Western Secure Treatment Unit

Located at 12 Dakota Drive in Emlenton, Pennsylvania, the Western Secure Treatment Unit is an active, state-operated educational agency operating a single specialized facility. Nestled in a remote rural setting within the broader Pittsburgh metropolitan region, this non-charter public institution focuses exclusively on secondary education, offering instruction to high school students in grades 9 through 12. As a specialized state agency, the unit provides a structured, secure learning environment tailored to help older students meet secondary education standards and make meaningful academic progress.

During the 2024–2025 academic year, the facility serves a compact student body of 38 male individuals, including 7 ninth graders, 14 tenth graders, 10 eleventh graders, and 7 twelfth graders. The student body reflects a diverse community, comprising 30 Black students, 5 White students, 2 Hispanic students, and 1 student of two or more races. A key strength of the institution is its remarkable staffing allocation, which features 14 full-time equivalent dedicated teaching professionals. This extraordinarily favorable staffing context creates an exceptionally low student-to-teacher ratio, enabling highly individualized instruction, targeted academic intervention, and intensive support suited to the unique needs of every student.