West Allegheny High School
West Allegheny Senior High School is located in North Fayette Township, near Imperial, PA. It houses students grades 9-12, and has recently been remodeled. West Allegheny High School is part of the West Allegheny School District, which comprises the townships of Findlay and North Fayette and the borough of Oakdale.
Graduation rate
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. West Allegheny Senior High School's rate was 92% for 2010.[1]
Academic ranking
West Allegheny Senior High School's 11th grade was ranked 13th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, based on three years of results in PSSAs on: reading, math, writing and one year of science.[5]
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 76% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.[6]
- 2009 - 79%, State - 65% [7]
- 2008 - 73%, State - 64%
- 11th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 71% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 78%, State - 55% [8]
- 2008 - 58%, State - 56%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 51% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 68%, State - 39%
- 2008 - 38%, State - 39% [9]
College remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 35% of the West Allegheny Senior High School's 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.[10] 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.[11] 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, including the graduation ceremony. 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 $9,309 for the program.[14]
Virtual academy
Beginning in 2011, the high school will offer a new academy that will provide online course offerings consistent with West Allegheny curricula and course expectations. In some classes, students and teachers will go to a virtual meeting place instead of a classroom, that provides students with direct instruction and opportunities for asking/answering questions in real time. Alternatively, some classes are using a student-centered teaching method that provides information through online learning resources. The teacher and student are not simultaneously interacting with course content, but they work as a team to meet the course objectives. Advanced placement courses and foreign languages are offered through the virtual academy.
Extracurriculars
The SHS is home of the Schools TV channel West Allegheny TV, or WATV which is found on local listings channel 45. This channel includes West A Today News such as weather, school cancellations, district or school info(upcoming events, etc.).
The SHS publishes their school newspaper Indian Tribune, and a magazine called the Red Review. The SHS is also home to the districts newspaper called West A Today which puts the news channel into the newspaper. The MS also has their personal school TV show which performs the same as the SHS use. The SHS is also home to the WA RADIO, local radio channel 104.3 FM. The MS also publishes their own school newspaper and magazine called the Indian Today and the WAMS review.
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies that are published in the student handbook.
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.[15]
The school colors are scarlet and gray, with the mascot being a Native American Indian depicted in full head-dress. The school's football team has gained notability by reaching play-off status during past years, and play divisional play-off games in Three Rivers Stadium. Through the 1960s and 1970s West Allegheny shared an intense rivalry with Fort Cherry School District.
References
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2010). "West Allegheny Senior High School - School AYP Data Table 2010".
- ↑ The Times Tribune (2009). "Allegheny County School District Graduation rate 2008".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Partnership for Children. "High School Graduation Rates 2007".
- ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times, (May 15, 2009). "The Rankings: 11th grade,".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "West Allegheny School District Report Card 2009".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 2008). "Report on PSSA Science 2008".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report".
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Guidelines".
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement.". Retrieved March 2010.
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Dual Enrollment Fall Grants 2009-10. August 2009
- ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities,".