Dallastown Area High School

History

The first Dallastown High School class graduated in 1898. The first constructed building to house the newly created Dallastown High School, a combination of local schoolhouses, was on Charles St. in Dallastown, now Dallastown Elementary. This building became too small, and effective July 1, 1958; the school districts of Loganville, Springfield and York Township became the York Imperial Union School District. Accordingly, the Dallastown Area School System, which operated all of the schools in the area, grades 1 through 12, was composed of three member districts: Dallastown Borough, Yoe Borough and York Imperial Union. Realizing an immediate need for a building for secondary school purposes, a site was selected and construction of a 167,262-square-foot (15,539.1 m²) building began. On September 1, 1958, the doors of the new Dallastown Area High School opened. The Dallastown Area High School was first constructed in 1958 and underwent a major renovation and remodel in 2001.

The Campus

The Dallastown High School is adjoined with Dallastown Area Middle School to form the Dallastown Middle-High School Campus. Due to growing overcrowding, the district administration determined building a new school to host grades 4-6, the Dallastown Area Intermediate School, would help to alleviate this problem. The district removed the sixth grade from the Middle School in 2010, the year the Intermediate School was completed, allowing the High School to obtain some of the former Middle School classrooms. An enclosed hallway was built to connect the high school to the former middle school wing. In 2011, the high school became more energy efficient with solar panels on the roof of the campus; the panels were dedicated to long-time Dallastown Area School District board member Earl Miller.

Graduation rate

In 2012, Dallastown Area High School graduation rate was 94%. In 2011, the Dallastown Area High School graduation rate was 97%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Dallastown Area High School's rate was 95% for 2010.

Graduation requirements

The Dallastown Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26 credits to graduate, including: math 3 credits (Algebra 1 and Geometry), English 4 credits, social studies 3 credits, science 3 credits, Humanities - 2 credits, Physical Education 1.6 credits, Health .6 credits, Computer Applications .4 credits, Graduation Project 1 credit and electives 7 credits.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district. Students earn 1.0 credit towards graduation upon completion of the project.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams. For the class of 2019, a composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements. In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level. Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

AYP PSSA history

In 2012, Dallastown Area Senior High School declined further to School Improvement AYP status due to lagging achievement in reading and mathematics. The school missed 5 out of 8 academic metrics measured. The Administration was required to develop a school improvement plan to address the academic issues. The PDE required the administration submit the plan for approval. School improvement funds were available to fund reforms. Additionally, under No Child Left Behind, the school was mandated to inform the parents of the low academic achievement.

In 2011, Dallastown Area Senior High School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics. In 2010, the school achieved AYP status. In 2009, the high school was in Warning status due lagging IEP (Special Education) student achievement.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 26% of Dallastown Area Senior High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

SAT scores

In 2012, 360 Dallastown Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 507. The Math average score was 515. The Writing average score was 501. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2011, 309 Dallastown Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 506. The Math average score was 506. The Writing average score was 493. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.

Curriculum

Dallastown High includes a very broad range of curricula with high expectations and standards.

Advanced placement

Currently, the school offers 15 Advanced Placement courses and a dual-enrollment partnership for juniors and seniors with York College of Pennsylvania and Penn State York.

Dual enrollment

The high school offers a dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school, including the graduation ceremony. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $33,637 for the program.

The Social Studies Department

The Social Studies Department at Dallastown is truly diversified. The 9-12 Social Science curriculum is designed to improve the students' critical thinking and problem solving skills by developing an awareness of civic responsibility and diversity. The department prepares students to become informed and contributing members of the world community.

The Mathematics Department

The Mathematics Department at Dallastown prepares students for success after graduation. Courses in Algebra, Geometry, Precalculus and Calculus are offered at different levels so as to develop in all students the skills necessary for college and careers. Some classes are more rigorous and theoretical while others are more applied. The curriculum is designed to provide a firm mathematical foundation according to the standards developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

The Science Department

The Science department at Dallastown is one of the best in the county. Every year, the annual Science and Engineering Fair includes projects from students in grades 7-12 and includes a Junior (7-9) and Senior (10-12) division. Other activities include the Annual Night of Science and the Physics Olympics.

The English Department

The mission of the English Department at Dallastown Area High School is to expose students to the ways in which the English language is used to communicate effectively through the written and the spoken word. To graduate, a student must take four years of English and take an oral communications class.

Postsecondary information

In 2010, 77% of graduates planned on continuing their education, down from 81% in 2005. Of those who planned on continuing their education in 2010, 58% planned to attend a 4-year college or university. Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, and York College of Pennsylvania are perennially the most common destinations. The vast majority of students remain in-state.

The average SAT score in 2010 was 1561 out of 2400.

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state grant and training program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math). Additionally, the grant paid for mandatory teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006–2009. Dallastown Area School District was denied funding 2006–07. In 2007–08, Dallastown Area High School received $315,540 and $54,026 in 2008–09 for a total funding of $369,566. Among York County schools, the highest funding ($1,023,131) went to West Shore School District. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed by Governor Rendell due to a massive state financial crisis.

Extracurricular activities

The High School offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sport program. Eligibility for participation is determined by the school board.

Clubs

Dallastown High has many clubs and organizations. A few examples are Volunteer club, Red Cross Club, and an Envirothon team. The school's Student Council provides an annual homecoming dance, tailgate party, senior citizens' conference, various dances, and a spring "coffee house" music event. A local chapter of the National Honor Society exists at Dallastown and does an annual flower sale and a clothing drive for charity.

Dallastown's school newspaper, The Beacon, is published monthly; the yearbook, The Spectator, is produced annually. Each is student-run.

Performing arts

Dallastown's Performing Arts see much student participation.

The Spring Musical

Dallastown has a long tradition of producing an annual musical. In the spring of 2010, Dallastown's rendition of Les Misérables received Rosie Awards (annual awards given to selected high schools across York County for musical productions) for best overall performance, best actress, and best actor. The musical in 2011, Urinetown the Musical, managed to capture four awards at the annual Rosies, including best overall performance once again. The 2012 Musical, Hairspray',' received three Rosies: two best female performer awards and one for best overall performance.

Dallastown Performing Arts Club

The Dallastown Performing Arts Club was founded in 2007 by a senior culminating project. The club puts on one stage show in the fall, a dinner theater style show in the winter, and Dallastalent (an annual school-wide talent show) in addition to aiding the spring musical.

Athletics

The high school competes on a very high level in a variety of sports. Dallastown's athletic director is Tory Harvey. Their teams are part of PIAA triple or quad A, District 3, and YAIAA Division I.

The York Dispatch Cup

Awarded annually since 2006, the York Dispatch Cup recognizes the most successful athletic programs in the York-Adams League. Dallastown competes in the Large School Division. Dallastown has enjoyed unparalleled success.

Football

The YAIAA is created (1960-1980)

The Wildcats emerged with the creation of a York-Adams county athletic conference, the YAIAA, which awarded its first football championship in 1960. Dallastown won four YAIAA championships in this 20-year period (1969, 1971, 1976, and 1980).

The drought (1981-2006)

In the time after winning the 1980 YAIAA championship in the 1980-1981 school year, the Wildcats failed to earn another YAIAA title or post-season playoff appearance, once created by the PIAA in 1988. The success of the team was often moderate, but the low point of this period was certainly the two-year stretch of one-win seasons in 2005 and 2006.

New success (2007-Present)

The 2007 campaign was a welcome change from the previous dry-spell. The Wildcats obtained a 6-4 regular season record. Additionally, after a gutsy overtime play against rival Red Lion Area Senior High School to win 22-21, the Wildcats obtained a post-season berth for the first time in school history. Dallastown faced William Penn Senior High School and was defeated 21-6. The Wildcats won the YAIAA Sportsmanship Award for their 2007 campaign.

The Wildcats also qualified for the PIAA District 3 football playoffs in 2008 and 2009, each ending in a first-round lose against Penn Manor High School and Central York High School, respectively.

In 2010, the Wildcats would reach new heights. After going an undefeated 10-0 in regular season play, including a remarkable comeback from a 0-22 deficit against rival Red Lion Area Senior High School to win 38-36, the Wildcats not only saw themselves in post-season play, but holding sole possession of a YAIAA title. Additionally, Dallastown sat atop the final regular season PIAA District 3 power rankings. From there, the Wildcats opened post-season play against Conestoga Valley High School with a victory, the first playoff win in school history, to set up a rematch with Red Lion Area Senior High School. With revenge and redemption on their minds, the visiting Red Lion lions defeated the Wildcats in an upset 14-6. The loss ended the Wildcats season with an 11-1 overall record.

Field hockey

The Dallastown Field Hockey team is noted for its success. Since 1991, the Wildcats have won 14 Division 1 titles in 1993, 1996–2000, and 2003-2010. The team has had varying levels of success in the PIAA District 3 Field Hockey tournament. Starting many PIAA District 3 Field Hockey tournaments as the number 1 seed, the Wildcats have found little success to match their seeding, but the Wildcats have qualified for the PIAA Field Hockey tournament, including a 4-year streak from 1996-1999.

Boys' soccer

The Dallastown Boys' Soccer team has been dominant in the YAIAA in recent years, including three-straight Division 1 titles in 2009, 2010, and 2011 and YAIAA Tournament Championships in 2010 and 2011. In all, the Wildcats have won 10 Division 1 titles since 1991, and another YAIAA Tournament Championship in 2001. The Wildcats met great success in 2010 with a PIAA District 3 Championship, the first since the 1996 title.

Wrestling

Once a powerhouse, the Dallastown wrestling program has met more individual than team success in recent years, the most recent being Clay Gable's PIAA Championship at the 171 weight class in 2009. Since 1967, the Wildcats have garnered an impressive 30 YAIAA Division 1 titles. In addition, the Wildcat wrestlers have 10 YAIAA Sportsmanship Award-winning teams.

Girls' soccer

Much like their male counterparts, the Dallastown girls' soccer team has enjoyed much recent success. The Wildcats have four Division 1 titles, including three straight in 2009, 2010, and 2011. In each of these three years, the girls have gone on to win the YAIAA Tournament.

Baseball

Dallastown Baseball has enjoyed moderate success in its history, including 6 Division 1 titles since 1992. In 2011, the Wildcats were runners-up in the YAIAA Tournament.

Notable alumni