In 1904, Bausman found almost incredible the great progress in public education as he compared the "improved construction of modern school buildings ... and ... the extent, variety, and perfection of all the furniture ... of the schoolroom" with the log cabin schoolhouse of the early nineteenth century.
The principals heading the five high schools in the county in 1900-1901 were C. S. Wheaton, Beaver; W. S. Hertzog, Beaver Falls; J. C. Hillman, Freedom; J. B. Richey, New Brighton; and Rufus Barr, Rochester. Superintendent of the county was Chester A. Moore, who served in that office from 1896 to 1905.1
Moore's report to the state superintendent of public instruction in 1900 tells us a great deal about the county schools at the beginning of the century. There were then 50 school districts in the county, including 20 boroughs, 24 townships, and 6 independent districts. The length of school terms varied from seven months to nine, the average length being 7.81 months. There were 234 women and 84 men employed as teachers in county schools. It was cheaper to hire women: their average salary was $35.56 per month, while the men's salary averaged $44.54. The scholars were almost equally divided - 5,973 boys and 5,954 girls. Attendance ranged from 75 percent to 98 percent, the latter being the average at the Logstown (Independent) School.