Hosack Elementary School

Academics

Western Pennsylvania local ranking Hosack Elementary School's fifth grade was ranked 11th out of 273 western Pennsylvania school district fifth grades, in 2013, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA) in: math, reading, writing and science. (includes 105 districts in: Allegheny County, Armstrong County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Washington County and Westmoreland County but excludes Duquesne City School District & Midland Borough School District due to their not operating a high school). In 2012, the fifth grade ranked 7th.

Hosack Elementary School's fourth grade (4th) ranked 32nd in 2013 among 300 western Pennsylvania fourth grades. In 2012, the school's fourth grade ranked 31st in the region.

Hosack Elementary School's third grade (3rd) ranked 20th in 2013, among 314 western Pennsylvania third grades. In 2012, the school's third grade ranked 35th in the region.

Hosack Elementary School achieved a score of 88.8 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, 89% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 89% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 88% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 94% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 98% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.

In 2011 and 2012, Hosack Elementary School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. Hosack Elementary School achieved AYP each year from 2003 through 2010.

Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing.

5th Grade Reading:

5th Grade Math:

In the fall of 2013, teachers in grades 1 through 5 implemented “Rocket Math” — a supplemental math curriculum for sequential practice and mastery of math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. This is a district-wide program.

Wellness policy

North Allegheny School Board established a district-wide student Wellness Policy 3441 in 2006. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most Pennsylvania public school districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, public school districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

The Hosack Elementary School offers a free school breakfast and free or reduced-price lunch to children from low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, Homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals. The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.

In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D. In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch. In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.

Hosack Elementary School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in the building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and Pennsylvania Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance. Nurses also monitor each child's weight.

Highmark Healthy High 5 grant

In 2011, North Allegheny School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Hosack Elementary School received $9,999.01 which was used to fund Hosack Elementary's Health and Physical Education Department. Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5-year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools.

School safety and bullying

The North Allegheny School District administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in Hosack Elementary School in 2012. Each year the school safety data is reported by the District to the Safe School Center which publishes the reports online.

The North Allegheny School Board has provided the district's anti-bully policy online. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the District must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.

In 2013, Highmark Foundation and the Pennsylvania Center for Safe Schools recognized Hosack Elementary School for demonstrating quality implementation of evidenced-based bullying prevention strategies. The school has implemented Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. The school was awarded a $1,250 prize.

Parent electronic portal

The District utilizes a Student Information System called Tyler SIS. The electronic Parent Portal is a web- based grade book and reporting system that provides parents access to student records related to their schedule and academic performance. The Parent Portal also provides parents with expanded capabilities, such as the opportunity to update demographic and contact information.