Frazier High School

Frazier High School, as seen during a winter storm.

Frazier High School is a rural, public high school, serving around 400 students in grades 9–12. It is the sole high school in the Frazier School District. It is in the northern Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in the town of Perryopolis. Frazier High School was established in 1966,^[2] and resulted in the consolidation of the Perry and Lower Tyrone School Districts. The school was last renovated in 1990, when space was reconfigured for the addition of the Frazier Middle School, the high school's sole feeder. The name comes from Mary Fuller Frazier, a wealthy resident that gave an endowment to the district for the improvement of the school system.

Graduation rate

For the Frazier School District Class of 2011, the graduation rate was 92%.^[3] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Frazier High School's rate was 84% for 2010.^[4]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 94% ^[5]
• 2009 - 94%^[6]
• 2008 - 91%
• 2007 - 91% ^[7]

Alma Mater

The Alma Mater for Frazier^[2]
Hail alma mater, hats off to you
Ever you’ll find us, loyal and true.
Firm and undaunted, always we’ll be.
Hail to the school we love
Here’s a toast to thee.

Graduation requirements

All students wishing to graduate from Frazier must obtain 30 units of study,^[2] complete a graduation project, score proficient or above on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments and attain a Grade Point Average of at least 1.75 on a 4-point scale.

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.^[8][9][10]

Unit planning

Frazier High School presently runs a block schedule,^[2] so students earn units instead of credits. The table describes the eighteen minimum required units that a student at Frazier must have:

Academic achievement

The high school's 11th grade ranked 37th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools based on three years of results in PSSAs on: reading, math writing and two years of science.^[11] In 2009, the 11th grade ranked 42nd. out of 123 high schools in the Pittsburgh region.^[12]

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 61% on grade level, (20% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[13]
• 2010 - 77% (5% below basic). State - 66% ^[14]
• 2009 - 67%, State - 65% ^[15]
• 2008 - 74%, State - 65% ^[16]
• 2007 - 69%, State - 65% ^[17]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 64%, on grade level (19% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 64%, (14% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 65%, State - 56%
• 2008 - 72%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 68%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science

• 2011 - 47% on grade level (14% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[18]
• 2010 - 50% (1% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 56%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 37%, State - 39% ^[19]

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 22% of Frazier School District'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.^[20] 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.^[21] 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

Frazier 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. Frazier School District has an agreement with Penn State Fayette to allow the students to attend.^[22] 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^[23] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[24] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,986 for the program.^[25]

AP courses

Frazier High School participates in the Advanced Placement Program offered by the College Board. All advanced placement courses are counted as a level 3 weighted course for the purposes of class rank only. All students taking an Advanced Placement course are required to take the associated AP exam. The cost of the advanced placement examination(s) are covered by the district.

SAT scores

In 2010-2011, 39 students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 474. The Math average score was 491. The Writing average score was 470.^[26] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[27] 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.^[28]

Vocational education

Students in grades 10-12 may attend the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center in New Stanton if they wish to pursue a trade that is available there.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.^[29]

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.^[30]

The National Honor Society Chapter is active in the school.^[31]

Athletics

The Frazier High School Football team has made the WPIAL playoffs for the 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 seasons. Also the Frazier Boys and Girls Basketball teams made the WPIAL playoffs for the 2012 season. The Girl's Volleyball team have been section champions for the past 4 years, and the WPIAL champions in 2008. In addition, the Frazier Boys Varsity Cross Country team won the section title for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. The Cross Country team placed within the top 10 teams at the WPIAL championship in 2011, and sent 2 runners to the PIAA state championship the same year.

References

Coordinates: 40°05′18″N 79°45′17″W / 40.08837°N 79.75474°W / 40.08837; -79.75474