Selinsgrove Area High School

AYP history

Graduation rate

In 2015, the District’s graduation rate was 86.14%.

Graduation requirements

Graduation requirements are set by the school board in policy and are enumerated in the district's strategic plan. In 2009 the School Board determined that students must earn 28 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, Math 3 credits, Science 3 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, Health and physical education 2 credits, Graduation project 0.5 credit, Technology 1 credit, Personal Finance .33 credit, Career Awareness 0.66 credit and Electives credits.

Also essential to graduation is the Pennsylvania state-mandated "Graduation Project." This four-year project often takes on many forms, including entrepreneurship and community service. It is paired with a final paper and presentation to a faculty panel. The panel then decides whether the project is below average, average, or commendable. Students must achieve at least an "average" score on all parts of the project in order to graduate.

Seniors and Juniors may earn physical education credits, for graduation, in three ways: scheduling physical education classes in the regular schedule, taking Phys. Ed. by contract, and/or earning a Phys. Ed. by participating in a school sponsored sport. These alternatives are managed by the guidance office. Contract Phys. Ed. students are required to complete a one page written report and complete 30 hours of a physical activity. In order for students to take Phys. Ed. by contract or sport participation he or she must meet requirements and prerequisites by the high school principal.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.

Course offerings

More than 60 courses are offered at Selinsgrove Area High School, including the traditional liberal arts offerings (English, Science, Mathematics, History, Geography, Business) as well as more practical applications, such as Agricultural Science, Family and Consumer Science and Technology. Selinsgrove High has a Music Department which is home to the Selinsgrove Area High School Marching Band and two choruses. Advance Placement courses are offered in several subjects. Students in Calculus, Statistics, and European History have regularly scored 5's on the exam.

The English and Mathematics curricula are currently under revision to align it with the 1999 Pennsylvania Academic Standards. These standards are assessed in the eighth and eleventh grades under the guise of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. These tests last several days and cover Reading, Writing, Speaking, Mathematics and Science. Additionally, the school has sought accreditation through the Middle States organization.

Science in Motion Selinsgrove Area 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. The High School worked with Susquehanna University to provide the experiences.

2016 School Performance Profile

Selinsgrove Area High School Keystone Exams mandated testing results were: 74.7% of students were on grade level in reading/literature and 83% of students demonstrated on grade level in Algebra I. In Biology I 75.9% of pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the Biology 1 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.

2015 School Performance Profile

Selinsgrove Area High School School Performance Profile declined to 71.5 out of 100. The PDE reported that 72.6% of Selinsgrove Area High School students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 73% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 69% 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

Selinsgrove Area High School achieved 76.2 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 75.9% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 72% showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology, only 54% showed on grade level science understanding at the end of the course. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,134 of 2,947 Pennsylvania public schools (72 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.

2013 School Performance Profile

Selinsgrove Area High School achieved 81 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 79% of pupils were on grade level. In Algebra 1 75% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, just 49% showed on grade level science understanding.

PSSA scores

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. 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 2005, SAHS ranked 306th out of 601 PA high schools for test scores on PSSAs. In 2007, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the district 235th out of 499 Pennsylvania school districts based on three years of Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment test scores. In 2006, Selinsgrove Area High School was ranked 313 out of 607 Pennsylvania high schools based on PSSA scores combined.

SAT scores

In 2015, 136 Selinsgrove Area High School students took the SAT exams. Their Verbal Average Score was 506. The Math average score was 509. The Writing average score was 479. 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, 139 Selinsgrove Area High School SAT Verbal Average Score was 508. The Math average score was 508. The Writing average score was 487.

In 2013, 158 Selinsgrove Area High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 492. The Math average score was 505. The Writing average score was 480. 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.

2012: 148 students Verbal 483, Math 490, Writing 459 State - Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480.
2011: 152 students Verbal 512, Math 521, Writing 496 State - Verbal 493, Math 501, Writing 479.
2009: 136 students Verbal 484, Math 502, Writing 471 State - Verbal 501, Math 515, Writing 493
2008: 141 students Verbal 500, Math 500, State - Verbal 494, Math 501
2007: 143 students Verbal 498, Math 506, State - Verbal 473, Math 506
2006: 139 students Verbal 514, Math 508, State - Verbal 493, Math 500
2005: 141 students Verbal 518, Math 521, State - Verbal 501, Math 503
2004: 124 students Verbal 493, Math 490, State - Verbal 501, Math 502
2003: 124 students Verbal 490, Math 503, State - Verbal 500, Math 502
2002: 136 students Verbal 495, Math 500, State - Verbal 498, Math 500
2001: 120 students Verbal 531, Math 520, State - Verbal 500, Math 499

College remediation rate

In January 2009, research was presented to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. The research examined course enrollment trends at the state’s 14 community colleges and the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The data, provided by PASSHE and the community colleges, showed that during the 2007-08 school year 24.7% of Selinsgrove Area High School graduates required costly remediation in math and/or reading before they could take regular college courses. This was the second highest remediation rate among the IU16 region's high schools. 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.

Scheduling

In February 2012, the school board unanimously voted to change the high school's schedule to make better use of the faculty's time. The new plan includes a universal preparation period at the beginning of each school day followed by four classes. Two day a week a remediation time is aded to the end of the school day by shortening each class by 7 minutes.

Selinsgrove uses block scheduling. This method of scheduling divides the day into four blocks, all of which are approximately 90 minutes in length. Full-credit classes meet once per day for an entire semester. Half-credit classes meet every other day for a semester. A total of 27 credits are required to graduate for the class of 2010, and 28 for the class of 2011 and every class after.

In addition to the traditional bricks-and-mortar format, the school offers alternative education, dual enrollment, technology and job skills training at SUN Area Technical Institute and a program called "Seals Den".

Dual enrollment

Selinsgrove Area High School offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state funded 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. 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. Students may attend Susquehanna University tuition free, Bloomsburg University at a 75% discount and Central Pennsylvania College at a 75% discount. For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,384 for its Dual Enrollment program.

Safety

In the 2005-2006 School Violence Report to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Selinsgrove Area School District reported 38 incidents including: 8 assaults on students, 7 arrests, 3 ethnic/race intimidation incidents, 8 fights, 1 indecent assault, and 2 incidents involving weapons on school grounds.

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 Selinsgrove Area School District was denied funding in 2006-07 In 2007-08, the High School received $290,116. Selinsgrove Area High School received an additional $52,524 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $342,640. Among the public school districts in Snyder County the highest award was given to Midd-West School District which received $420,699. 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.

Student activities

The Selinsgrove Area School District offers a wide variety of activities, clubs and an extensive sports. Eligibility to participate is determined by school board policy. The district permits club sports on a limited basis. The PIAA mandates that student athletes must be passing at least four full-credit subjects to participate in sports.

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.

Clubs and organizations

Selinsgrove's student life programs number in the twenties and include both national and local programs such as French Club, Technology Student Association, Forensics (of the National Forensic League), Chess club, FFA, Student Government, German Club, Key Club, SADD Club, Spanish Club, and Web Heads. Students from the school have been notably successful in participating in Pennsylvania History Day and the Pennsylvania Mock Trial Competition.

Theater

Students can also elect to participate on-stage in Selinsgrove's fall play and spring musical. Notable productions in recent years include "The Little Shop of Horrors", "Annie Get Your Gun", Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Footloose", "The Man That Came To Dinner", "Jekyll and Hyde", and "Copacabana".

Music and performance

The school's music program offers both band instrumental and voice training under a co-curricular policy. Co-curricular applies to those programs that are sponsored or approved by the Board and are conducted both during the regular school day as part of the approved curriculum and partly after the regular school day through approved performances and demonstrations.

Band

The Selinsgrove Area High School Marching Band supports the community by playing at local events like the annual Memorial Day ceremony and the Market Street Festival. Selinsgrove's band also performs each week at the school's football games; they perform in concert form at least once per semester. The band has played at Canadian football games and marched in several Disney World holiday parades.

Chorus

The Honors Chorus has performed at Carnegie Hall and at the dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC as the representative of Pennsylvania. The 2005-2006 chorus premiered Matthew Harris' piece, "Oceanic Eyes" and the 2009-2010 choir performed "Magnificat" by John Rutter, under the direction of choral director Mrs. Katherine A. Bartol.

Sports

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid. The sports programs are through the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region.

Since 2000, the District has spent millions to add to its high school sports facilities. In a $2.5 project, the high school stadium received a major renovation including the addition of plastic grass and a new track. A soccer field and field hockey field were developed in the lawn areas in the front of the high school building. A small portion of the development was paid for by team booster clubs. A new gymnasium was built as a part of the adjacent elementary school, to provide space for additional basketball programs. Students pay a small - $35 per student activity fee which allows participation in all sports programs and free admission to District sports events.

In 2008, Selinsgrove School Board added its first club sport - Lacrosse for both boys and girls, stipulating the teams would not receive taxpayer funded support. They are permitted to use the School's name in order to participate in PIAA events.

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:

According to PIAA directory July 2013

Alma mater

Selinsgrove's Alma Mater was written by Harold W. Follmer, Jr., Class of 1942.

Faculty

The students are served by approximately 70 unionized faculty. The majority are considered highly qualified under the No Child Left Behind Act. There are also a variety of classified staff who provide classroom support, clerical services, grounds and building services and food services. The current teachers' union contract is in effect from July 2005 until July 2010. Which expired over 5 years ago.

Building

The current high school building was built in the 1930s through funding from "The New Deal". The building was designed by Lawrie and Green architects of Harrisburg, PA. It is a concrete with steel framing construction, masonry walls and has a red brick exterior.

A two story addition was added to the rear of the building that provides a sizable Media Center, several technology labs, a four office Guidance suite, as well as, science and social studies classrooms. There is a cafeteria, a gymnasium with locker rooms, weight lifting rooms and secondary gym space. Parking is available on all four sides of the building. The Harold L. Bolig Memorial football field and Simon R. Rhoads Memorial Track are located behind the high school building.