Scranton High School (Pennsylvania)

Scranton High School is an urban high school located in Lackawanna County, Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Scranton School District. It enrolled 1,792 ninth through twelfth grade students in 2010.[2] It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.[3]

Scranton High School
Address
63 Mike Munchak Way

Scranton
,
Pennsylvania
18508

United States
Information
School typePublic high school
MottoCampus of Champions
School districtScranton School District
Faculty122.05 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,738 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.24[1]
Campus typeUrban
Color(s)Cardinal red and Vegas Gold    
MascotKnight
Information570-348-3481
WebsiteOfficial website

The school offers honors and advanced classes for motivated students. Regular classes are aimed at a wide range of students with different academic abilities. The school provides ESL (English as a Second Language) and development courses for students.

The school is designated as a Title I school wide institution. In 2010, 890 students qualified for a free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The student population was Caucasian - 1,190, Hispanic - 263, African American - 184, Asian/Pacific Islander - 100 and Native American - 1. The student body included 857 females and 881 males in 2010.

History

Scranton High School opened its doors on the corner of Vine Street and Washington Avenue. The original building was renamed Scranton Central High School following the opening of Scranton Technical High School and the W.T. Smith Manual Training School. In 1990, Scranton Technical High School became Scranton High School. The following year, Central closed, and its students were sent to the former Technical and West Scranton High School. In 1992/93, the Technical mascot of the Red Raiders was dropped, and the Knight became the team mascot. In 2001, a new high school building opened adjacent to Memorial Stadium, and the former Technical building became Northeast Scranton Intermediate School. Its principals have been Alfred Karam (August 1991 – June 2002), Robert McTiernan (August 2002 – October 2006), Bryan McGraw (November 2006 – November 2009), Eric Schaeffer (December 2009 – May 2012), and John Coyle (July 2012 – present).

Building

Scranton High School is an example of modern architecture with an interesting design. Most of the classrooms are in one of three wings, and the gyms and pool are on the opposite end of the building. The school was the recipient of a Golden Trowell Award for an educational building in 2002. The area is also recognized for its mentions in the hit TV show, The Office.[4]

Academics

The school is organized into the following academic units/departments:

  • Business
  • English
  • Fine Arts
  • Foreign Languages
  • Health/Physical Education
  • Home Economics
  • Industrial Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies

Requirements for graduation include four years of math, English, social studies, and physical education; three years of science; two years of health, one year of driver safety, and four elective credits. Students are also required to complete a graduation project. This consists of an extensive paper on a subject of their choosing. The students must then present this project to members of the faculty. If this project is not completed, the student will not be allowed to graduate. Students must also pass the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSAs) in reading, writing, science, and mathematics with a level of at least "proficient" to graduate.

AP

The school offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes in the following classes:

  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Calculus AB
  • English Literature and Composition
  • U.S. History
  • European History
  • Physics B
  • Computer Science A
  • Environmental Science
  • Government and Politics

Achievement

In 2011, Scranton High School declined to "Corrective Action I" status due to chronic low student achievement.[5] In 2010, the school declined to "School Improvement level II" AYP status due to continuing low achievement of its pupils. In 2009, the school was in "School Improvement level I" AYP status.[6] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the administration to develop and submit for approval a school improvement plan focused on raising student academic achievement.

PSSA results
11th Grade Reading:
  • 2011 - 70% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[7]
  • 2010 - 76% (12% below basic). State - 67%.[8]
  • 2009 - 74%, State - 65%[9]
  • 2008 - 71%, State - 65% [10]
  • 2007 - 73%, State - 65% [11]
11th Grade Math:
  • 2011 - 60% on grade level (13% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.[12]
  • 2010 - 63% (22% below basic). State - 59%.[13]
  • 2009 - 67%, State - 56% [14]
  • 2008 - 68%, State - 56%
  • 2007 - 65%, State - 53% [15]
11th Grade Science:
  • 2011 - 39% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.[16]
  • 2010 - 40% (17% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 41%, State - 40% [17]
  • 2008 - 20% (26% below basic), State - 39%[18]

In 2008, a study was conducted of public schools in Lackawanna County and Luzerne County. It found that of the 10 public school districts in Lackawanna County, Scranton School District academic achievement ranked 7th in math and 9th in Reading. In 2004 the district was in School Improvement Level 1 AYP status. In 2005 the district was in School Improvement Level 1 AYP status. In 2006 and 2007, the district made AYP. In 2008 the district declined to Warning status.[19]

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 22% of the Scranton School District's 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.[20] Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduates in three years.[21] 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

From January to June 2011, 253 Scranton High School students took the SAT exams. The district's average verbal acore was 452. The average math score was 465. The average writing score was 435.[22] Pennsylvania ranked 40th in the state with SAT scores: Verbal 493, Math 501, Writing 479.[23] In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) in verbal, 514 in math and 489 in writing.[24]

Dual enrollment

A dual enrollment program has been offered to students that allows them to take advanced placement and honors classes that will be recognized as college credit from institutions such as Keystone College and Lackawanna College. The credit is contingent upon the student achieving at least an 88 average in the class. Dual enrollment is offered in the following courses:

  • American Government Honors (3 credits)
  • English IV Honors (3 credits)
  • American History II Honors (3 credits)
  • Human Physiology Honors (3 credits)
  • Elementary Analysis Honors (4 credits)
  • Calculus Honors (4 credits)
  • Cold War to War on Terror Honors (3 credits)
  • Spanish IV (3 credits)

Scholastic competition

In the 2005-2006 school year, the school competed in both the Scholastic Bowl and the televised Scholastic Scrimmage, sponsored by the U.S. Army. Both competitions involved a team of five students competing against other local schools. Scranton High placed 4th out of 27 schools in the Scholastic Bowl, and won the initial Scholastic Scrimmage. This victory won the school four thousand dollars.

In the 2006-2007 school year, Scranton High School won both the Scholastic Bowl and the Scholastic Scrimmage.[25][26]

In the 2007-2008 school year, Scranton High School placed second in the Scholastic Scrimmage. The victory won the school two thousand dollars.

Extracurriculars

Scranton School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies. Any student failing more than one subject will not be allowed to participate in any extracurricular activity until proof of passing is approved by the principal.[27]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school or home school, 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.[28]

Clubs
  • Advanced Chorus[29]
  • Anime Club
  • Art Club
  • Computer Club
  • Drama Club
  • FBLA - Future Business Leaders of America
  • Film Club
  • French Club
  • Latin Club
  • Library Club
  • Marching Band
  • Mock Trial
  • Orchestra
  • Penn Serve Club
  • Political Science Club
  • SADD - Students Against Destructive Decisions
  • SHS Tech Club
  • Spanish Club
  • Speech and Debate
  • Spirit Club
  • TATU - Teens Against Tobacco Use
  • Yearbook Club

Sports

The school's official mascot is a knight, and the school's sports teams are called the Scranton Knights. The school colors come from a combination of the gold from the Scranton Central High School Golden Eagles and red from the Scranton Technical High School Red Raiders, the school's which preceded Scranton High School. The school actively participates in the following sports:

  • Boys' freshman football
  • Boys JV football
  • Boys baseball
  • Varsity cross country (boys' and girls')
  • Cheerleading
  • Coed varsity golf
  • Girls' softball
  • Ice hockey (The school district gave partial support for a team two years only, 2005 and 2006.)
  • Soccer (boys' and girls')
  • Swimming (boys' and girls')
  • Tennis (boys' and girls')
  • Varsity football
  • Wrestling

The school's varsity football team plays the West Scranton High School Invaders in the yearly "Bell Game," usually in early October. The winning team takes a large bell to remain at their school until the following meeting.

The school occasionally offers intramural sports and events such as volleyball tournaments.

Stephen Karam, Pulitzer Prize nominated and Tony award-winning playwright

Notable alumni

Partnerships

Partnerships with universities

Scranton High School does not have articulation agreements with any universities. However, students can take summer college courses in the nearby Keystone College or Johnson College for advanced placement classes that can also apply to their degree.

Partnerships with vocational schools

Scranton High School also allows students to take vo-tech classes at the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County.

References
  1. "Scranton HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  2. National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core Data - Scranton High School, 2010
  3. "Scranton High School homepage". Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  4. International Masonry Institute Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Scranton High School AYP Overview".
  6. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 2011). "SCRANTON High School - School AYP Overview".
  7. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  8. Pennsylvania Department of Education Report. "2010 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  9. Scranton High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2009
  10. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "2008 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  11. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Scranton High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2007, 2007
  12. "Scranton High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011]" (PDF).
  13. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 2011). "Scranton High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010" (PDF).
  14. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2009). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "2007 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing Results".
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 2009). "Report on Science PSSA 2009 by Schools".
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Science PSSA 2008 report by school and grade".
  19. The Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development (May 2009). "Lackawanna and Luzerne Indicators Report - Education".
  20. Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 20, 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report". Archived from the original on May 3, 2012.
  21. National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2008
  22. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011". Archived from the original on 2011-10-15.
  23. College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania".
  24. "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011.
  25. Scholastic Bowl Champions Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  26. Scholastic Bowl Champs! Archived 2007-08-22 at the Wayback Machine
  27. Scranton School Board. "Scranton School District Athletic/Extracurricular Code of Conduct" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-19.
  28. Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities". Archived from the original on October 23, 2014.
  29. "Advanced Chorus". Scrantonhschorus.org. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  30. Glaeser, Edward (10 February 2011). Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier. Penguin Press HC. ISBN 978-1-59420-277-3. Jane Jacobs hardly seemed cut out for big-city glory. She graduated from Scranton’s Central High School in 1934
  31. Conor Foley / Staff writer (March 21, 2016). "McCarthy brings health, change in approach to plate - Sports". The Times-Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2018.

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