Scranton High School (Pennsylvania)

History

Scranton High School opened its doors on the corner of Vine St and Washington Ave. The original building was renamed Scranton Central High School following the opening of Scranton Technical High School and the W.T. Smith Manual Training School. In 1990, Scranton Technical High School became Scranton High School. The following year Central closed, and its students were sent to the former Technical and West Scranton High School. In 1992/93, the Technical mascot of the Red Raiders was dropped, and the Knights became the team mascot. In 2001, a new high school building opened adjacent to Memorial Stadium, and the former Technical building became Northeast Scranton Intermediate School. Its principals have been: Alfred Karam (August 1991 – June 2002), Robert McTiernan (August 2002 – October 2006), Bryan McGraw (November 2006 – November 2009), Eric Schaeffer (December 2009 – May 2012), and John Coyle (July 2012 – present).

Building

Scranton High School is an example of modern architecture and it displays a very interesting design. Most of the classrooms are in one of three "wings" and the gyms and pool are on the opposite end of the building. The school was the recipient of a Golden Trowell Award for an educational building in 2002. The area is also recognized for its mentions in the hit TV show, "The Office".

Uniform Policy

Guidelines: All students must attend school each day in uniform. All tops must be either plain (NO LOGO) or embroidered and/or monogrammed with either "SSD" on left collar and/or "Scranton School District" on the left chest, as shown on uniform models on the school website. Embroidery color will be navy, white, or khaki. All uniform pieces will be in accordance with the models and styles available on the Scranton School District website or displayed at the high school. All uniform pieces must be appropriately sized for the student, that is, they must be no more than one regular size larger than the student actually measures. Extra wide, extra full, extra long, or baggy or sagged pants and shorts are not acceptable. No visible emblems, tags, or logos are allowed on uniform clothing except for the District monogramming/embroidery. All colors are solid, that is, without patterns, designs, checks, etc. Uniforms may be purchased at store/vendor of your choice, as long as they conform to this Uniform Policy. Non-uniform day fund-raising is limited to four (4) days per year and other days, as designated by the school administration. A long sleeve pullover spirit-wear top in school colors to be worn over the approved uniform may be acceptable upon the approval by the Superintendent of Schools. A full listing of the appropriate uniform attire is available at http://www.scrsd.org/Downloads/Doc245485152577.pdf.

Academics

The school is organized into the following academic units/departments:

Requirements for graduation include four years of the following: math, English, social studies, physical education; three years of science; two years of health, one year of driver safety, and four elective credits. In addition to regular course requirements, students are also required to complete a graduation project. This consists of an extensive paper on a subject of their choosing. The students must then present this project to members of the faculty. If this project is not completed, the student will not be allowed to graduate. Students must also pass the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSAs) in reading, writing, science, and mathematics in order to graduate. Students must perform at a level of at least proficient on the PSSAs to graduate.

AP

The school also offers advanced placement(AP) classes in the following classes:

Achievement

In 2011, Scranton High School has declined to Corrective Action I status due to chronic low student achievement. In 2010, Scranton High School declined to School Improvement level II - AYP status due to continuing low achievement of its pupils. In 2009, the school was in School Improvement level I - AYP status. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the administration to develop and submit for approval a School Improvement Plan focused on raising student academic achievement.

In 2008, a study was conducted of public schools in Lackawanna County and Luzerne County. It found that of the 10 public school districts in Lackawanna County, Scranton School District academic achievement ranked 7th in math and 9th in Reading. In 2004 the district was in School Improvement Level 1 AYP status. In 2005 the district was in School Improvement Level 1 AYP status. In 2006 and 2007, the district made AYP. In 2008 the district declined to Warning status.

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 22% of the Scranton School District's 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.

SAT Scores

From January to June 2011, 253 Scranton High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 452. The Math average score was 465. The Writing average score was 435. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state 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.

Dual Enrollment

A dual enrollment program has been offered to students that allows them to take advanced placement and honors classes that will be recognized as college credit from institutions such as Keystone College and Lackawanna College. The credit is contingent upon the student achieving at least an 88 average in the class. Dual enrollment is offered in the following courses:

Scholastic Competition

In the 2005-2006 school year, the school competed in both the Scholastic Bowl and the televised Scholastic Scrimmage, sponsored by the U.S. Army. Both competitions involved a team of five students competing against other schools from around the area. Scranton High place 4th out of 27 schools in the Scholastic Bowl, and won the initial Scholastic Scrimmage. This victory won the school four thousand dollars.

In the 2006-2007 school year, Scranton High School won both the Scholastic Bowl and the Scholastic Scrimmage.

In the 2007-2008 school year, Scranton High School placed second in the Scholastic Scrimmage. The victory won the school two thousand dollars.

Extracurriculars

Scranton School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies. Any student failing more than one (1) subject will not be allowed to participate in any extracurricular activity until proof of passing is approved by the principal.

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 home schooled, 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.

Clubs

Sports

The school's official mascot is a knight, and the school's sports teams are called Scranton Knights. The school colors come from a combination of the gold from the Scranton Central High School Golden Eagles and red from the Scranton Technical High School Red Raiders, the school's which proceeded Scranton High School. The school as stayed untrue to the Red from Technical and uses a maroon in place of its rightful color. The school actively participates in the following sports:

The school's varsity football team plays the West Scranton High School Invaders in the yearly "Bell Game," usually in early October. The winning team takes a large bell to remain at their school until the following meeting.

The school occasionally offers intramural sports and events such as volleyball tournaments.

Notable alumni

Partnerships With Universities

Scranton High School does not have articulation agreements with any universities. However, students of the school can take summer college courses in the nearby Keystone College or Johnson College for advanced placement classes that can also apply to their degree.

Partnerships With Vocational Schools

Scranton High School also allows students to take vo-tech classes at the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County.