McGuffey High School

McGuffey High School is one of four schools that make up the McGuffey School District in rural Claysville, Pennsylvania, located approximately 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. The school's official colors are navy blue and gold and "Highlanders" has been adopted as the official school nickname.[1] The McGuffey High School building is jointly used by McGuffey Middle School. The school and the district are named for William Holmes McGuffey, author of the McGuffey Reader, who was born within the district boundaries.[1]

McGuffey High School
Location
86 McGuffey Dr,
Claysville, PA 15323

United States
Information
TypePublic
School districtMcGuffey School District
PrincipalMark Bonus [1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment563 (2015-16)[2]
Color(s)Navy Blue and Gold
Athletics conferenceWPIAL, PIAA
MascotHighlander
WebsiteMcGuffey High School official website

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 90%.[3] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. McGuffey High School's rate was 85% for 2010.[4]

Under former calculation formula
  • 2010 – 95% [5]
  • 2009 – 91% [6]
  • 2008 – 91%
  • 2007 – 98% [7]

Academic achievement

In 2011, McGuffey High School achieved AYP status. In 2010, the school was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.[8]

Local Region Ranking

In 2011, McGuffey High School was ranked 98th of 122 high schools, within a seven county region in western Pennsylvania, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, for academic achievement based on five years of PSSA results on: mathematics, reading, writing and three years of science.

  • 2010 - 94th of 124 high schools in seven county region of western Pennsylvania.[9]
  • 2009 - 102nd of 123 high schools in Western Pennsylvania[10]

PSSA results
11th Grade Reading:
  • 2011 - 66% on grade level, (14% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[11]
  • 2010 - 63%, State - 66% [12]
  • 2009 - 63%, State - 65%
  • 2008 - 61%, State - 65%
  • 2007 - 59%, State - 65% [13]
11th Grade Math:
  • 2011 - 61%, on grade level (23% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
  • 2010 - 56%, State - 59%
  • 2009 - 56%, State - 56% [14]
  • 2008 - 49%, State - 56%[15]
  • 2007 - 47%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
  • 2011 - 38% on grade level (19% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. .[16]
  • 2010 - 42%. State - 39%
  • 2009 - 43%, State - 40% [17]
  • 2008 - 41% [18]

Graduation requirements

The McGuffey School Board has determined that students must earn 27 units to graduate (28 units for students who attend Western Area Career and Technical Center). students must earn: 4 units of English, 4 units of math (Algebra and Geometry included), 4 units Science including Biology, 4 units Social Studies, 2 units of Physical Education, 1 unit Information Systems Keyboarding, 1 unit Fine Arts/Humanities, 0.5 units Health, 0.5 unit safety and 6 electives.[19]

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.[20] At McGuffey High School, students may choose between completing: a Career Explorations Project, an Interdisciplinary Project, a Community Service Project or a Western Area Career and Technology Center Project.[21]

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the graduating class in 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.[22]

Dual enrollment

Effective with the 2010-11 school year, McGuffey High School offers a Dual Enrollment program.[23] The school has an agreement with California University of Pennsylvania and Community College of Allegheny County. 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.[24] The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school including the graduation ceremony. 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.[25] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[26]

Extracurriculars

The McGuffey School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.[27][28] The district permits students, who are failing core academic classes, to continue to participate in extracurriculars.

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.[29]

References
  2. "McGuffey HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  3. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "McGuffey School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2011 - District AYP Data Table". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  4. 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.
  5. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2010). "McGuffey School District AYP Data Table 2010". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  6. McGuffey School District Report Card 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education, August 2009
  7. Pennsylvania Partnership for Children. "High School Graduation Rates 2007". Archived from the original on 2012-11-05.
  8. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "MCGUFFEY HS School AYP Overview". Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  9. Pittsburgh Business Times (September 29, 2011). "11th Grade Ranking Information". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  10. Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools - 11th grade Rankings, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009.
  11. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  12. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
  13. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "2007 PSSA Math and Reading Results by School".
  14. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math and Writing Results".
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "2007-2008 PSSA and AYP Results".
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "2009 PSSAs: Science Results".
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education Science, PSSA Results by School 2008, 2008
  19. McGuffey High School Administration (2011). "McGuffey High School student handbook" (PDF).
  20. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements". Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  21. McGuffey High School Administration (2010). "McGuffey High School Student Handbook" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  22. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". Archived from the original on February 23, 2014.
  23. Keith A. Kucherawy, Principal (2010). "Dual Enrollment notice McGuffey High School" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  24. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "General Dual Enrollment Funding Information". Archived from the original on 2010-05-28.
  25. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Guidelines". Archived from the original on 2014-10-17.
  26. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement". Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  27. McGuffey School Board (2010). "Non-Athletic Extracurricular Activity and Club Eligibility Policy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  28. McGuffey School Board (2010). "Interscholastic Athletics Policy 123".
  29. Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, November 10, 2005.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.