Burrell High School

Burrell High School is a public high school located at 1021 Puckety Church Road, Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania. Part of the Burrell School District, the building houses grades 9 through 12. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 627 pupils, with 145 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. Burrell High School employed 39 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1.[1] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[2] A notable alumnus is United States congressman Jason Altmire.

Local ranking

Burrell High School was ranked 46th out of 122 western Pennsylvania high schools, in 2012, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs on: math, reading, writing and science. In 2010, the high school ranked 48th among local high schools.[3] (includes 105 districts in: Allegheny County, Armstrong County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Washington County and Westmoreland County excludes Duquesne City SD & Midland Borough SD due to no high schools)

Graduation rate

In 2011, Burrell High School's graduation rate was 94%.[4] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Burrell High School's rate was 86% for 2010.[5]

According to former graduation rate calculations
  • 2010 - 94%
  • 2009 - 94%[6]
  • 2008 - 96%
  • 2007 - 96% [7]

Academic achievement

In 2011 and 2010, Burrell High School achieved AYP status.[8]

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 79% on grade level, (9% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[9]
  • 2010 - 73% (8% below basic). State - 66%[10]
  • 2009 - 68% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.
  • 2008 - 75%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
  • 2011 - 74%, on grade level (11% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.[11]
  • 2010 - 68%, (21% below basic). State - 59%
  • 2009 - 57%, State - 56% [12]
  • 2008 - 64%, State - 56%[13]
11th Grade Science:
  • 2011 - 41% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.[14]
  • 2010 - 44% (11% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 34%, State - 40%
  • 2008 - 34%, State - 39%[15]

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 16% of Burrell School District 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.[16] 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.[17] 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

In 2010-2011, 103 Burrell School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 503. The Math average score was 520. The Writing average score was 497.[18] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[19] 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.[20]

Dual enrollment

Burrell 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. 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. Burrell School District has a concurrent agreement with Clarion University. Originally, the state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[21] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[22] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $26,878 for the program. In 2012, the Board approved Clarion University providing online course offerings to seniors and juniors at a cost of $300 per course. Courses include in the program are: biology, communication, computer science, education, English, history of jazz, math, meteorology, psychology, physical science and sociology.

AP courses

Burrell High School students have access to AP Advanced Placement® coursework and exams. The participation rate at Burrell High School is 6 percent in 2010. Options include: English AP Literature and Composition, Calculus AP, Chemistry AP, Economics AP, and US Government and Politics AP.

Credit Recovery

Summer Credit Recovery Registration is provided online. Students may take core courses at a cost of $125 per credit in 2012. The program is provided online and is available to students from other school districts. The program in 2012 featured 6 math courses (pre algebra, algebra, geometry, algebra II); eleven English courses and a speech course; five science courses focused on the PA academic standards, including Biology; six middle school and high school social studies courses and a health course. Students may use their own computer from home or use a computer at the high school.[23]

Graduation requirements

Burrell School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 24.36 credits to graduate, including: math 3 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3 credits, Speech 0.5 credits, Portfolio 1 credit, Personal finance 0.5 credit, Physical Education and swim 1.36 credits, health 1 credit, and electives 5.5 credits.[24]

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.[25]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class 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.[26][27][28] 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.[29] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

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. The Burrell School District was denied funding by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district administration did not apply for funding. The high school received $105,874 in 2008-09.[30] In Westmoreland County the highest award was given to Franklin Regional School District - $449,073. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.

According to district policy, students may bring their own technology and have access to the district's network.

Extracurricular activities

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Burrell School Board determines eligibility to participate.[31][32][33]

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.[34] In 2009, the school was ordered to permit a parochial student to participate in band.[35]

Sports

The district provides: Football: Varsity, Junior Varsity, Middle School Boys Basketball: Varsity, 9th grade, Middle School Girls Basketball: Varsity, Middle School Boys Soccer Girls soccer Girls tennis varsity Varsity Wrestling and Jr. High Wrestling Swimming Varsity Girls Volleyball Golf Track and a newly formed Cross Country club.

References
  1. National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data - Burrell High School, 2010
  2. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Burrell High School, September 29, 2011
  3. Pittsburgh Business Times (April 6, 2012). "Honor Roll Local Ranking Information".
  4. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "BURRELL High School AYP Data Table". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  5. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented". Archived from the original on September 14, 2010.
  6. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Burrell School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, 2009
  7. Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (2008). "High School Graduation rate 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  8. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "BURRELL High School AYP Overview". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  9. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  10. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
  11. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Burrell High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  12. Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results, 2009
  13. Burrell School District administration (2008). "Annual School Report Card 2008".
  14. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Science PSSA 2008, August 15, 2008.
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 20, 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report,". Archived from the original on 2012-05-03.
  17. National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2008
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011". Archived from the original on 2011-10-15.
  19. College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania". Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
  20. "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011.
  21. https://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011 Pennsylvania Department of Education - Dual Enrollment Guidelines.
  22. Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement. Site accessed March 2010. http://www.patrac.org/
  23. Burrell High School Administration, Summer credit Recovery flyer, June 2012
  24. Burrell High School Administration, Burrell High School Program of Study 2012, February 2012
  25. Pennsylvania State Board of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
  26. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview" (PDF).
  27. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". Archived from the original on 2012-03-17.
  28. Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4".
  29. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Keystone Exams".
  30. Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 22, 2008). "Classrooms for the Future grants audit" (PDF).
  31. Burrell School District Administration (2011). "Athletics packet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  32. Burrell School District School Board (2011). "Co-Curricular Activities Policy 122".
  33. Burrell School District School Board (2011). "nterscholastic Athletics Policy 123".
  34. Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, November 10, 2005
  35. Associated Press (September 25, 2009). "Family To Settle Band Lawsuit". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2012-07-11.

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