| Beaver Area School District | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 855 Second Street Beaver, Pennsylvania, Beaver, 15009 United States |
|
| Information | |
| Superintendent | Dr. John C. Hansen |
| Teaching staff | 123 |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Enrollment | 2043 (2005-2006) |
| Kindergarten | 124 |
| Grade 1 | 131 |
| Grade 2 | 122 |
| Grade 3 | 144 |
| Grade 4 | 167 |
| Grade 5 | 143 |
| Grade 6 | 160 |
| Grade 7 | 143 |
| Grade 8 | 144 |
| Grade 9 | 190 |
| Grade 10 | 165 |
| Grade 11 | 162 |
| Grade 12 | 144 |
| Other | Enrollment projected to decline to 1537 by 2019[1] |
| Mascot | Bobcats |
| Rival | Pine Run Market |
| Website | http://www.basd.k12.pa.us/ |
The Beaver Area School District covers the Boroughs of Beaver and Bridgewater and Brighton Township and Vanport Township in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The district operates one High School, one Middle School and two Elementary Schools.
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Beaver Area School District was ranked 21st out of 105 Western Pennsylvania School Districts in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for math, reading, writing and science.[4] In 2008 the school district also ranked 21st.
The school's eleventh grade ranked 21st out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools for student academic achievement in 2009. The ranking was reported by the Pittsburgh Business Times. It was based on three years of PSSA results on: reading, writing, math and one year of science. [5]
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 - 82% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.[6]
2008 - 73%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
2009 - 78% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.[7]
2008 - 76%, State - 56%
11th Grade Science:
2009 - 61% on grade level. State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level in Science.
2008 - 41%, State - 39%[8]
College remediation According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 43% of Beaver Area 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. [9] 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.[10]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.
The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through over 400 school districts with the assistance of a state grant.
In 2009, the 8th grade was ranked 49th out of 141 western Pennsylvania high schools based on three years of results in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science.[11] (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County
8th Grade Reading:
2009 - 87% on grade level. State: 80.9% of 8th graders were on grade level. [12]
2008 - 83%, State - 78%
8th Grade Math:
2009 - 82% on grade level. State: 71% of 8th graders were on grade level.[13]
2008 - 72%, State -70%
2007 - 68%
8th Grade Science:
2009 - 66% on grade level. State: 55% of 8th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 63%, State - 50%
Also, Beaver Area students annually average in the top 10 percent statewide in their performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
In 2007, the district employed 124 teachers with the average teacher salary in the district at $51,804 for 180 days worked.[14] As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation.[15] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits.[16] According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board of Trustees, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary. [17]
The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $810.41 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. [18]
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless the of income level. [19]
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.68% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $5,309,798. Four county school districts received increases of over 4% in Basic Education Funding in 2008-10. Big Beaver Falls Area School District received an 5.26% increase. The majority of Beaver County districts received a 2% increase. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The state's Basic Education Funding to the Beaver Area School District in 2008-09 was $5,072,237.46 [20] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.[21]
Beaver Area School District received an extra $1,030,779 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used only in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.[22]
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. The Beaver Area School Board determines eligibility policies to participate in these programs.[23] They also offer classes to choose from, such as JROTC, orchestra, and extra math classes.
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. [24]
Beaver's athletic teams all fall under the name Beaver Bobcats. Beaver's current Athletic Director is Ray Hoppa. Beaver is in the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) and the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League). Varsity Sports:
Middle School and Junior High Sports – A middle school team is open only to students in 7th and 8th grade, and a junior high team includes 7th through 9th graders.