Original Research by School Decision on Adams County Technical Institute
Adams County Technical Institute is a county career and technical school serving juniors and seniors from five Adams County districts: Bermudian Springs, Conewago Valley, Fairfield, Gettysburg, and Littlestown. It became an independent county technical center in 2020, reorganized from what had previously been a program owned and operated by Gettysburg Area School District.
The school is very small. Enrollment is not large, reflecting the nature of career and technical education as an elective pathway rather than a comprehensive high school. The student body is entirely white, and no data on free-or-reduced-price lunch, special education, or English learners was available. State testing data does not apply to this institution; career and technical schools are not assessed under the same state testing regime as comprehensive schools, and juniors and seniors are typically tested only in limited subject areas if at all.
ACTI currently operates eight program areas: Allied Health, Building Trades, Computer Networking, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Diesel Technology, Early Learning, and Career Connections. This range of offerings gives students multiple pathways into skilled trades, health care, technology, and early childhood education, with many programs leading to industry certifications, dual college credits, or apprenticeship pipelines. The school serves families who want a career-focused option outside the traditional academic track, and students typically attend part-time while remaining enrolled in their home district school.
The school's current location is in Gettysburg, a small historic county seat anchored by the National Military Park and adjacent to Gettysburg College. The downtown is walkable and compact, centered on Lincoln Square, and the borough is growing. Major employers include the colleges, WellSpan Health, and hospitality tied to the military park and historic district. Housing values in the area are in line with state averages, and the market is active.
Capacity is a pressing issue. In 2023 hundreds of county students competed for available seats, and a feasibility study recommended a new facility of significantly larger square footage than the current site, with seven additional programs added to the slate. ACTI has received a state grant to purchase land for a new technical school, with funds to be spent by December 2026, and superintendents and school officials are weighing a major capital project. This expansion would materially increase access to career and technical education for families across the five member districts, though local tax implications remain a topic of discussion.
For families in any of the five member districts, ACTI offers a genuine alternative to the traditional high school pathway. The school's independence as a county center (rather than a program within one district) means students have dedicated programming and shared resources across district boundaries. Parents interested in this option should reach out directly to their home district for the enrollment and application process, as access is managed at the district level. The pending facility expansion suggests the school will grow in the coming years, likely with more program offerings and more capacity, though the current school operates at or above capacity.
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