Curwensville Area Junior/Senior High School

Map of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Curwensville Area Junior/Senior High School is a public high school located in the borough of Curwensville, Pennsylvania. The school serves students from most of south central Clearfield County. The Junior Senior High School is part of the Curwensville Area School District. In 2010, there were 569 pupils grades 7th through 12th with 64 teachers. Two hundred twelve students qualified for the federal free lunch program.^[2] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1 teacher was rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[3] The school's nickname is the Golden Tide. The PDE projects that enrollment at CAJSHS will continue to decline to 490 students in 2015 and 479 by 2020.^[4]

Graduation Rate

In 2012, Curwensville Area School District's graduation rate declined to 87%. In 2011, the graduation rate was 89%.^[5] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Curwensville Area Junior Senior High School's rate was 89% for 2010.^[6]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 98%^[7]
• 2009 - 98%^[8]
• 2008 - 89.5%^[9]
• 2007 - 89.5%^[10]

Academics

In 2012, Curwensville Area Junior Senior High School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to ongoing low achievement in math and low graduation rate. Curwensville Area Junior Senior High School achieved AYP in 2010 and 2011 even though there was a sharp decline in math achievement in the high school in 2011.^[11]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 82% on grade level, (5% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[12]
• 2011 - 65% (18% below basic). State - 69.1% ^[13]
• 2010 - 70%, (10% below basic). State - 66%^[14]
• 2009 - 72%, (9% below basic). State - 65%^[15]
• 2008 - 68% (22% below basic). State - 65%^[16]
• 2007 - 72% (11% below basic). State - 65%^[17]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 58% on grade level (18% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 58% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[18]
• 2011 - 45% (24% below basic). State - 60.3% ^[19]
• 2010 - 60%, (12% below basic). State - 59% ^[20]
• 2009 - 64%, (13% below basic). State - 56% ^[21]
• 2008 - 50%, (27% below basic). State - 56% ^[22]
• 2007 - 50%, (19% below basic). State - 53% ^[23]

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 49% on grade level (4% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[24]
• 2011 - 35% (27% below basic). State - 40% ^[25]
• 2010 - 38% (13% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 52% (13% below basic). State - 40%^[26]
• 2008 - 45% (15% below basic). State - 39%

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 20% of the Curwensville Area Junior Senior 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.^[27] 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.^[28] 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.^[29] 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 District has agreements with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University - DuBois Campus and Lock Haven University.^[30] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[31] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $1,929 for the program.^[32]

SAT Scores

In 2012, 44 Curwensville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 437. The Math average score was 429. The Writing average score was 419. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2011, 70 Curwensville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 446. The Math average score was 459. The Writing average score was 442.^[33] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[34] 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.^[35]

Graduation requirements

The Curwensville Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 23.5 credits to graduate including: math 3 units (Algebra & Geometry), English 4 units, Social Studies 4 units including Problems of Democracy, science 3 units (Biology & Science 9), Physical Education 1.6 units Required Courses 1.8 credits (Computer Applications, Guidance 9, Research 9, Driver Education, Health 10) and electives 6.1 units.^[36] Students with disabilities who satisfactorily complete a special education program identified in an Individualized Education Plan under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are issued a regular high school diploma by the school district.^[37]

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.^[38] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education has eliminated the requirement for students to complete a culminating project in order to graduate.^[39]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2017, 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.^{[40][41][42][43]} 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.^[44] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

Junior High School

All students in the Curwensville Area School District are required to complete Algebra I and Geometry in order to graduate. All students moving from 8th to 9th grade, who have not completed an Algebra I course, are scheduled for Algebra I, during their freshman year. Students are scheduled for Geometry after completing Algebra I.

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 56% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 63% (20% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 45% (29% below basic). State – 57%^[48]
• 2009 - 69% (12% below basic). State - 55%^[49]
• 2008 - 66%, (18% below basic). State - 52%^[50]

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. The School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, Curwensville Area Junior Senior High School received $152,874. The district received $45,413 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $198,287.^[51]

Highmark Healthy High 5 grant

In 2011, Curwensville Area School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Curwensville Area Junior Senior High School received $10,000 which was used to support Curwensville Jr. Sr. High School Lifetime Fitness. This program entails the purchase of fitness equipment for Physical Education to be used by 7-12 grade level students.^[52] Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5 year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools.

Extracurriculars

Curwensville Area School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and a costly, extensive sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.

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.^[53]

The District maintains an indoor pool which is open to the public some evenings for a small fee. The Alan Fairman Community Recreation Center is also open to the public for a fee.

Sports

The District funds:

Junior High School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2012 ^[54]

References

Coordinates: 40°58′02″N 78°31′05″W / 40.96729°N 78.51811°W / 40.96729; -78.51811