Blackhawk High School

Blackhawk High School
Address
500 Blackhawk Road
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 15010
United States
Information
Type Public, Coeducational high school
Established 1973
School district Blackhawk School District
Superintendent Melanie Kerber
Principal Scott Nelson
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 785[1] (2016)
Color(s) Green and Gold         
Fight song Victory March
Athletics conference Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League
Team name Cougars
Tuition $8,816.60 (For nonresident and charter school students)[2]
Athletic Director Rick Ford
Website www.bsd.k12.pa.us/blackhawkhighschool_home.aspx

Blackhawk High School is a public high school in Chippewa Township, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the only high school in the Blackhawk School District. Athletic teams compete as the Blackhawk Cougars in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League.

Demographics

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, Blackhawk High School reported an enrollment of 1,073 pupils in grades 8th through 12th, with 231 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch.[3] Blackhawk High School's student population is 98% white. It has marginal to no amounts Hispanic or American Indian students.

The school employed 81 teachers yielding a student teacher ratio of 13:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 11 classes are taught by teachers who were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the No Child Left Behind Act.[4]

Academics

In 2012, Blackhawk High School was ranked 18th in Pennsylvania, and 955th nationally (22,000 high schools ranked nationwide), by US News and World Report for academic programs.[5]

Local region academic ranking 11th graders

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading

11th Grade Math:

11th Grade Science:

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 25% of the Blackhawk 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.[17] 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.[18] 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 offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[19] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[20] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $3,412 for the program.[21]

SAT Scores

From January to June 2011, 147 Blackhawk High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 493. The Math average score was 510. The Writing average score was 475.[22] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[23] 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.[24]

Graduation requirements

The Blackhawk School Board has determined that a Blackhawk High School pupil must earn 23.5 credits to graduate including: mathematics 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 0.5 credit, Software Apps 0.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits and electives 3.5. A student must earn a minimum of 5.5 credits to obtain sophomore standing. All students are required to successfully complete four credits of Mathematics in order to graduate. Music academy students will take other classes and not be required the 4 math credits and take less gym credits.[25]

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] At Blackhawk High School students have one of three options: Comprehensive Career Development Plan, Community Service Project and In-depth Academic Research Project.[27]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 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.[28][29][30] 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.[31] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

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. Blackhawk School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07 or in 2007-08. The district received $113,840 in 2008-09.[32] In Beaver County the highest award ($476,723) was given to Freedom Area School District. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.

Eighth grade

Local region academic ranking 8th graders
PSSA Results
8th Grade Reading

8th Grade Math:

8th Grade Science:

Online learning

The high school offers a cyber program run by a Cyber School Coordinator. The program began in the 2011-2012 school year. Students, along with their parent or guardian meet with a guidance counselor and the cyber coordinator to set a curriculum/course of study. Blackhawk School District partnered with the Regional Choice Initiative (RCI), of the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit to offer this full-time cyber program. Blackhawk cyber students have full access to the online curriculum from their home using RCI issued equipment, which includes a laptop computer, printer and headphones. Internet access is also provided for the student—free of charge.

Extracurriculars

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

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.[40]

Having a rich athletic tradition, the school offers multiple sports, including wrestling, golf, soccer, football, baseball, softball, volleyball, swimming, tennis, lacrosse, hockey and track & field. It has a Football Mother's Club as well as a Quarterback Club. Blackhawk offers multiple opportunities for the musically talented. In the 2011 season, the Blackhawk men's varsity soccer team went undefeated for the first time, finishing with a record of 16-0-1, and defeating archrival, Beaver, in the last game of the regular season for the section title. There is an orchestra, concert band, PIMBA championship winning marching band, competitive marching band, jazz band, pit orchestra for the musicals and plays, and indoor competitions consisting of indoor percussion competition and indoor color guard performances for the winter months. BHS also offers the Music Academy for students considering a professional job in the realm of music. These students have the opportunity to take more music related classes instead of academic classes and includes extra band classes. The music academy requires no higher academic achievement but does allow for less state required classes. Blackhawk High School has a proud history, beginning as a merger of the larger Darlington Area School District, which dated back to the early 1920s as having a reputation in excellence, both on the athletic fields and in the classroom. Blackhawk High School also has a wealth of alumni that have gone on to greatness, and has a high legacy retention rate, allowing for a family friendly atmosphere of familiarity and comfort for its students. BHS is located in a scenic, rural space; surrounded by heavily wooded areas and fields of golden wheat, each morning, the sun rises over the hills to greet coming students. Football games are played on the original district field, located in Darlington, Pennsylvania.

Alma Mater

Sung to the tune of Deutschlandlied

Full of memories, life and character,
Blackhawk High School stands proud and tall;
Giving knowledge and maturity,
Guiding lives to lead one and all.
As we look to thee, help us learn to see,
Life in every point of view;
Make us wiser still,
give us strength and will,
so as to make us proudly hail to thee.[41]

Notable alumni

References

  1. U.S. News & World Report. "Blackhawk High School". Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  2. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Tuition rates per LEA, 2011
  3. National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data - Blackhawk High School, 2010
  4. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Blackhawk High School, September 29, 2011
  5. Chute, Eleanor., Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair high schools get high state rankings, May 8, 2012
  6. Pittsburgh Business Times, Western Pennsylvania School Guide 2012, April 6, 2012
  7. The Rankings: Eleventh grade, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15th, 2009.
  8. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  9. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
  10. The Times-Tribune (September 14, 2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 PSSA results".
  11. Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 15, 2008). "2007-2008 PSSA and AYP Results".
  12. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA Math and Reading results".
  13. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Blackhawk High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  14. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
  15. The Times-Tribune (2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 Science PSSA results".
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Report on PSSA Science results by school and grade 2008".
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 20, 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report,". Archived from the original on 2012-05-03.
  18. National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2008
  19. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Dual Enrollment Guidelines".
  20. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (March 2010). "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement".
  21. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Dual Enrollment Grants 2009 10 Fall Grants by School District".
  22. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011". Archived from the original on 2011-10-15.
  23. College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania". Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
  24. "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011.
  25. Blackhawk School Board, Program of Studies Blackhawk High School, 2012
  26. Pennsylvania State Board of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
  27. Blackhawk School District Administration, Graduation Project, 2012
  28. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview" (PDF).
  29. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". Archived from the original on 2012-03-17.
  30. Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4".
  31. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Keystone Exams".
  32. Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 22, 2008). "Classrooms for the Future grants audit" (PDF).
  33. The Rankings: Eighth grade, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15th, 2009.
  34. Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 15, 2008). "Reading and Math PSSA 2008 by Schools".
  35. Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (September 14, 2010). "2010 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing Results".
  36. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  37. Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (August 2010). "Science PSSA 2010 by Schools".
  38. Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (August 2009). "Science PSSA 2009 by Schools".
  39. Pennsylvania Department of Education Report (August 15, 2008). "Science PSSA 2008 by Schools".
  40. Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities".
  41. "Blackhawk School District". Blackhawk School District. Retrieved 4 April 2012.

Coordinates: 40°45′51″N 80°23′56″W / 40.76417°N 80.39878°W / 40.76417; -80.39878

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