Elderton High School

Updated on Jan 28, 2024

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Type Public Principal Stephen Shutters Grades 7–12 Phone +1 724-354-2153 Mascot Bobcat		Closed Spring 2012 Faculty 30 teachers Color(s) Green & White District Armstrong School District Number of students 304 (2011)

Address 239 S Lytle St, Elderton, PA 16023, USA Similar West Shamokin High Sch, ARIN Intermedi Unit 28, School, Freeport Senior High Sch, Kittanning Paper

Elderton high school class of 2012

Elderton Junior Senior High School was a tiny, rural, public junior senior high school in Elderton in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was part of the Armstrong School District. Elderton Junior Senior High School providing grades 7th through 12th. The school officially closed after the 2008–09 school year. It was reopened for 2010–11. Then closed permanently in 2012. According to Sheldon Berk, Armstrong School District's interim director of finance, the District saved $1.7 million by closing Elderton Junior Senior High School. It was one of then four high schools operated by the District in the spring of 2012.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, Elderton Junior Senior High School reported an enrollment of 304 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 91 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school employed 30 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 10:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

In 2013, a community group sought to lease the former Elderton Junior Senior High School building for a K-12 charter school - Everlasting Elderton Charter School. The Armstrong School Board rejected the application for the charter school and leasing the building to the group. The group announced its intention to appeal the rejection to the state's Charter School Appeal Board.

In 2009, Elderton sought to leave the Armstrong School District and join Apollo-Ridge School District. That effort failed when the Apollo-Ridge School District decided to oppose the effort.

Elderton high school marching band

Graduation Rate

2012 - 81%

2011- 93%

2009 - 97%

2008 - 92%

2007 - 91%

Academic achievement

Western Pennsylvania ranking

In 2009, Elderton Junior - Senior High School is ranked 71st out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, for student academic achievement as demonstrated on three years of PSSAs on: reading, writing, math and one year of science.

AYP status

In 2012, Elderton Junior Senior High School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to low graduation rate and lagging academic achievement. In 2011, Elderton Junior Senior High School achieved AYP status.

2010 - none closed

2009 - declined to Warning AYP status

2008 - achieved AYP status

2007 - achieved AYP status

2006 - achieved AYP status

2005 - achieved AYP status

2004 - achieved AYP status

2003 - achieved AYP status

PSSA Results

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA)s are NCLB related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012. In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year. The PSSAs are also given to 8th grade students: math, reading, writing and science. Seventh graders are tested each spring in both: reading and mathematics.

11th Grade Reading

2012 - 70% on grade level, (11% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.

2011 - 81% (6% below basic). State - 69.1%

2009 - 75%. State - 65%

2008 - 60%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math

2012 - 70% on grade level, 22% advanced (26% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.

2011 - 60%, 16% advanced (18% below basic). State - 60.3%

2009 - 37%, State - 56%

2008 - 60%, State - 56%

2007 – 62%, State – 53%

11th Grade Science

2012 - 60% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.

2011 - 43% (7% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.

2009 - 28%. State - 40%

2008 - 35%

8th grade

In 2009, the 8th grade was ranked 104th out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on three years of student academic achievement in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science. (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Armstrong County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County).

8th Grade Reading:

2012 - 78% on grade level (10% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.

2011 - 85% (8% below basic) State - 81.8%

8th Grade Math:

2012 - 83% on grade level, 52% advanced (6% below basic). State - 76%

2011 - 66%, 42% advanced (16% below basic). State - 76.9%

8th Grade Science:

2012 - 50% on grade level (27 below basic). State - 59%

2011 - 59% (21% below basic). State – 58.3%

Seventh grade

7th Grade Reading:

2012 - 84% (8% below basic). State – 76%

2011 - 66% (9% below basic). State – 76%

7th Grade Math:

2012 - 90%, 65% advanced (3% below basic). State - 80%

2011 - 64%, 24% advanced (17% below basic). State - 78.6%

Graduation requirements

The Armstrong School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 25 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in math 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education, Computer Science 0.5 credit, Community Service Learning .25 credit, Public speaking 0.5 credit, Living on Your Own 0.5 credit, Driver Education Theory 0.3 credit and other electives. Beginning in grade 7, students have the opportunity to make up a maximum of two courses failed during the school year in summer school.

Driver Education Theory is scheduled in grade ten as a required course. Behind-the- wheel driving lessons (six total hours) may be scheduled during after-school hours and after the Driver Education Theory course is completed. A $50 fee is charged for behind- the-wheel lessons.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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. Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.

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. The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate. 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.

SAT scores

In 2012, 35 Elderton Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The School's Verbal Average Score was 475. The Math average score was 458. The Writing average score was 446. 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, just 7 Elderton Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. Due to the low participation rate, the School's scores were not publicly reported to protect the privacy of the participating students. 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.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.

Sports

Elderton High School had a strong sports tradition in wrestling and boys and girls volleyball. The girls teams won Pennsylvania State Class AA Championships in 1988, 1990 and 1991 and Western Pennsylvania High School Championships (WPIAL) in 1988 and 1991. The boys team won the WPIAL championship in 1964 and 1966 and is a regular playoff participant. Several school wrestlers have won WPIAL championships and placed at the PIAA tournament.

The school offered: Soccer, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, cheerleading, tennis, baseball, softball, cross country, golf

References

Elderton High School Wikipedia

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