Warren Area High School

Located in Warren, Pennsylvania, Warren Area High School (WAHS) was built 1961. The school has 746 students. It is one of four high schools operated by Warren County School District. The WAHS mascot is a dragon. There is also Warren County Career Center located on the WAHS campus. The campus includes the Warren Area Elementary Center (Grades K-5). After graduating from Beaty-Warren Middle School (Grades 6-8), students proceed to Warren Area High School (Grades 9-12).

WAHS was established long before 1961. The current campus was built in 1961. The predecessor graduated its last class that year. Its third story was condemned as a fire hazard in 1928 and restored to functioning in 1959. Today it has 2½ stories (the "pit", the first floor and second floor) as well as a basement, and consists of a gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium, courtyard, study hall, library, 2 lobbies and much more. WAHS is owned by and operated by the Warren County School District.

The school is currently undergoing a major renovation, which should be completed in 2018.^[4] The new campus will feature a new media center, gymnasium, band and choir rooms, aesthetics, and classrooms.

Academic achievement

In 2011, Warren Area High School improved to achieve AYP status.^[5] In 2010, the school declined to Warning AYP status. In 2009, the school achieved "AYP" status.^[6]

PSSAs

11th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 75% on grade level, (14% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[7]
• 2010 - 54% (28% below basic). State - 66%^[8] Males - 45% on grade level Girls 63% on grade level.
• 2009 - 68% (14% below basic). State - 65%^[9]
• 2008 - 73% (15% below basic). State - 65%^[10]
• 2007 - 80% (7% below basic). State - 65%^[11]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 65% on grade level (18% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[12]
• 2010 - 47% (37% below basic). State - 59%^[13]
• 2009 - 59% (20% below basic). State - 56%
• 2008 - 64% (15% below basic), State - 56%
• 2007 - 64% (15% below basic), State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 48% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[14]
• 2010 - 38% (20% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 49% (12% below basic). State - 40%^[15]
• 2008 - 48%, State - 39%

SAT Scores

In 2010-2011, 105 Warren Area High School students took the SAT exams. The school's Verbal Average Score was 500. The Math average score was 502. The Writing average score was 475.^[16] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[17] 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.^[18]

Graduation requirements

In 2011, the graduation rate was 84%.^[19] In 2010, the graduation rate was 90%. In 2009, it was 89%.^[20]

The Warren County School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 28 credits to graduate including: math - 3 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 4 credits, Physical Education 1 credit, World Languages 2 credits Computer Tech 0.5 credit, Health 0.5 credits, Tech education 0.5 credit, Project 1 credit and electives 7.5 credits.^[21]

Students are required, by Pennsylvania law, to complete a graduation project. Tenth grade students must complete the Choices Planner Program by the end of the second semester of their sophomore year. Eleventh grade students must complete four of the six graduation activities. Twelfth grade students must complete all six of the six requirements prior to the end of the second nine weeks of the senior year.^[22]

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.^[23][24][25]

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 district offers the program in cooperation with Clarion University of Pennsylvania and St. Bonaventure University.^[26][27] The state offered 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]

For the 2009-10 funding year, Warren County School District received a state grant of $24,762 for the program.^[30]

School Improvement plan

The school has a School Improvement Team that meets on a monthly basis to address issues surrounding student academic achievement.^[31]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate in these activities is determined by school board policy. The district has a code of conduct for student athletes.^{[32][33][34][35][36]}

Sports that are interscholastic are boys and girls tennis, wrestling, football, boys and girls swimming/diving, boys and girls golf, soccer, boys and girls basketball, softball, baseball, girls volleyball, cross country, and track and field. The athletics participate in District 10 and Region 4 in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

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 home schooled, 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.^[37][38][39]

Athletics

WAHS is in PIAA District 10.

Vocational Education Opportunities

Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors at Warren Area have the opportunity to spend one-half of each school day at the Warren County Career Center, located nearby where they can learn from one of fourteen career programs, as well as the possibility of earning advanced placement credits for post-secondary education.

References

1. ↑ Warren County School District - 2011-12 student enrollment statistics (10/12/2011)
2. ↑ Warren County School District - HS Feasiblility Study (12/21/2011)
3. ↑ Warren County School District - HS Feasiblility Study (12/21/2011)
4. ↑ "Majority of WAHS renovation expected to be completed by next school year | News, Sports, Jobs - Times Observer". www.timesobserver.com. Retrieved 2017-05-30. 
5. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Warren County School District Overview". 
6. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Warren Area High School - School AYP Overview". 
7. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results". 
8. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results". 
9. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 14, 2009). "2008-2009 PSSA and AYP Results". 
10. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 2008). "2007-2008 PSSA and AYP Results". 
11. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA Math and Reading results". 
12. ↑ "Warren Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF). 
13. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 2011). "Warren Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010" (PDF). 
14. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science". 
15. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 14, 2009). "2008-2009 PSSA and AYP Results in Science". 
16. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011". 
17. ↑ College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania". 
18. ↑ "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011. 
19. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Warren Area High School AYP Data Table 2011 & 2010". 
20. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "WARREN AREA HIGH SCHOOL - School AYP Data Table". 
21. ↑ Warren County School Administration (2011). "Warren County School District Course Description booklet" (PDF). 
22. ↑ Warren County High School Parent Newsletter, January 2010-11
23. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview" (PDF). 
24. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". 
25. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4". 
26. ↑ Brian Ferry (March 15, 2011). "Students express concerns about dual enrollment's affect on standing". 
27. ↑ Warren County School District Administration (2011). "Warren county School District Dual Enrollment". 
28. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Guidelines". 
29. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement". Retrieved March 2010.  Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
30. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Dual Enrollment Grants 2009 10 Fall Grants by School District". 
31. ↑ Warren County School District Administration (2011). "Improvement Plans - District and School". 
32. ↑ Warren County School Administration (2011). "Athletic / Co-Curricular Handbook". 
33. ↑ "Interscholastic Athletics Policy". 2011. 
34. ↑ "Intramural Athletics Policy". 2011. 
35. ↑ "Co-Curricular Policy". 2011. 
36. ↑ "Co-Curricular Programs Supported by Private Funding Policy". 2011. 
37. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities,". 
38. ↑ Warren County School Board (2011). "Participation of Home-Education Students in Co-Curricular Activities". 
39. ↑ "Students Enrolled in Private/Parochial Schools, Cyber Schools, Charter Schools, and Home School Programs Participation in Co-Curricular Activities Policy". 2011. 

Coordinates: 41°51′28″N 79°08′09″W / 41.8577°N 79.1359°W / 41.8577; -79.1359