North Penn Liberty High School

Graduation rate

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. Southern Tioga School Board has established 25.5 credits graduation requirements as: English - 4.5 credits; Math - 4 credits; Science - 3 or 4 credits; social studies 3 or 4 credits; Physical Education 2 credits, Health 0.5 credits, Community service 80 hours earns 1 credit, World Language 1 credit and electives 5.5 credits. Students must select 4 credits in either science or social studies to meet the graduation requirement.

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. The focus on the project is career exploration. 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 2018, 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.

2015 School Performance Profile

North Penn - Liberty High School achieved 46.3 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement.The PDE reported that 35% of the High School’s students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 41.6% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 27.7% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.

The PDE reported that 43% of 8th grade students at North Penn - Liberty High School were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In math/Algebra 1, 21% of 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level math skills. In science, 57% of the school’s 8th graders demonstrated on grade level science understanding. No eighth grade writing scores were reported. In 7th grade, 25% were on grade level in reading, while 22% showed on grade level math skills.

2014 School Performance Profile

North Penn-Liberty High School achieved 72.6 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 69.5% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 72% demonstrated ed on grade level algebra skills. In Biology, 70.7% showed on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.

2013 School Performance Profile

Liberty Junior Senior High School achieved 66.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 66% were on grade level. In Math/Algebra 1, 57.76% showed on grade level skills. In Science/Biology, just 53.95% showed on grade level science understanding. In 8th grade writing 78% of pupils showed on grade level skills.

AYP status

In 2012, Liberty Junior Senior High School remained in Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to a low graduation rate. In 2011, Liberty Junior Senior High School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement.

PSSA Results

SAT scores

In 2014, 20 Liberty Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The School's Verbal Average Score was 456. The Math average score was 462. The Writing average score was 471.

In 2013, Liberty Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 471. The Math average score was 472. The Writing average score was 464. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing.

In 2012, 20 Liberty Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 489. The Math average score was 480. The Writing average score was 426.

In 2011, Liberty Junior Senior High students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 500. The Math average score was 494. The Writing average score was 459. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.

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.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that 71 percent of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania chose to continue their education after high school in 2003, whereas 79 percent of urban high school graduates opted to continue their education.

AP Courses

In 2013, Liberty Junior Senior High School offered 3 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. At Liberty Junior Senior High School less than 10 of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam. In 2015, Liberty Junior Senior High School provided 3 Advanced Placement courses, however none of the pupils who took the course achieved a 3 or better on the exam given at the end of the course, by the College Board.

College Remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 14% of Southern Tioga School District 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. 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. 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 $5,415 for the program.

In 2014, Southern Tioga 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.

Dropout Early Warning System

In 2013, Southern Tioga School District did not implement a no local cost dropout prevention Early Warning System and Interventions Catalog at the either of its junior senior high schools. The process identifies students at risk for dropping out by examining the pupil’s: attendance, behavior and course grades. Interventions are implemented to assist at-risk pupils to remain in school. The program is funded by federal and private dollars.

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 funded mandatory teacher training to optimize the instructional use of the computers. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Southern Tioga School District was denied funding by the PDE, in 2006-07. In 2007-08, Southern Tioga School District received $378,106 and in 2008-09 $136,238 for a total of $514,344. Liberty Junior Senior High shared in this funding.

Project 720

Project 720 was a high school reform program implemented for three years under the Rendell administration. The intent was to increase academic rigor and improve the instruction of teachers in the Commonwealth’s high schools. Teachers were expected to use data driven instructional practices and to meet the needs of diverse learners. The 720 in the name referred to the number of days a student was in high school in ninth through 12th grades. High schools applied for funding and were required to agree to report to the PDE their plans, their actions and the outcomes. In 2007-08 budget year, the Commonwealth provided $11 million in funding. Southern Tioga School District was one of 161 PA public school districts to apply, receiving $300,000 funding over three years. For 2010-11, Project 720 funding was decreased to $1.7 million by Governor Rendell. The grant program was discontinued effective with the 2011-12 state budget. Liberty Junior Senior High School shared in these grant dollars.

School safety and bullying

The North Penn- Liberty High School administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the District in 2014. Additionally, there were multiple assaults on students and no sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in three incidents at the schools, with no arrests. Each year the school safety data is reported by the district to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.

Southern Tioga 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 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. According to the Center for Disease Control’s biannual national study of high school students in 2009, five percent of Pennsylvania students did not go to school for at least one day because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to or from school. The District has used the Olweus program to address bullying issues.

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.

Southern Tioga School District has not applied for the state's School safety program grants nor the Resource officer grants. The funds must be used for research based interventions, like: peer mediation, staff training in managing behavioral issues and creating a positive school climate.

Wellness policy

Southern Tioga School Board established a district wellness policy in 2009. 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 both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families to students enrolled in North Penn - Liberty HIgh School. 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. 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 2014, President Barack Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.

The US Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.

Southern Tioga School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. A nurse is available at North Penn - Liberty High School 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.

Extracurriculars

Southern Tioga School District offers an extensive program of after school clubs, arts programs and a three times duplicated interscholastic athletics program. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policy. The District is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website. 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.

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.

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. 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.

The District funds athletics at both of its high schools.