South Fayette Township School District

Governance

South Fayette Township School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serves without compensation for a term of four years), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low-income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates each public school district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills. The Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the School Board.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the South Fayette Township School Board and District Administration a "C-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.

Academic achievement

South Fayette Township School District was ranked 7th among Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2014 The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing, math and science. The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. South Fayette Township School District ranked 44th. In 2012, the district was 50th. The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."

In 2009 the 8th grade was ranked 6th out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on three years of student academic achievement in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science. (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County)

In 2011 and 2012, South Fayette Township School District achieved AYP status. In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance. South Fayette Township School District achieved AYP status each year from 2003 to 2010.

South Fayette Ranking Among Western Pennsylvania School Districts

Graduation rate

In 2012, South Fayette Township School District’s graduation rate was 89.5%. In 2011, the graduation rate was 88.5%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. South Fayette Township High School's rate was 85% for 2010.

Extracurriculars

The District offers a 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 Athletics Association (PIAA).

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.

Band

South Fayette High School has been home to the “Little Green Machine” Marching Band for over 60 years. Content is created entirely by the band's members; the graduating class assumes responsibility of choreography while the director arranges the music. Much of what the band practices today has been passed down through generations of South Fayette students and directors, including its three-part audition process and “rookie” spot rotation. Another key element of the Little Green Machine tradition requires all majorettes to successfully complete one full year as an instrumentalist in the band before auditioning to become a majorette. In addition to numerous performances at Pittsburgh Steelers games, the band has performed in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Walt Disney World “Magic Music Days” Parade and many other high visibility venues across the East Coast. In 1994, the band was profiled in a Fox Sports Profile. In 2010, it was awarded the County Executive's Award and deemed the best marching band in the county.

Clubs

Clubs/Activities in the Middle School include the student-run Newspaper, Student Council, National Junior Art Honor Society, the Spring Musical, Lion Hearts Club, Yearbook Staff, Media Club, Green Team, Drama Club, 5th/6th and 7th/8th Grade Chorus, 5th Grade and 6th Grade (separate) band and 7th/8th grade band, 7th/8th grade Jazz Ensemble, Spanish, German, and French Club, Friends of Rachel Club, MathCounts, and TSA.

Club/Activities in the High School include French Club, German Club, Spanish Club, Health Careers Club, Library Club, Teen Institute, Circle of Friends, Art Club, National Honor Society, Technology Student Association, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Student Government, Prom Committee, Science Club, Homecoming Committee, Ski Club, Student Newspaper, Powder Puff Team, Yearbook Staff, Forensic Science Club, Media Team, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), Band (Concert, Jazz, & Marching), Chorus (Concert & Show Choir), Drama Club, Spring Musical, Fall Drama Production, Stage Crew, Quiz Bowl Team, and Model United Nations.

Athletics

The following sports are offered to students in grades 9-12:

Fall Season: Varsity and Junior Varsity Football, Varsity and Junior Varsity Cross-Country, Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity Soccer, Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity Soccer, Varsity Golf, Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity Volleyball, Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity Tennis, Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleading

Winter Season: Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball, Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball, Boys/Girls Varsity Swimming, Varsity and Junior Varsity Wrestling, Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleading, Hockey, Track (Indoor)

Spring Season: Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity Baseball, Girls Varsity & Junior Varsity Softball, Boys Tennis, Varsity and Junior Varsity Track, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse

In February 2010, the Boys Basketball Team won the PIAA State Championship in State College, Pennsylvania.

In November 2010, 2013, and 2014 the Football team won the WPIAL championship

In December 2013 and 2014, the Football team won the PIAA State Championship in Hershey, Pennsylvania, for the third and Fourth in the history of the school. During the time of the championships the school was only 6 students short of being classified as a AAA school.

State Champions: Nick Carr - Wrestling 145 lbs. Nicole Hilton -Track and Field 3200 meters

WPIAL Champions: Girls 200 yard Freestyle Relay 2012, Boys 2013 Cross Country, Corey Long - Golf 2013, Stephen Zombek - 1m Diving 2013 & 2014, Girls Track and Field 2013 & 2014, Mike Carr - Wrestling 2014, 2015, & 2016, Rachel Helbling - Track and Field (400 Meter) 2015, Boys Soccer 2015, Girls Basketball 2016, Trevor Mahoney - 1m Diving 2016

Controversy

In April 2014, it was reported that Christian Stanfield, a sophomore at South Fayette High, was brought up on charges of disorderly conduct after he recorded several people bullying him. When he reported it to school officials, they forced him to delete the video and called police to report that Stanfield may have violated the state's wiretapping law; Pennsylvania law requires all parties to consent to being recorded. The police opted to charge him with disorderly conduct, a charge that was upheld by a judge. However, the charges were later dropped by the Allegheny County District Attorney.