and the nurse’s office alongside tech-ready general classrooms and science labs.
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Upper level: Expands instructional footprint with additional general classrooms, science labs, computer suites, and satellite administrative offices.
Smart cooling + complete sports complexes
Every classroom comes equipped with modern instructional tech. Under the hood, the mechanical systems combine variable air volume (VAV) controls with an ice storage plant—freezing water overnight during cheap power windows to cool the building during peak afternoon heat.
Outside, the campus packs in a full varsity stadium, tennis courts, and custom fields for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and football.