Millville Area Junior Senior High School

Graduation rate

In 2016, Millville Area School District reported a 79.07% graduation rate.

Millville Area School District's graduation requirements have been defined in the Strategic Plan and school board policy.

Opportunity Scholarship low achievement

In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying Millville Area Junior Senior HIgh School as among the lowest achieving schools for reading and mathematics in the state. Five hundred fifty-two (552) public schools were on the list for 2016. The program empowers eligible students residing within the boundaries of a low-achieving school to apply for a scholarship to attend another public or nonpublic school.

The scholarships are limited to those students whose family's income is less than $60,000 annually, with another $12,000 allowed per dependent. Maximum scholarship award is $8,500, with special education students receiving up to $15,000 for a year's tuition. Parents pay any difference between the scholarship amount and the receiving school's tuition rate. Students may seek admission to neighboring public school districts. Each year the PDE publishes the tuition rate for each individual public school district. In Columbia County, Berwick Area High School was also on the low achievement list. There were 515 schools statewide on the ;lowest achievement list allowing students to attend other schools through scholarships

2016 School Performance Profile

SPP 68.3 points out of 100. Millville Area Junior Senior High School Keystone Exams mandated testing results were: 83% of students were on grade level in reading.literature and 80% of students demonstrated on grade level in Algebra I. In Biology I, 81% of pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the Biology course. The requirement that pupils pass the Keystone Exams in reading, algebra I and bIology I in order to graduate was postponed until 2019 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly because less than 60% of 12 grade pupils statewide would have been eligible for graduation from high school due to failing one or more Keystone Exams. Fifty-four percent of the 2,676 public schools in Pennsylvania achieved a passing score of 70 or better.

The PSSA mandated testing results were: just 42% of students in 8th grade were on grade level in reading, while 29% of students demonstrated on grade level in mathematics. In science, 45% of eighth grade pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding. In 7th grade, 56% of pupils were on grade level in reading, while only 34% demonstrated on grade level math skills.

2015 School Performance Profile

Millville Area High School achieved 62.3 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that just 53% of the High School’s students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 62% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, only 56% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course. Statewide, 53 percent of schools with an eleventh grade achieved an academic score of 70 or better. Five percent of the 2,033 schools with 11th grade were scored at 90 and above; 20 percent were scored between 80 and 89; 28 percent between 70 and 79; 25 percent between 60 and 69 and 22 percent below 60. The Keystone Exam results showed: 73 percent of students statewide scored at grade-level in English, 64 percent in Algebra I and 59 percent in biology.

2014 School Performance Profile

Millville Area Junior Senior High School achieved 75.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 79.8% were on grade level. In Algebra 1/Mathematics, 79.8% showed on grade level skills. In Biology/science, 74% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course. In writing, 75% of eighth graders demonstrated on grade level writing skills. Statewide, the percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in Algebra I increased to 39.7% to 40.1%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in reading/literature declined to 52.5%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in biology improved from 39.7% to 41.4%.

2013 School Performance Profile

Millville Area Junior Senior High School achieved 86.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature 81.76% of students were on grade level. In Algebra 1 81.86% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 76% showed on grade level science understanding. In 8th grade writing, 82% of students demonstrated on grade level skills.

AYP History

In 2012, Millville Area Junior Senior High School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to lagging achievement in both reading and mathematics. In 2011 and 2010 the High School achieved AYP status under the federal No Child Left Behind law. In 2009, Millville Junior Senior High School ranked 495th out of 666 Pennsylvania high schools for the reading and mathematics achievement of its students.

PSSA Results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. 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.

In 2009, Millville 11th graders ranked 17th out of 18 Central Pennsylvania High Schools, in the CSIU 16 region, for math achievement.

Science in Motion Millville Area Junior Senior High School took advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate. Susquehanna University provides the experiences to the District.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 20% of Millville Area Junior 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.

Dual enrollment

The High School offers a dual enrollment program. Students may participate in the ACE program at Bloomsburg University. 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 at their high school. Originally, the state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books. The grant was discontinued, in 2010-11 by Governor Rendell, due to state budget constraints. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. Juniors and just graduated seniors can attend the summer ACE program at Bloomsburg for discounted credits, as well. For the 2009-10 funding year, the Millville Area School District received a state grant of $2,112 for the program. Under state rules, students that reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school or are homeschooled are eligible to participate in this program.

In 2014, Millville Area School District offered several dual enrollment courses in conjunction with Pennsylvania College of Technology. Penn College NOW classes are taught by approved local high school teachers, at the high school.

In 2014, Millville Area School District offered several dual enrollment courses in conjunction with Pennsylvania College of Technology. Penn College NOW classes are taught by approved local high school teachers, at the high school. Penn College NOW is partially funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-270), through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, by the support of Pennsylvania companies through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and by Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Advanced Placement Curricula

Millville Area Area Junior Senior High School currently offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Calculus, English, and Biology. Students have the option of taking College Board approved AP courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. Millville area High school gives credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Millville Area High School less than 10 of the students, who took an AP course, earned a 3 or better on the exam. In 2014, the School offered 3 AP courses, with less than 10 pupils scoring a 3 or better on the AP exam.

In 2015, Millville Senior High School offered 3 AP Courses. None of the pupils who took the course earned a 3 or better on the AP exam.

At Millville Area Junior Senior High School they offered 3 AP Courses with just 46% of the students who took an AP course earning a 3 or better on the exam in 2016.

SAT scores

In 2015, 22 Millville Area Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 506. The Math average score was 482. The Writing average score was 467. The College Board also reported that statewide 96,826 pupils took the exams with average scores declining in all three measurers to: 495 in reading, 511 in math and 484 in writing.

In 2014, 25 Millville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 508. The Math average score was 476. The Writing average score was 472. Statewide in Pennsylvania, Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 480. The College Board also reported that nationwide scores were: 497 in reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing.

In 2013, 21 Millville Area Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 454.29. The Math average score was 474.29. The Writing average score was 441.90. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.

In 2012, 34 Millville Area Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 485. The Math average score was 491. The Writing average score was 468. 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, 34 Millville Area Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 500. The Math average score was 479. The Writing average score was 453. 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.

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a research arm of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, compared the SAT data of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania to students in urban areas. From 2003 to 2005, the average total SAT score for students in rural Pennsylvania was 992, while urban students averaged 1,006. During the same period, 28 percent of 11th and 12th graders in rural school districts took the exam, compared to 32 percent of urban students in the same grades. The average math and verbal scores were 495 and 497, respectively, for rural students, while urban test-takers averaged 499 and 507, respectively. Pennsylvania’s SAT composite score ranked low on the national scale in 2004. The composite SAT score of 1,003 left Pennsylvania ranking 44 out of the 50 states and Washington, DC.

Graduation requirements

The Millville Area School Board has determine that a student must earn 24 credits to graduate, including: English 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Math 3 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, Computer Courses 1 credit, Health/Physical Education 1.7 credits, Personal Finance 0.5 credits, Fine Arts 0.5 credits, Fit For Life 0.5 credits and 4.8 credits of electives.

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. At Millville Area School District, the graduation project focuses on career exploration. Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania 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 2019, 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 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 have several opportunities to pass the exam. Schools are mandated to provide targeted assistance to help the student be successful. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate. 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. School district superintendents have the discretion to graduate up to 10% of pupils who do not pass the exams or project.

ACE

Millville Area High School students have access to Bloomsburg University's Summer College and Advanced College Experience (ACE) during the summer of their sophomore, junior and senior years (after high school graduation). Tuition is deeply discounted to 75% of the regular student rate. Successful students earn college credits that can be transferred to other Pennsylvania public colleges and universities through the Pennsylvania TRAC system.

Junior high school

The PDE reported that 57% of 8th grade students at Millville Area Middle School students were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In math/Algebra 1, just 32% of 8th grade students showed on grade level skills. In science, 55% of the school’s 8th graders demonstrated on grade level science understanding. No eighth grade writing scores were reported. In 7th grade, only 38% were on grade level in reading, while 66% showed on grade level math skills. Statewide 58% of eighth (8th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 29% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Pennsylvania 7th graders were 58% on grade level in reading and 33% demonstrated on grade level math skills.

Sixth and seventh graders are tested using reading and mathematics PSSAs since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999. Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.

Wellness policy

Millville Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246. 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 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, districts are 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 District offers a free school breakfast and free or reduced-price lunch to children in 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 (USDA).

In 2013, the 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. The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that Districts raise their full pay lunch prices every year until the price of non-subsidized lunches equals the amount the federal government reimburses schools for free meals. That subsidy in 2013-2014 was $2.93. In 2015, federal reimbursement rates were: $3.07 per meal for students who are income-eligible for free lunches and $2.67 for those who qualify for a reduced price. School lunch participation nationally dropped from 31.6 million students in 2012 to 30.4 million in 2014, according to the federal Department of Agriculture. Pennsylvania statistics show school lunch participation dropped by 86,950 students in the same two years, from 1,127,444 in 2012 to 1,040,494 in 2014.

In 2014, President Barack Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.

Millville Junior Senior HIgh School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. A nurse is available in the building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state 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.

In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Health made available to each Pennsylvania high school the overdose antidote drug naloxone in a nasal spray. School nurses were also provided with educational materials and training developed by the National Association of School Nurses. The cost was covered by a grant from a private foundation.

Highmark Healthy High 5 grant

In 2011, the Millville Area School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Millville Area Junior Senior High School received $8,300 which was used to purchase equipment for Fit for Life, a required semester long course for all ninth-grade students. 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 Millville Area School District administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the Junior Senior High School in 2012. Additionally, there was an incident of harassment and no sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in three incidents at the school with one arrest. Each year the school safety data is reported by the District's Administration to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online.

The Millville Area School Board has not provided the District's antibully 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 they must 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 anti harassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.

Safe School grant

In 2013, Millville Area School District did not apply for a state Safe Schools Targeted Grant. The maximum of $25,000 grants were awarded through a competitive application process. The funds must be used for research based interventions, like: peer mediation, staff training in managing behavioral issues and creating a positive school climate. In Columbia County, Berwick Area School District received a $38,000 grant.

Tuition

Students who live in the District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Millville Area Junior Senior High School. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each public school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the District's schools. The 2012 tuition rate was $11,309.92 for the Millville Area Junior Senior High School.

The 2015 tuition rate was $10,616 for the Millville Area Junior Senior High School.

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state 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) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. The Millville Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, Millville Area Junior Senior High School received $107,274. The High School received another $45,413 in 2008-09. Among the public school districts in Columbia County the highest award was given to Berwick Area School District which received $403,446. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.

Extracurriculars

The Millville Area School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports programs. Junior varsity and varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and the regional Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference. The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region. The Millville Area School Board determines eligibility policies to participate in these programs. According to Pennsylvania’s Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching. For 2013-14, Millville Area School District budgeted spending $263,121 on student activities, not including facilities costs or transportation.

By Pennsylvania law, all Kindergarten through 12th grade 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 District's extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the District's schools.

According to PA Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Act 126 of 2014, all volunteer coaches and all those who assist in student activities, must have criminal background checks. Like all school district employees, they must also attend an anti child abuse training once every three years.

Sports

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.

Article XVI-C of the Public School Code requires the disclosure of interscholastic athletic opportunities for all public secondary school entities in Pennsylvania. All school entities with grades 7-12 are required to annually collect data concerning team and financial information for all male and female athletes beginning with the 2012-13 school year and submit the information to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, all non-school (booster club and alumni) contributions and purchases must also be reported to PDE.

The District funds:

According to PIAA directory July 2014