The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 17 to officially open the new Engle Education Center in West Grove. This expansion represents a major investment in Chester County’s educational infrastructure and its growing student population. The Engle Education Center is the result of extensive renovations to the former Fred S. Engle middle school, and it operates in partnership with the Avon Grove School District, housing the district’s new administrative offices on-site.

Speaking at the event were Dr. George F. Fiore, executive director of the CCIU, Bonnie J. Wolff, president of the CCIU Board of Directors, Dr. Dorothy Linn, president of the Avon Grove School District Board of Directors, Dr. Scott DeShong, superintendent of the Avon Grove School District, and Carlos Esteves Benitez, a parent of two Engle students.

Among those in attendance were legislators, administrators, educators, community partners, and of course, Engle families and students. After the ribbon was cut, attendees were treated to hors d’oeuvres prepared by the culinary program students from the Technical College High School (TCHS) Pennock’s Bridge campus, as well as a tour of the new facility.

The Engle Education Center houses an additional location for the Child and Career Development Center (CCDC), a preschool program encompassing preschool special education services, Head Start, and Early Head Start, and the Avon Grove District Office. The Engle campus offers specialized services in autistic support, emotional support, life skills support, and multiple disabilities support. Students also receive integrated therapies such as occupational, physical, and speech-language services in a safe, accessible environment.

“Like many here, we are parents to extraordinary children, whose days are marked by resilience and whose stories are defined by courage,” said Benitez. “Our kids live with a rare disease, a reality that has brought challenges, uncertainty, and at times heartbreak. But it has also brought us this beautiful moment, surrounded by a community that understands, supports, and uplifts.”

According to the Pennsylvania State Data Center, Chester County’s population is projected to increase by 6.9 percent by 2050, with 3.9 percent of that growth already realized since 2020 — an increase of more than 21,000 residents. This surge in population is paralleled by rising educational and mental health needs, particularly following the closure of in-person psychiatric services at Brandywine Hospital. The Engle Education Center, part of CCIU’s expansion efforts, directly addresses these critical challenges. 

Enrollment in Chester County’s Preschool Special Education programs has jumped significantly as well, growing from 2,391 students in the 2020–2021 school year to 3,535 in 2024–2025. 

The new Engle campus allows students located in southern Chester County to stay closer to their school communities be more engaged fully in extracurricular and family activities. For some students, this new location in West Grove reduces their daily travel time by up to two hours. 

“This building is proof of what can happen when schools, families, communities, and legislators join together in service of our most vulnerable learners,” said Fiore. “We would never accept an hourlong drive each day for other children, and so we must not accept it for these children either. Here at Engle, that reality changes.”

Districts are increasingly turning to CCIU for support as developmental and mental health challenges intensify among learners. Referrals to the CCDC had more than doubled between just the 2020–2021 and 2022–2023 school years. Engle offers a cost-effective, local alternative to more expensive private placements, which cost Chester County districts over $15 million in 2022 alone.

Currently, CCDC Engle serves students from ten sending districts, including schools from Delaware. 

“As a board member, I could not be prouder of what the CCIU and Avon Grove have accomplished together,” said Wolff. “Repurposing Engle is more than a building decision; it is a statement of commitment to the families of southern Chester County. It is a promise that no matter a child’s age, background, or need, they will find here a place designed to support them, just as it supported generations of students before.”

About the Chester County Intermediate Unit

The Chester County Intermediate Unit is an educational service agency that exists to provide quality, cost-effective services to the community and its residents. The Chester County Intermediate Unit administers instructional, enrichment and administrative programs and services to Chester County’s 12 public school districts and to over 45 private and parochial schools in the county. These programs include instructional, remedial and enrichment services for regular and special education students. Other IU services support teachers, school administrators and school directors. The diversity of CCIU programs enables IU staff to interact with school district personnel at all levels and to maintain a cohesive educational network throughout Chester County.