Northern Lebanon High School

Graduation rate

In 2012, the graduation rate at Northern Lebanon School District was 87%. In 2011, the graduation rate was 84%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Northern Lebanon School District's rate was 84% for 2010.

Academic Achievement

In 2012, Northern Lebanon High School declined to School Improvement Level I AYP status due to chronic, low achievement in reading and mathematics. In both 2011 and 2010, Northern Lebanon Senior High School was in Warning' status due to the chronic, low academic achievement of its students. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer the parent the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the District. Additionally, the High School's Administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students. Northern Lebanon High School is eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants which the school must apply for each year. In 2010, Northern Lebanon High School is in Warning' status due to the students' chronic low achievement.

11th Grade Reading

11th Grade Math

11th Grade Science

2009 - 43%, State - 40% 2008 - 33%, State - 39%

Science in Motion Northern Lebanon High School did not take 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. Elizabethtown College provided the experiences to the region.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 42% of Northern Lebanon 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.

Graduation requirements

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. For the project a journal must be maintained and a prepare a visual of their project such as a poster or booklet with photos, or videotape. Students may also create their own project idea and use a sponsor not listed in the booklet. (Subject to approval) Students involved in clubs or organizations at school as well as outside of school may fulfill their requirements through that participation. Students may work individually or in groups. 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 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. 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.

Dual enrollment

The Northern Lebanon 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, including the graduation ceremony. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs 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. The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system. The grants were discontinued by Governor Rendell in his final budget.

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $9,701 for the program.

V3 Academy

The district provides an online learning program for students grades 7-12. A wide variety of courses are offered. This free, virtual school is an alternative to the traditional brick and motor setting. Content is delivered by highly qualified PA Certified teachers using high end technology. Students achieve the same objectives as a traditional school. The V3 Academy provides the student a flexibility in determining the hours that they attend school. The V3 also allows students to spend more time in areas of need and less time in areas they have already mastered. Students are required to attend 180 days of school. For each school day, students spend a minimum of 1 hour per day, per subject. In accordance with Pennsylvania law, all students in grades 7-12 must attend school a minimum of 990 hours in a given school year. Students in V3 academy receive an increased amount of one-to-one attention. The program is open to residents of the Northern Lebanon School District and members of the partnering districts.

SAT scores

In 2012, 94 Northern Lebanon High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 496. The Writing average score was 487. 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, 97 Northern Lebanon High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 504. The Math average score was 500. The Writing average score was 476. 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.

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 2006-2009. Northern Lebanon School District was denied funding in 2006-07 by the PDE. In 2007-08, the District received $300,972 in funding. In 2008-09, Northern Lebanon School District received $54,647 for a total funding of $355,619. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards

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 Northern Lebanon School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each 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 rates for Northern Lebanon High School were $9,938.04.

Extracurriculars

Northern Lebanon High School students have access to a variety of clubs, an honor society, multiple activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by the school board policy.

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

The District funds:

Northern Lebanon Alma Mater

Verse 1

Built along a busy highway

Is the school we all hold dear;

Place which taught us well life's lessons

Not to falter, not to fear.

Chorus

We are proud of Northern Lebanon

And our life's one aim will be

To hold high the Viking banner

Keeping faith and trust in Thee.

Verse 2

We will always give allegiance

To the colors blue and gold

And look forward to the future

Unafraid, steadfast, and bold.

Notable alumni