Blue Ridge High School (Pennsylvania)

Blue Ridge High School is a small, rural public high school located in New Milford, Pennsylvania under the jurisdiction of the Blue Ridge School District. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 377 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 166 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 30 teachers yielding a student teacher ratio of 12:1.^[2] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 5 teachers have emergency certification.^[3]

Graduation rate

In 2011, Blue Ridge School District's graduation rate was 88%.^[4] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Blue Ridge High School's rate was 73% for 2010.^[5]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 89%^[6]
• 2009 - 85%
• 2008 - 89% ^[7]
• 2007 - 89% ^[8]

PSSA Results

In 2010 and 2011, Blue Ridge High School achieved AYP status.^[9]

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 64% on grade level, (15% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[10]
• 2010 - 69% (14% below basic). State - 66% ^[11]
• 2009 - 61% (21% below basic), State - 65% ^[12]
• 2008 - 73% (16% below basic), State - 65%^[13]
• 2007 - 59% (16% below basic), State - 65% ^[14]

11th Grade Math

• 2011 - 60% on grade level (19% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 64% (18% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 49% (30% below basic). State - 56%
• 2008 - 64% (23% below basic). State - 56% ^[15]
• 2007 - 54% (21% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science

• 2011 - 18% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 50% (8% below basic), State - 39%
• 2009 - 37% (17% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 37% (16% below basic). State - 39%

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 17% of Blue Ridge 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.^[16] 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.^[17] 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 the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. 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.^[18] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[19] The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.^[20] In 2010, the district received a $19,363 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books.

SAT Scores

From January to June 2011, 60 Blue Ridge School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 491. The Math average score was 488. The Writing average score was 468.^[21] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[22] In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.^[23]

Graduation requirements

The Board requires that each student earn twenty-five credits, or have met the requirements of their Individualized Education Plan. The following course requirements must be met in earning the 25 credits: 4 credits of English, 4 credits of Social Studies, 3 credits of Science, 3 credits of Mathematics, 2 credits of Physical Education, .5 credits of Health, .5 credits of Independent Living, .5 credits of Desktop Applications, .25 credits of Keys to Careers, and 7.25 credits of Electives. Additionally, all students must complete a graduation project as required by Pennsylvania School Code prior to the end of their senior year.^[24]

Freshman Academy

The school has a Freshman Academy which is designed to help freshmen experience a smooth and supportive transi- tion from the academic expectations of middle school to the greater academic demands set forth in high school. Small group mentoring and academic assistance are provided.

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, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Blue Ridge High School did not apply for funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $151,622. For the 2008-09, school year the district received $45,413 for a total of $197,035. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.^[25]

Extracurriculars

The Blue Ridge School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies.^[26][27] In 2012 the Blue Ridge High School Envirothon Team won the county wide Envirothon contest. In the regional Stock Market Game Competition, the Blue Ridge team took first place in 2012.^[28]

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 home schooled, 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][30][31]

References

Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania Schools Main School Districts Blue Ridge Blue Ridge High School Montrose Area Montrose Area Junior/Senior High School Mountain View Mountain View Junior Senior High School Other Schools Elk Lake (partially located in Wyoming County) Elk Lake Junior Senior High School Forest City Regional (partially located in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties) Forest City Regional High School Private schools Faith Mountain Christian Academy Susquehanna Community (partially located in Wayne County) Susquehanna Community Junior Senior High School

Coordinates: 35°02′24″N 82°17′12″W / 35.04004°N 82.28656°W / 35.04004; -82.28656