Adapting to change has been Duquesne City School District’s story throughout the years.
“We’re resilient,” said Jennifer Yocca, a 30-year employee of the district. “We always have intentional leadership, but it changes a lot.”
Duquesne, working through financial struggles, is a district down to just one school, a K-8 building along Kennedy Avenue. But the the district could experience another big change in the coming years: consolidation with another school district.
The state Department of Education is undergoing a feasibility study into Duquesne’s future, which includes assessing the education, financial, administrative and community impacts of consolidating with another district, said department spokeswoman Erin James.
The study will include a review of educational program offerings and services, facilities, capital planning, fiscal analyses, leadership, operational efficiencies and stakeholder input. It includes the possibility of the district merging with West Mifflin Area, East Allegheny, Pittsburgh Public or McKeesport Area.
Yocca is assistant principal of Duquesne’s and serves as English Language Learner Coordinator. Erica Slobodnik is principal and Sue Mariani is superintendent of the district. They all declined to speculate on the study.
“As a district, we remain committed to students and families,” Slobodnik said. “We’ll continue to adapt and provide the best education for students.”
In 2007, Duquesne closed its high school following longstanding financial and academic issues. Its middle school program was cut in 2012, and the district was placed under receivership in 2013 due to financial instability and academic performance issues. The state seized control of district finances and appointed a recovery officer to form a financial plan.
Duquesne brought back seventh grade students at the start of the 2021-22 school year, a move approved by the state. Eighth grade students returned the following year.
In 2022, Duquesne was selected as a Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools member, Mariani said. The distinction places Duquesne in a national network of districts that provides resources and training for technology and networking.
“The honor and subsequent distinction as a host paints Duquesne City as not just a turnaround district, but one on the forefront of educational trends,” Mariani said.
But the district’s efforts to bring high school students back was unsuccessful. In March 2024, the state rejected the district’s plans to restart its own high school program because of finances.
“We need to be able to demonstrate that the financial longevity of the district is in good financial standing, and with a small tax base, that is hard to do,” Mariani said.
The city’s population was just over 5,000 as of July 2024. About 23% of residents are in poverty.
This year, total district enrollment stands at around 448. There are 76 employees districtwide.
The state reports that nearly 89% of students are economically disadvantaged, 21% as English Language Learners and 20% are special education students. Last school year, 9.5% of students are proficient or advanced in English; 8.3% are proficient or advanced in mathematics.
Yocca’s seen it all. She was first hired in the district as a math and reading teacher in 1995 and has served in various teaching roles before becoming the district’s dean of students in fall 2024. She was named assistant principal last fall.
“It’s constant change, from superintendents to parents to curriculum,” she said. “No matter what is thrown at us, we keep going.”
But staff has been able to create successes from the district’s realities.
Yocca points to initiatives that she said contribute to a stronger school culture, increased consistency with student instruction and supporting a child’s social and emotional well-being.
Discipline referrals have decreased drastically — there were 2,125 referrals in the 2023-24 school year, 1,039 last year and 383 so far this year. Suspensions decreased to 403 last year from 550 the year prior.
“The main factor is parent communication,” Yocca said. “Parents get a call from the teacher and from me about behaviors. We do restorative practices so that goes into relationship building. The responses are consistent.”
Duquesne participates in a career exploration program, World of Work, that exposes students to 54 different careers by the time they leave eighth grade, Slobodnik said. All students participate weekly in social and emotional learning lessons, working on self-awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. A “house system” positive-behavior system incentivizes good behavior among seventh and eighth grade students, and the school plans to expand that to fifth and sixth grade next year.
“It creates a strong sense of belonging,” said Slobodnik, who started as a teacher at Duquesne seven years ago and became building principal last school year. “It gives the school pride. Students work together and they build relationships and they support one another.”
Middle school athletics — including volleyball, cheerleading, football and basketball — returned to the school in 2022. This year, middle school students had the opportunity to participate in clubs such as team sports, retro gaming and band; elementary students have a similar elective-class style time called “Duke Zone.”
From August to December 2025, student attendance was 90.7%.
“Our kids want to be here,” Yocca said. “Voice and choice has made a huge impact on them wanting to be here.”
Slobodnik has seen an increase in community and parent engagement, through events like literacy, cultural, math and STEM nights and public showcases of student work.
Often, Duquesne seeks grants and partnerships to fill financial gaps that might otherwise be filled by a more robust tax base, Slobodnik said.
“When I started here, a lot of parents did not come into the building,” Yocca said. “We have high success with parent-teacher conferences. Getting positive phone calls too, from teachers and administrators, it’s more of a welcoming environment.”
When Duquesne students leave eighth grade, Yocca guides the transition of attending either West Mifflin Area or East Allegheny high schools.
This year, 211 Duquesne students attend West Mifflin, and 23 attend East Allegheny.
Duquesne’s quarterly report, published in January, says the district is in “good financial standing” with no unpaid invoices, and all payroll, benefit expenses, debt service obligations and tuition payments being made in a timely manner. Duquesne’s fund balance as of June 30, 2025, was just over $5 million.
About 180 Duquesne students attend charter schools, and 40 participate in cyber charter programs. Duquesne pays just more than $18,000 per student when they attend West Mifflin or East Allegheny, and the average tuition cost for charter and cyber charter schools is $14,500.
“While the district has faced some natural financial challenges due to a lack of property tax revenue, our financial team and administration at large has done an excellent job of being good stewards of our funds, stretching our dollars as far as we can,” Mariani said.
James, the state Education Department spokeswoman, said the study is anticipated to be complete by the end of the summer.
As part of the state study, public surveys are available to the Duquesne, West Mifflin and East Allegheny school communities to provide feedback on the district’s future.
West Mifflin Superintendent Jeffrey Soles said previously that his district will do whatever is mandated by the state and what they believe is best for Duquesne, as did East Allegheny spokeswoman Mireille Mobley.
“Our hope is that the feedback collected through the survey will help provide a clearer understanding of the educational, financial and community considerations involved so that any future decisions remain focused on what is best for students,” Mobley said.
James said the report will be made public once complete, and submitted to the secretary of education and the Education Committees of the House and Senate.
Next steps depend on the study’s findings, she said.
“Before, during and after the study is completed, the district remains committed to providing the best possible educational experience for its students and families,” Mariani said.