History

The first school used by Picture Rocks was the Woodly School in Wolf Township where Mary Bates taught a class of five students.  Eventually, another school was built on the corner of Center and Oak Streets where Amos Sprout was the teacher.  In 1877, another school was built between Main and Center Streets which remained until the Picture Rocks High School was constructed.

In 1926, the president of the school board, Morton I Sprout, laid the cornerstone for the present school building.  The chairman of the building committee, Earnest Burrows, placed several items in the cornerstone which included; a list of names of the members of the building committee, a description of the building, a photograph of the building, copies of the bonds used to finance the building project, and a list of the names of all the students enrolled in the school in 1926.

The building was completed and dedicated in June and was the first vocational high school in the state.  Students traveled from all over, some stayed with families in town during the school week, just to attend school at Picture Rocks High School.  The school contained four grade classrooms, four vocational rooms, an auditorium which held 600 people and a gymnasium.  With seven teachers on staff, the student enrollment was 150 during its first year.  Sports were an important part of the high school and several championships were held in different sports under coaches such as Frank Walp and Clyde "Pat' Collins.

In 1946, twenty years later, the school officially became an elementary school, serving children from the nearby townships, as it joined with the East Lycoming School District.  The high school program was abolished due to lack of school population and the high school age students were transported by bus to the East Lycoming High School in Hughesville.   

The elementary school was eventually named the George A. Ferrell Elementary School in memory of George A. Ferrell, who was the Assistant County Superintendent of Schools from 1918 - 1935.  During his career, Mr. Ferrell worked in the elementary school as a teacher and a principal.  

In 1986, the state granted permission to the district to completely remodel the Ferrell building.  The outside of the building changed very little during these renovations.

Former graduates of the Picture Rocks High School continue to hold reunion dinners at the school.