| Sto-Rox High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 1105 Valley Street, McKees Rocks, PA 15136 [1] |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1926 |
| School district | Sto-Rox School District |
| Principal | Dr. Melanie Kerber |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 419 (2009-2010) |
| Grade 9 | 110 |
| Grade 10 | 93 |
| Grade 11 | 118 |
| Grade 12 | 95 [1] |
| Color(s) | Kelly Green and White |
| Mascot | Viking |
| Website | High School |
Sto-Rox High School is a high school located in the West Park neighborhood of Stowe Township, Pennsylvania. It is the only high school of the Sto-Rox School District, which educates the children of Stowe Township and the borough of McKees Rocks.
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The current building of the Sto-Rox High School was erected in 1926. At that time, it was only the Stowe Township High School, until it merged with the McKees Rocks School District in 1966, thus forming Sto-Rox.
It is a three-story, yellow brick building, housing grades 9-12. Formerly, it was the Sto-Rox Junior/Senior High School, until, in 2002, the Sto-Rox Middle School was erected in Kennedy Township.
Since it was built, numerous additions have been added to the building, though none in recent years. A few years ago, the high school underwent a partial renovation.
Sto-Rox High School's 11th grade was ranked 111th out of 123 Western Pennsylvania High School 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 1 year of science.[2] In 2008, the school ranked 490th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts.
High School Graduation Rate:
2010 - 90%[3]
2009 - 79%[4]
2008 - 80%
2006 - 91%
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2010 - 37% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level.[5]
2009 - 46%, State - 65% [6]
2008 - 44%, State - 65%
2007 - 44%, State - 65%
2006 - 33%, State - 65% Sto-Rox High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2006
2005 - 39%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
2010 - 39% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2009 - 41%, State - 56%[7]
2008 - 30%, State - 56%
2007 - 34%, State - 53%
2006 - 21%, State - 52%
2005 - 15%, State - 51%
11th Grade Science:
2010 - 12% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 24%, State - 40%
2008 - 22% [8]
College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 53% of the Sto-Rox High School 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.
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.[11]
The 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 and programs 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. [12] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[13]
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $1,898 for the program.
Sto-Rox is known for its outstanding boys basketball and girl's softball programs. The girl's softball team has won a district record 10 titles since 1985. The title years are (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993, 2000, 2001-2004 and 2006). They have also played in the PIAA state title game 4 times (1989, 1993, 2001, 2004) winning it once (1989). The only coach in the program's history is Bill Palermo who started in 1979. The wins/loss total for the team is 509-114.
The school board determines eligibility to participate in extracurriculars and athletics. Expectations include attendance at school and academic achievement.[14] [15][16]
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. [17]