Berwick Area Senior High School

Berwick Area Senior High School
Address
1100 Fowler Avenue
Berwick, Pennsylvania, Columbia County and Luzerne County, 18603-2300
United States
Coordinates 41°03′57″N 76°13′48″W / 41.065864°N 76.230002°WCoordinates: 41°03′57″N 76°13′48″W / 41.065864°N 76.230002°W[1]
Information
Status Open
School district Berwick Area School District
CEEB Code 390290[2]
Dean Amy Melchiorre
Principal Robert Croop
Vice principal Jill Shipman
Staff 9
Faculty 76 FTE 2012[3]
Grades 9 to 12
Enrollment 882 pupils 2012, 992 pupils 2008
 • Grade 9 207
 • Grade 10 224
 • Grade 11 212
 • Grade 12 239
Student to teacher ratio 11:1
Color(s)
Athletics conference Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association AAA
Mascot Bulldog
Nickname Dawgs
Team name Bulldogs
Average SAT scores (2007[4]) 977
(493 Math / 484 Verbal)
Budget $11.8M
Feeder schools Berwick Middle School
Pennsylvania School Number 1605
Berwick Area School District region in Columbia County
Berwick Area School District region in Luzerne County

Berwick Area Senior High School (also called Berwick Area High School, Berwick High School or BHS) is a public high school in Columbia County, in Northeastern Pennsylvania, USA. In Columbia County, the school serves children living in: Briar Creek Township Briar Creek, Berwick and Foundryville. The school also serves children living in: East Berwick, Nescopeck, Nescopeck Township, Hollenback Township, Salem Township in Luzerne County. The school is the only public high school in the Berwick Area School District (AUN 116191103).

Students and faculty

In 2012, enrollment declined to 882 pupils while the faculty increased to 76. In 2012, according to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 5 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[5]

In 2008, Berwick Area Senior High School has 992 students and 73 FTE teachers, the student-to-teacher ratio at Berwick Senior High School is 13.5:1, as compared to the state average of 16:1. In 2010, the school had 969 students grades 9th through 12th, with 359 students eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. In 2010, the school employed 75 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.[6] In 2012, enrollment had declined to 915 pupils with 301 receiving a federal lunch subsidy. The High School employed 76 teachers.

The racial makeup of the student body is 93% Caucasian, 2% black, and 4% Hispanic.[7]

Graduation rate

In 2013, the Berwick Area Senior High School's graduation rate rose to 92%. In 2012, the Berwick Area School District graduation rate was 85%.[8] In 2011, the graduation rate was 88%.[9] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Berwick Area Senior High School's rate was 80% for 2010.[10]

Academic performance

Berwick Area Senior High School is a low academic achievement institution.

2013 School Performance Profile

Berwick Area Senior High School achieved a score of 77.1 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 71% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 56% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 33.51% showed on grade level science understanding.[16] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.

Adequate Yearly Progress history

In 2012, Berwick Area High School declined further to Corrective Action Level I AYP status due to persistent low academic achievement and a low graduation rate. In 2011, the school declined to School Improvement II status due to ongoing low student achievement. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Law, the school notified parents they could transfer their child to an achieving school within the district. The district operates on high school, meaning no transfer was possible. The administration was required to develop and submit to the Pennsylvania Department of Education a School Improvement Plan. In 2010, the school was in School Improvement I for lagging student achievement and a low graduation rate.[17] In 2009, the school was in School Improvement I status due to lagging student achievement and a low graduation rate.

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:

College Remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 25% of Berwick 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.[27] 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.[28] 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.

Dual enrollment

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 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.[29] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[30] In 2010, Governor Edward G. Rendell terminated the grants as part of the state budget.

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $6,779 for the program.[31]

Other students, that reside in the district, who attend a private nonpublic school, charter school or are homeschooled are eligible to participate in this program.

According to a 2006 report by the Governor of Pennsylvania, Berwick Area Senior High School was recognized by Standard and Poors as reducing the achievement gap.[32] However, according to Standard and Poors SchoolMatters.com website, Reading proficiency at the school is 67.8%, while math proficiency is 44.7%, and it has been determined that this school is not making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) toward federal and state requirements, per the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) act, and was in "warning" status under the act.[33]

College Board Award

In 2011, the Berwick Area School District achieved the College Board's AP District of the Year Award. This honor roll consists of the 388 U.S. public school districts that simultaneously achieved increases in access to AP® courses for a broader number of students and also maintained or improved the rate at which their AP students earned scores of 3 or higher on an AP Exam.[34] Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools also give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Berwick Area School District the AP courses are weighted at 1.08 credits. Berwick Area High School requires students to take the AP exam if they take an AP course. The school district pays the fee for the exam which was [35]

Graduation requirements

Graduation requirements include achieving a minimum of 25 credits and designing a graduation project which is based on the 21st Century Skills and the National Technology Standards. 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.[36] The class of 2012 was required to complete a graduation project which includes the creation of an electronic portfolio.[37] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.[38]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.[39][40][41] For the class of 2019, a composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements.[42] 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.[43] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their Individual Education Plan (IEP).

SAT scores

In 2013, Berwick Area Senior School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 468. The Math average score was 477. The Writing average score was 452. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.[44]

In 2012, 151 Berwick Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 477. The Math average score was 488. The Writing average score was 462. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2010-11, 126 Berwick Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal average Score was 470. The Math average score was 478. The Writing average score was 445.[45] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[46] In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 fin writing.[47]

College Board Award

In 2013, Berwick High School offered 9 AP courses at a higher cost than regular courses. Berwick Area High School requires students to take the AP exam if they take an AP course. The school district pays the fee for the exam which was $89 per test per pupil in 2012. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Berwick Area School District the AP courses are weighted at 1.08 credits.[48]

In 2011, the Berwick Area School District achieved the College Board's AP District of the Year Award. This honor roll consists of the 388 U.S. public school districts that simultaneously achieved increases in access to AP® courses for a broader number of students and also maintained or improved the rate at which their AP students earned scores of 3 or higher on an AP Exam.[49]

ACE

Berwick Area School District students have access to Bloomsburg University's Summer College and Advanced College Experience (ACE) during the summer of their sophomore, junior and senior years (after high school graduation). Tuition is deeply discounted to 75% of the regular rate.[50] Successful students earn college credits that can be transferred to other Pennsylvania public colleges and universities through the Pennsylvania TRAC system.

Tuition

Students who live in the Berwick Area School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Berwick Area School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates is High School - $9,792.91.[51]

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, Mathematics) and funded mandatory teacher training to optimize the instructional use of the computers. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Berwick Area School District received $52,843 in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the High School received $300,000 and in 2008-09 $50,603 for a total of $403,446.[52] Among the public school districts in Columbia County, Berwick Area High School was the highest recipient. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget plan.

Budget

The total annualized budget for the Berwick Area Senior High School is $11.8M. Per-student educational costs are shown in the following table:[53]

Category BHS PA average
Total Revenue $11,891 $12,273
Total Expenditures $10,633 $12,312
Operating Expenditures $9,337 $9,696
Instructional Expenditures $6,252 $5,940
Debt Payments $3,726 $1,961
Capital Expenditures $21 $1,086

Extracurriculars

Berwick Area School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility to participate is determined by school board policy and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.[54][55]

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.[56][57][58]

Sports

Noted for Football especially, the high school team has brought home the state championship six times.[59] Also, the Football team was ranked number 1 nationally by USA Today three times.[60] Berwick is now the home of the 2008 PIAA AAA Baseball State Champions. The Bulldogs defeated Somerset 6 to 2 at Blair County Stadium and became the first Baseball team in the Wyoming Valley Conference to win the state title.[61] It is the school's first Baseball state championship in its history. Also in 2008, the Berwick Golf Team was the District 2, and District 11 Champions. The Berwick Wrestling team won back to back District 2 Championships in 2007 and 2008. As well as finishing in the top Eight PIAA AA Team Championships in 2008.[62] The school mascot is the Bulldog, and the sports teams are called the bulldogs, or just dawgs for short. School colors and blue and white.[63]

The District funds:

Boys
Girls
  • Basketball - AAA
  • Bowling - AAAA
  • Cross Country - AA
  • Field Hockey - AA
  • Golf - AAA
  • Rifle - AAAA
  • Soccer (Fall) - AA
  • Softball - AAA
  • Girls' Tennis - AA
  • Track and Field - AAA
  • Volleyball - AA

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Free US Geocoder". Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  2. ↑ "Eastern.Edu". Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  3. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics. "Common Core of Data - Berwick Area Senior High School". Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  4. ↑ "PA DOE" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  5. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Berwick Area High School, September 21, 2012
  6. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Berwick Area High School, 2010
  7. ↑ "publicschoolreview.com". Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  8. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Berwick Area High School AYP Data table 2012".
  9. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "BERWICK AREA High School - School AYP Data Table".
  10. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
  11. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Berwick Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010".
  12. ↑ Berwick Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009
  13. ↑ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children - High School Graduation Rates 2007
  14. ↑ Berwick Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2006
  15. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2005). "Berwick Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2005".
  16. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "Berwick Area Senior High School Academic Performance Data 2013".
  17. ↑ Berwick Area School District Report Card 2010
  18. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Berwick Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2012" (PDF).
  19. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Berwick Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010".
  20. ↑ Berwick Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2005 & 2006
  21. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2010 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  22. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing Results".
  23. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Reading and Math PSSA 2007 by Schools, August 2007
  24. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Science PSSA 2010 by Schools., September 14, 2010.
  25. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Science PSSA 2009 by Schools., August 2009.
  26. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Science PSSA 2008 by Schools., August 2008.
  27. ↑ Pennsylvania College Remediation Report http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report
  28. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS 2009
  29. ↑ http://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011 Pennsylvania Department of Education - Dual Enrollment Guidelines.
  30. ↑ Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement. Site accessed March 2010. http://www.patrac.org/
  31. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Dual Enrollment Fall Grants 2009-10. August 2009
  32. ↑ "Pennsylvania State official webpage". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  33. ↑ "Standard and Poors SchoolMatters". Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  34. ↑ College Board, 2011 AP® District of the Year Awards, March 11, 2011
  35. ↑ Berwick Area School District Administration, Advanced Placement Courses information for Parents and Students, 2011
  36. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
  37. ↑ Berwick Area School District Administration. "Berwick Area Schools Fast Facts" (PDF).
  38. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Proposed changes to Chapter 4, May 10, 2012
  39. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview" (PDF).
  40. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview".
  41. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4".
  42. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Board of Education Finalizes Adoption of Pennsylvania Common Core State Academic Standards and High School Graduation Requirements, March 14, 2013
  43. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Keystone Exams".
  44. ↑ College Board (2013). "The 2013 SAT Report on College & Career Readiness".
  45. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011".
  46. ↑ College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania".
  47. ↑ "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011.
  48. ↑ Berwick Area School District Administration, Advanced Placement Courses information for Parents and Students, 2013
  49. ↑ College Board, 2011 AP® District of the Year Awards, March 11, 2011
  50. ↑ Bloomsburg University Administration (2013). "High School Students (ACE)".
  51. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2012). "Pennsylvania Public School District Tuition Rates".
  52. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General (2008-12-22). "Classrooms For the Future grants audit" (PDF).
  53. ↑ "Standard and Poors SchoolMatters". Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  54. ↑ Berwick Area School Board (May 14, 2007). "Extracurricular Policy 122" (PDF).
  55. ↑ Berwick Area School Board (May 14, 2007). "Interscholastic Athletics Policy 123" (PDF).
  56. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities,".
  57. ↑ Berwick Area School Board (May 14, 2007). "Extracurricular Participation By Home Education Students Policy 137.1".
  58. ↑ Berwick Area School Board (May 14, 2007). "Extracurricular Participation By Charter/Cyber Charter Students Policy 140.1".
  59. ↑ "Berwick, PA Official Website". Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  60. ↑ http://www.berwickdawgs.com/football/history.php?page=history.tpl&pagehead=Team History
  61. ↑ http://www.berwicksd.org/16931041714439743/lib/16931041714439743/_files/Mission_accomplished.pdf
  62. ↑ "2008 P.I.A.A. Baseball Championships". Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  63. ↑ "Northeastern Pennsylvania Times Leader". Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  64. ↑ "NFLHS.com". Retrieved 2008-09-22.

External links