Selinsgrove Area High School

Selinsgrove Area High School

Selinsgrove Area High School logo
Enabling life-long learning.
Address
500 Broad St.
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, 17870
United States
Information
Type Public high school
Established 1932
School district Selinsgrove Area School District
Principal Lorinda Krause
Faculty 58.50 (on FTE basis)[1]
Grades 9th–12th
Enrollment

789 students (2015)[2]

849 students (2013), 928 (as of 2009–10)[1]
Student to teacher ratio 15.86[1]
Color(s)           Red & Blue
Nickname Seals
Newspaper Insider
Yearbook Cynosure
Website seal-pa.org/sahs/

Selinsgrove Area High School is a public school located in Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pennsylvania. It is a part of the Selinsgrove Area School District. The school's enrollment has declined from over 1,200 students in 2002 to 849 students in 2013. In 2015, the School enrollment declined further to 789 students. It provides grades nine through twelve. In 2013, 31% of its students qualified for a free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school is not a federally designated Title I school. Selinsgrove Area High School employed 58.5 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 15:1.[3] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[4] The school serves an rural-suburban community of 22,259 residents according to the US Census 2013.

AYP history

Graduation rate

In 2015, the District’s graduation rate was 86.14%.[6]

Former AYP graduation rate

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.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14]

Curriculum

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.[15] The High School worked with Susquehanna University to provide the experiences.

Academic achievement

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.[16] 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.[17][18]

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.[19] 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.[20]

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.[21]

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.[22] 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.[23]

Reading (11th graders on grade level)
Math (11th graders on grade level)

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.[33] In 2006, Selinsgrove Area High School was ranked 313 out of 607 Pennsylvania high schools based on PSSA scores combined.[34]

Writing (percent proficient or better)
Science (on grade level)

SAT scores

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.[38]
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.[39] 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.[40] 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.[41]

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.[42] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[43] 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.[44] Students may attend Susquehanna University tuition free, Bloomsburg University at a 75% discount and Central Pennsylvania College at a 75% discount.[45] 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.[46]

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.[47] 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 sports. Eligibility to participate is determined by school board policy.[48][49] The district permits club sports on a limited basis.[50]

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.[51] They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.[52][53]

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.[54]

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

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.

The District funds:

Boys
Girls
  • Basketball - AAA
  • Bowling - AAAA
  • Cross Country - AA
  • Field Hockey - AA
  • Golf - AAA
  • Soccer (Fall) - AA
  • Softball - AAA
  • Girls' Tennis - AAA
  • Track and Field - AA

According to PIAA directory July 2013 [55]

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Selinsgrove Area HS". Nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  2. ↑ PDE, Selinsgrove Area High School School Fast Facts, 2015
  3. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core Data - Selinsgrove Area High School, 2010
  4. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Selinsgrove Area High School 2012, September 21, 2012
  5. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "2011-2012 PSSA and AYP Results".
  6. ↑ PDE, Graduation rate by LEA, 2015
  7. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile Other academic indicators - Selinsgrove Area High School, 2013
  8. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Eduacation, Selinsgrove Area High School AYP Data Table 2012, September 21, 2012
  9. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "SELINSGROVE AREA SD - District AYP Data Table".
  10. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
  11. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Selinsgrove Area School District Report Card 2009 data".
  12. ↑ Selinsgrove Area School Board (May 18, 2009). "Graduation Requirements Policy 217" (PDF).
  13. ↑ Selinsgrove Area High School Student Handbook 2009, Selinsgrove Area High School Administration, 2009
  14. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview".
  15. ↑ The Pennsylvania Basic Education/Higher Education Science and Technology Partnership, Science in Motion annual report, 2012
  16. ↑ Pennsylvania Departemtn of Education (November 4, 2015). "Selinsgrove Area High School School Performance Profile 2015".
  17. ↑ Jan Murphy (November 4, 2015). "Report card for state's high schools show overall decline". Pennlive.com.
  18. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (November 4, 2015). "2015 Keystone Exam School Level Data".
  19. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (November 6, 2014). "Selinsgrove Area High School Academic Performance Data 2014".
  20. ↑ Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq, Acting Secretary of Education Announces Results of 2013–14 School Performance Profile; Strong Performance in 72 Percent of Schools, November 6, 2014
  21. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "High School Academic Performance Data 2013".
  22. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "State Academic Standards".
  23. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "State Assessment System".
  24. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Selinsgrove Area High School Academic achievement report card 2012," (PDF).
  25. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 28, 2011). "PSSA 2011 Results".
  26. ↑ PDE, 11th Grade Reading 2010 Central Pennsylvania Ranking, 2010
  27. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "Selinsgrove Area High School Report Card 2007".
  28. 1 2 Pennsylvania Department of Education (2006). "Selinsgrove Area High School Report Card 2006".
  29. ↑ "11th Grade Math 2010 Central Pennsylvania IU16 Region Ranking". 2010.
  30. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Selinsgrove Area High School Report Card 2010".
  31. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Selinsgrove Area High School Report Card 2009".
  32. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Selinsgrove Area High School Report Card 2008".
  33. ↑ Valley schools all over the chart, Daily Item June 6, 2007 http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_163000144.html
  34. ↑ High school rankings by Schooldigger.com
  35. ↑ "Pennsylvania Writing Scores by District 2009". 2009.
  36. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results Science".
  37. ↑ "11th Grade Science Central Pennsylvania High Schools Ranking 2010". 2010.
  38. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011".
  39. ↑ http://www.pdenewsroom.state.pa.us/newsroom/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=148018 Thousands of Pennsylvania high school graduates head to college unprepared.
  40. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics
  41. ↑ Moore, Marcia, Board cuts 17 teachers, The Daily Item, February 22, 2012
  42. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2010-2011 Pennsylvania Department of Education - Dual Enrollment Guidelines.".
  43. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (March 2010). "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement".
  44. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. (April 29, 2010). "Report: PA College Credit Transfer System Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Accessible".
  45. ↑ Central Pennsylvania College (February 2008). "College in High School Selinsgrove High School Dual Enrollment Agreement".
  46. ↑ School Safety Annual Report 2005-2006 to Pennsylvania Department of Education.
  47. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 22, 2008). "Classrooms for the Future grants audit" (PDF).
  48. ↑ Selinsgrove Area School Board (June 2, 2008). "Extracurriculars Policy 122".
  49. ↑ Selinsgrove Area School Board (June 2, 2008). "Interscholastic Athletics Policy 123".
  50. ↑ Club Sports (August 18, 2008). "http://www.seal-pa.org/board/Policies/122.3%20CLUB%20SPORTS.pdf". External link in |title= (help)
  51. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities,".
  52. ↑ Selinsgrove Area School Board (August 21, 2006). "EXTRACURRICULAR PARTICIPATION BY HOME EDUCATION STUDENTS Policy 137.1".
  53. ↑ Selinsgrove Area School Board (August 21, 2006). "EXTRACURRICULAR PARTICIPATION BY CHARTER OR CYBER CHARTER STUDENTS Policy 140.1".
  54. ↑ Selinsgrove Area School Board (September 19, 2005). "CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WITHIN A CURRICULAR PROGRAM Policy 122".
  55. ↑ Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association (2013). "PIAA School Directory".

External links

Coordinates: 40°48′19″N 76°52′07″W / 40.8054°N 76.8686°W / 40.8054; -76.8686

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