Union Junior/Senior High School (Pennsylvania)

Union Junior/Senior High School is a small, public High School, located in Rimersburg, Clarion County. The school is part of the Union School District. The school campus is home to approximately 375 students and 30 Faculty Members. Students, at their choosing, have the opportunity to attend Clarion County Career Center if they desire to pursue a vocational trade.

Graduation Rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Union School District's rate was 77% for 2010.^[1]

Former AYP graduation rate:

• 2010 - 83%, Gradation rate for males- 79%, females - 86%.^[2]
• 2009 - 72%^[3]
• 2008 - 82%
• 2007 - 98%^[4]

Graduation requirements

The Union School Board requires that students earn 25 credits to graduate including: 4 English credits, 4 Social Studies credits, 4 Math credits, 4 Science credits, 2 Arts & Humanities credits, .50 Health credit, 1.5 Physical Education credits, .25 Speech/Research credit, .25 Family and Consumer Science credit, .25 Careers credit, .25 Driver Education credit, and 4 Elective credits, as well as, attaining proficiency on the 11th grade PSSA Reading, Math, Science and Writing assessments.^[5]

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.^[6]

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, for the graduating classes 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.^[7]

Academic Achievement

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 69% on grade level. State - 67% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[8]
• 2009 - 59%, State - 65%
• 2008 - 60%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math

• 2010 - 63% on grade level. State - 59% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[9]
• 2009 - 49%, State - 55%.^[10]
• 2008 - 37%, State - 56%

11th Grade Science

• 2010 - 42% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 24%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 31%, State - 39%^[11]

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 41% of Union 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.^[12] 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.^[13] 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 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.^[14] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[15] 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.^[16]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $5,370 for the program.^[17]

By law, other students that reside in the district and who attend a private nonpublic school, charter school or are homeschooled are eligible to participate in this program.^[18]

Eighth grade

8th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 82% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 81% of 8th graders on grade level.(57 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 78%, State - 80%^[19]
• 2008 - 72%, State - 78%

8th Grade Math

• 2010 - 77% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 75% of 8th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 64%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 51%, State - 70%

8th Grade Science

• 2010 - 53% on grade level. State - 57% on grade level.
• 2009 - 62%, State - 55%
• 2008 - 45%, State - 52%^[20]

Seventh grade

7th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 89% on grade level. State - 77% on grade level. (39 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 54%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 56%, State - 70%

7th Grade Math

• 2010 - 89% on grade level. State - 73% of 7th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 72%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 62%, State - 70%

Extracurriculars

Union School District offers students a variety of clubs, activities and sports. By district policy, students who choose to participate must submit to random drup testing on demand.^[21] The school board determines eligibility to participate.^[22][23]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the Union School 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.^[24]

Athletics

Union participates in PIAA District IX (9)^[25]

References

Coordinates: 40°02′51″N 85°08′30″W / 40.04737°N 85.14155°W / 40.04737; -85.14155