Jefferson-Morgan Middle/Senior High School

Jefferson-Morgan Middle/Senior High School is a small, rural, public school in the Jefferson-Morgan School District. It is located in Jefferson, Pennsylvania, about 55 miles south of Pittsburgh in northeastern Greene County. Enrollment was 395 students in grades 7–12 in 2012, with 161 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school employed 35 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.^[3] The school is a federally designated Title I school. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind Act.^[4]

Graduation rate

In 2012, Jefferson-Morgan School District's graduation rate was 90%.^[5] In 2011, the District's graduation rate was 70%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Jefferson-Morgan School District's rate was 69% for 2010.^[6]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 – 92%^[7]
• 2009 – 89%^[8]
• 2008 – 92%^[9]
• 2007 – 92%^[10]

Academics

In 2012, Jefferson-Morgan Middle Senior High School declined to Warning AYP status due to missing all academics metrics measured in both reading and mathematics.^[11] In 2011, the Middle High School achieved AYP status.

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 44% on grade level, (33% below basic). State – 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[12]
• 2011 – 60% (19% below basic). State – 69.1% ^[13]
• 2010 – 67% (23% below basic). State – 67% (62 pupils enrolled)^[14]
• 2009 – 68%, State – 65%^[15]
• 2008 – 45%, State – 65%^[16]
• 2007 – 69%, State – 65%

11th Grade Math

• 2012 – 45% on grade level (33% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[17]
• 2011 – 46% (31% below basic). State – 60.3%
• 2010 – 42% (37% below basic). State – 59% ^[18]
• 2009 – 46%, State – 56%^[19]
• 2008 – 24%, State – 56%^[20]
• 2007 – 45%, State – 53%^[21]

11th Grade Science

• 2012 – 15% on grade level (29% below basic). State – 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[22]
• 2011 – 40% (17% below basic). State – 40% ^[23]
• 2010 – 31%, State – 39%
• 2009 – 33%, State – 40%^[24]
• 2008 – 15%, State – 39%^[25]

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 40% of the Jefferson-Morgan 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.^[26] 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.^[27] 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 program

Jefferson-Morgan Junior Senior High School District offers a dual enrollment program. This state-funded 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 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.^[28] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[29] The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.^[30] For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $9,406 for its dual enrollment program. The grants were terminated by Governor Edward G. Rendell for the 2010–11 budget year.

Graduation requirements

Students in J-M must complete 27 credits of coursework,^[31] including one credit earned for the state-mandated Graduation Project:

Course Breakdown

• English – 4.0
• English Electives – 0.5
• Mathematics – 4.0
• Science – 4.0
• Social Studies – 3.0
• Physical Education – 1.5
• Health – 0.5
• Electives – 7.0 / 9.5 for CTC Students
• Computers – 1.0
• Family/Consumer Sciences – 0.5
• Graduation Project – 1.0
• TOTAL – 27.0

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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.^[32] At Jefferson-Morgan the purpose of the culminating project is to teach students how to apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information and then communicate that knowledge and understanding. The Board of Education, Faculty and Administration of the Jefferson-Morgan School District believes that a well prepared project will provide students with the opportunity to engage in higher-level problem solving. It will also allow students to demonstrate initiative and involve them in authentic experiences.^[33] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.^[34]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.^{[35][36][37][38]} For the class of 2019, a composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements.^[39] 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.^[40] 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.

SAT scores

In 2012, 24 Jefferson-Morgan School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 468. The Math average score was 471. The Writing average score was 433. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the US, 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, 34 Jefferson-Morgan School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 484. The Math average score was 486. The Writing average score was 459.^[41] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal, 493; Math, 501; Writing, 479.^[42] 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.^[43]

Eighth grade

PSSA Results:

Science

• 2012 – 49% on grade level (18% below basic). State – 59%
• 2011 – 51% (25% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 – 44% (38% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 – 43%, State – 55%.^[45]
• 2008 – 56%, State – 52%^[46]

Seventh grade

Vocational Education

Students in grades 10–12 have the opportunity to attend the Greene County Career and Technology Center in Franklin Township for part of the school day, if they wish to participate in a certain trade program that the center offers.

Cyber school

Jefferson-Morgan School District offers a cyber school program to students enrolled in the District.^[48]

Grade portal

Students attending the school and their parents have access through an internet based portal to review students' attendance, grades and homework assignments.

Tuition

Students who live in the Jefferson-Morgan School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Jefferson-Morgan School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school or cyber charter school for each resident student that attends the charter. It is also the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to have the child attend the District's schools. The 2012 tuition rate at the Jefferson-Morgan Middle Senior High School was $12,188.50.^[49]

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided school 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. Jefferson-Morgan School District did not apply to participate in 2006–07. In 2007–08, the District received $81,091 and in 2008–09 $45,413 for a total of $126,504.^[50] The program was terminated by Governor Edward Rendell in the 2009–10 budget.

Extracurriculars

Jefferson-Morgan School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.^[51]

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.^[52]

Clubs and activities

The activities offered through the school include: SADD, Yearbook, National Honor Society, Drama Club, Student Council, Foreign Language Club, Varsity Club, Library Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Debate Team, Academic Team, School Newspaper, Science Olympiad, Envirothon and Youth Traffic Safety Council.

The Jefferson-Morgan middle/high school music program consists of a Concert Band, 2 choruses (one for students in Middle School and the other for students in Senior High), and the Jefferson-Morgan "Rocket" Marching Band. The marching band is made up of students in grade 7–12, and consists of Musicians, Band Front, and an Honor Guard. They perform throughout the year at school, community, and athletic events, most notably at all Rocket varsity home and away football games and various noncompetitive high school band festivals each fall. The music department also frequently goes on trips in the spring. The Band Boosters and Chorus Boosters are both active in helping out with travel and various performances, as well as providing t-shirts, letter jackets, snacks, and other items to the Marching Band each season. ^[53]

Athletics

Jefferson-Morgan High School is a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL).^[54] Jefferson-Morgan is in PIAA District 7. As of 2016, most of the high school's athletic teams compete in the Tri-County South conference of Class 1A, the smallest of 6 classifications, with the exception of the boys' basketball program, which is in 2A.

Middle School Sports

Jeff-Morgan students in grades 7–8 can participate^[55] in a select few athletics:

• basketball
• football
• softball
• volleyball
• wrestling

References

Coordinates: 39°55′42″N 80°03′51″W / 39.92825°N 80.06407°W / 39.92825; -80.06407