Brownsville Area High School
| Brownsville Area High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
|
1 Falcon Drive Brownsville, Pennsylvania, 15417 | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public High School |
| Established | 1966 |
| School district | Brownsville Area School District |
| NCES District ID | 4204080 |
| Superintendent | Philip J. Savini Jr., Ph.D. |
| NCES School ID | 420408004818 |
| Principal | Mr. Jason Kushak |
| Vice Principal | Mr. Shawn Clemmer |
| Faculty | 40 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 600[1] (2009-10 School Year) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 15.5:1 |
| Color(s) | White and Gold |
| Athletics conference | WPIAL / PIAA District VII |
| Team name | Falcons |
| Communities served | Brownsville, West Brownsville |
| Feeder schools | Brownsville Area Middle School |
| Website | Brownsville Area High School |
Brownsville Area High School is a small, public high school serving students in the surrounding Brownsville, Pennsylvania area. There are 600 students at BAHS in grades 9-12 and is located near the Monongahela River. The building houses both the high school and the district's middle school (6th through 8th grades) beginning in 2010-11.
Creation and History
Brownsville Area was constructed in the mid-1960s to accommodate students in the newly created Brownsville Area School District, which resulted in the consolidation of the Redstone Township, Luzerne Township, and Brashear High Schools. There was an addition in 1972. The school district closed Redstone Middle School in 2001 and moved the students to the High School until a $17 Million Addition/Renovation[2] process was completed in 2005, at which time the Middle School was placed into its separate facility.
Graduation Rate
In 2011 the graduation rate was 77%.[3] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Brownsville Area High School's rate was 49% for 2010.[4]
- According to traditional graduation rate calculations
Academic achievement
In 2011 the school is in Corrective Action Level II - 1st year due to chronic, low student achievement.[8] The school was in Making Progress: in Corrective Action II due to low student achievement. The administration was required by No Child Left Behind to notify parents of the school's poor performance and to offer transferring to a quality school in the district. No other high school is operated in the district. The high school is listed among the lowest performing schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[9][10] The school has been required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop and implement a school improvement plan to address the serious shortcomings reflected in the low student academic success.[11]
11th Grade Reading
- 2011 - 71% on grade level, (9% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[12]
- 2010 - 55% (28% below basic). State - 66% [13]
- 2009 - 54% (24% below basic). State - 65% [14]
- 2008 - 67% (21% below basic). State - 65% [15]
- 2007 - 50% (31% below basic). State - 65% [16]
11th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 59%, on grade level (17% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 66%, (23% below basic). State - 59%
- 2009 - 43%, (21% below basic). State - 56%.
- 2008 - 56%, (30% below basic). State - 56%
- 2007 - 26% (37% below basic). State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 37% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.[17]
- 2010 - 28% (28% below basic). State - 39%
- 2009 - 40%, State - 40% [18]
- 2008 - 27%, (22% below basic). State - 39%
College Remediation Rate
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 35% of the Brownsville Area 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.[19] 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.[20] 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 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[21] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[22]
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,160 for the program.[23]
Challenge Program
The Challenge Program, Inc. offers $250.00 cash incentives to Senior High School students who excel in the categories of: Academic Improvement, Attendance, Community Service and Academic Excellence. The program partners with businesses to motivate students both in and out of the classroom by encouraging good habits in students that will last throughout their education and into their future careers. For the 2010-2011 school year, the top 10% of students in each of the categories will be eligible to win $250.00.[24]
Graduation Requirements
All students graduating from Brownsville Area High School are required to have successfully complete their Senior Project, to complete and pass the PSSA's and to have earned[25] 26 Credits, as follows in the table below:
| Subject Area | #/Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4.0 | Must complete a course each year |
| Social Studies | 4.0 | |
| Science/Biology | 3.5 | Juniors are required to take Global Science and Science 11 |
| Math | 4.0 | Must complete a course each year |
| Computer Courses | Students must take and pass a minimum of two Computer Courses | |
| School to Career | 0.5 | |
| Health | 0.5 | Usually taken during the Junior Year |
| Physical Education | 2.0 | A semester course each year |
| Arts/Humanities | 3.5 | course credits may vary |
| Electives | 2.0 | course credits may vary |
| TOTAL | 26.0 |
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.[26]
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.[27][28][29]
Majors
- College Prep
- Math/Engineering
- Science/Medical
- Education
- Pre-Law
- Business Science
- Fine and Practical Arts
Vocational Education Opportunity
Students in Grades 10-12 have the opportunity to attend the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute in Georges Township for one-half day, each day while attending their home school the other half of the day.
Notable Alumni
- Doug Dascenzo - Retired MLB outfielder[30]
- Ed Roebuck - Retired MLB pitcher[31]
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and the PIAA.
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.[32]
Athletics
| Sport | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | Class AA | |
| Basketball | Class AA | Class AA |
| Cross Country | Class AA | Class AA |
| Football | Class AA | |
| Golf | Class AAAA | |
| Soccer | Class AA | |
| Softball | Class AA | |
| Tennis | Class AA | Class AA |
| Track and Field | Class AA | Class AA |
| Volleyball | Class AA |
References
- ↑ "NCES - School Search". US Department of Education. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ↑ Junker, Leann (5 September 2004). "Work continues as students head back to class at Brownsville Area". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Brownsville Area School District AYP Data Table".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Brownsville Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card Data table".
- ↑ The Times tribune (June 27, 2010). "Brownsville Area School District PA School District Statistical Snapshot Database 2008-09".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (2008). "High School Graduation rate 2007".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "BROWNSVILLE AREA High School AYP Overview".
- ↑ Amy Crawford (June 11, 2010). "$141 million awaits low-achieving schools in Pennsylvania". Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "State Report: Status of Pennsylvania's Public Schools".
- ↑ Brownsville Area School District Administration (June 2010). "Brownsville Area School District School Years 2007/2008 to 2012/2013 eStrategic Planning Mid-Term Review Analysis".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
- ↑ The Times-Tribune. (September 2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 PSSA results,".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 2008). "2007-2008 PSSA and AYP Results".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA Math and Reading results".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
- ↑ The Times-Tribune. (2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 Science PSSA results,".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 20, 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report,".
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2008
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Guidelines".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement. site accessed March 2010.
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Grants 2009 10 Fall Grants by School District".
- ↑ Challenge Program Administration (2011). "The Challenge Program 2010".
- ↑ "Program of Studies 2011-12". Brownsville Area School District. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview".
- ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4".
- ↑ Storey, Jerry (July 30, 2006). "Brownsville remembers 'Slugger". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ↑ Hirsch, Paul (July 22, 2013). Mel Marmer, Bill Nowlin, Clem Comly, James Forr, Russ Lake, Len Levin, ed. The Year of the Blue Snow. SABR, Inc. p. 176. ISBN 9781933599519.
- ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities".
Coordinates: 39°58′09″N 79°52′37″W / 39.96925°N 79.87697°W