North Allegheny Senior High School

Statewide School Rankings

2015- 11th of 587

2015- 19th of 681

Western PA School Ranking

North Allegheny Senior High School's eleventh grade ranked 3rd out of 104 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2013 and 2012. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs in: mathematics, 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).

Graduation rate

In 2013, the graduation rate at North Allegheny Senior High School was 98.9%. In 2012, the graduation rate at North Allegheny School District was 97%. In 2011, North Allegheny School District's graduation rate was 99%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. North Allegheny School District's rate was 98% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

Academics

North Allegheny Senior High School achieved 94.1 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 95% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 90% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 69% showed on grade level science understanding. 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. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, they now take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.

PSSAs 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.

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The North Allegheny School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 21 credits to graduate, including: math 3 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, health 0.5 credits, Arts and Humanities 2 credits and electives 3 credits.

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 2013, North Allegheny School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 571. The Math average score was 588. The Writing average score was 568. 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, 572 North Allegheny School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 566. The Math average score was 582. The Writing average score was 557. 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, 567 students at North Allegheny School District took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 563. The Math average score was 577. The Writing average score was 554. 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.

AP Courses

In 2013, North Allegheny Senior High School offered 18 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. Students have the option of taking College Board approved 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. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At North Allegheny Senior High School 100% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam. As of April 2007, North Allegheny Senior High School offered 14 AP courses.

US News and World Report national ranking

In 2013, US News and World Report ranked 21,000 public high schools, in the United States, based on three factors. First, the schools were analyzed for the number of students who achieved above the state average on the reading and math tests in 2008. Then they considered how the economically disadvantaged students performed against the state average. Finally, they considered the participation rate and the performance of students in college readiness by examining Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate test data. Seventy Pennsylvania high schools achieved ranking bronze, silver or gold rating. In 2013, North Allegheny Senior High School achieved a rank of 605th out of 21,035 United States high schools. North Allegheny Senior High School was rated silver and was 12th among 168 Pennsylvania high schools which achieved listing status. In 2008, fifty three Pennsylvania high schools achieved bronze. North Allegheny Senior High School achieved Silver ranking in 2009.

School safety and bullying

The North Allegheny School District administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the school in 2012. There were three incidents involving the local police. Each year the school safety data is reported by the District to the Pennsylvania Safe School Center which publishes the reports online.

The North Allegheny School Board has 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 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.

Wellness policy

North Allegheny School Board established a district-wide wellness policy 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 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 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 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.

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.

North Allegheny Senior High School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in each 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.

Parent electronic portal

North Allegheny School 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, attendance and academic performance. The Parent Portal also provides parents with expanded capabilities, such as the opportunity to update demographic and contact information.

Extracurriculars

The District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Beginning in fall 2012, students pay a participation fee: Interscholastic Athletics - $75 per season per athlete with a student and/or family cap of $225. Marching Band - $50 per year per Marching Band participant with a family cap of $150. Other - $25 per activity per participant with a student and/or family cap of $75 (e.g., intramurals, club sports, select ensembles, and select competition groups).

North Allegheny Senior High School won the MSA Cup, a local scholastic trophy similar to the Director's Cup, every year the honor has been awarded. It is also home to AFJROTC unit PA-022.

In December 2010 and 2012 the football team won PIAA and WPIAL Class AAAA football state titles, claiming the state in two out of three years.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.

Athletics

According to PIAA directory July 2013

Newman Stadium & Baierl Center

NASH also is a hub for North Allegheny Athletics. It is located right next to Carl A. Newman Stadium, which houses numerous sports, with football being one of its attractions, as the North Allegheny Varsity Football team plays all home games there during their fall sports season. Newman Stadium was named after Carl A. Newman, a former North Allegheny superintendent and the main contributor to the stadium.

Next to Newman Stadium is the Baierl Center, which is a fitness center for North Allegheny Athletics and also has two gyms for cheerleading and practice squads, with one large track on the upper level which is left for baseball, softball, and the rowing team. The Baierl Center includes a weight room, an activity room, an exercise center, and a track. It is open free of charge to North Allegheny Athletics and also is available to district residents for a membership fee. The center is a 48,000-square-foot (4,500 m²) building that was available for public use since 2002 and expanded in 2004, opening a room solely for indoor biking.

Notable alumni