Albert Gallatin High School

Albert Gallatin High School is a public high school, serving nearly 1,111 students (2010) in the eight south-western municipalities of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The present-day AGHS is located in Georges Township five miles south of Uniontown proper. Five hundred forty nine students were eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty in 2012.

Albert Gallatin High School
Address
1119 Township Drive

Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania

Uniontown
,
Pennsylvania
15401
Information
School typePublic high school
Established1951
School districtAlbert Gallatin Area School District
NCES District ID4202100
SuperintendentCarl Bezjak
NCES School ID420210006001
PrincipalJason Hutchison
Staff35
Faculty71 (2010)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,100[2] (2016-17)
Student to teacher ratio16.25
Color(s)Black and silver    
Athletics conferenceWPIAL, PIAA District VII
NicknameAG
Team nameColonials
RivalLaurel Highlands Uniontown
Communities servedFairchance, Masontown, Point Marion, Smithfield
Feeder schoolsAG North Middle School
AG South Middle School
WebsiteAlbert Gallatin High School

School history

Albert Gallatin High School was originally created in 1951,[3] consolidating the Masontown and Point Marion high schools at the present-day AG Middle School South campus, near Point Marion. It was not until 1986 that the present building (the former Fairchance-Georges High School) was used as the sole High School for the district, combining all three (at that time) district's High Schools and creating two Middle Schools. The name was briefly changed to Tri-Valley High School, representing the changes. Finally, in 1993, the school board renamed the school to its present name, to reflect the founding father of the area, Albert Gallatin. Within 1993 and now, the school had a complete renovation and addition process, as well as technology improvements, and a new Athletic Complex,[4] including a new fieldhouse.

AYP history

In 2012, Albert Gallatin High School declined to Corrective Action Level I due to ongoing low student achievement.[5] Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer the parent the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the District. Additionally the school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.[6] In 2011, High School remained in School Improvement level II status.[7] The Albert Gallatin Area High School declined to School Improvement II status in 2010 due to continuing low student academic achievement. The school achieved one of 8 academic achievement assessment criteria.[7] The high school was in School Improvement I in 2009.

In 2011, the high school's 11th grade ranked 105th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools based on five years of results in PSSAs on: reading, math writing and three years of science.[8]

  • 2010 – 97th [9]
  • 2009 – 104th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools [10]

Graduation rate

In 2012, Albert Gallatin High School's graduation rate declined to 80% [11] In 2011, the graduation rate was 86%.[12] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Albert Gallatin Area school District's graduation rate was 79% for 2010.[13]

Former AYP graduation rate

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading
  • 2012 - 57% on grade level, (24% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[18]
  • 2011 - 59%, (19% below basic). State - 69.1% [19]
  • 2010 - 54%, (28% below basic). State - 67% [20]
  • 2009 - 53%, State - 65%
  • 2008 - 59%, State - 65% [21]
  • 2007 - 59%, State - 65% [22]
  • 2006 - 58%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math
  • 2012 - 46% on grade level (33% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[23]
  • 2011 - 53%, (18% below basic). State - 60.3% [24]
  • 2010 - 40%, (37% below basic). State - 56%
  • 2009 - 48%, State - 56% [25]
  • 2008 - 38%, State - 56% [26]
  • 2007 - 39%, State - 53%
  • 2006 - 44%, State - 52% [27]

11th Grade Science
  • 2012 - 26% on grade level (27% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[28]
  • 2011 - 24% on grade level (31% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.[29]
  • 2010 - 25% (29% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 27%, State - 40%
  • 2008 - 15%, State - 39% [30]

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, "23% of the school district's 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 schools or community colleges.[31] 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.[32] 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 offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[33] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[34] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $16,103 for the program.

SAT scores

From January to June 2011, 134 Albert Gallatin students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 454. The Math average score was 471. The Writing average score was 442.[35] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[36] 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.[37]

School Improvement Grant

The Albert Gallatin High School was awarded the School Improvement Grant, or SIG grant. The grant included some new equipment for educational purposes. It was eligible for funding due to the chronic, low achievement at the high school.[38]

In 2010, Pennsylvania received $141 million from the federal –US Department of Education, to turn around its worst-performing schools. The funds were disbursed via a competitive grant program.[39] The Pennsylvania Department of Education has identified 200 Pennsylvania schools as "persistently lowest achieving," making them eligible for this special funding.[40] Pennsylvania required low performing schools to apply or provide documentation about why they had not applied. The funds must be used, by the district, to turn around schools in one of four ways: school closure, restart - close the school and reopen it as a charter school. The other two options involve firing the principal. One would require at least half the faculty in a chronically poor performing school be dismissed. The second involves intensive teacher training coupled with strong curriculum revision or a longer school day.[41]

Extracurriculars and athletics

A plethora of athletic sports programs and extracurricular activities are available at AG.

Athletics

Albert Gallatin High School is a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL). Albert Gallatin is in PIAA District 7.

Boys

Baseball - AAAA
Basketball - AAAA 06-07 WPIAL runner-up
Cross Country - AAA
Football - AAA
Golf - AAAA
Soccer - AAA
Track and Field - AAA
Wrestling - AAA

Girls
Basketball - AAAA
Cross Country - AAA
Soccer - AAA
Softball - AAAA
Track and Field - AAA
Volleyball - AAA

Extracurricular activities
  • Academic League
  • Art Club
  • Band
  • Chorus/Choir
  • Drama Club
  • Future Business Leaders
  • Future Educators of America
  • Geology Club
  • Homecoming
  • Interact Club
  • Math Team
  • Mock Trial
  • NAACP Youth Club
  • Newspaper
  • Olympics of the Mind
  • S.A.D.D.
  • Ski Club
  • Student Council
  • Video Productions (AGTV)
  • Web Page Club
  • Yearbook
  • Young Astronauts

References
  1. National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data - Albert Gallatin Area School District, 2010
  2. "Albert Gallatin Area SHS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  3. "Choose Our District". Albert Gallatin School District. Archived from the original on 2012-05-07. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  4. "District - About Us". Albert Gallatin School District. Archived from the original on 2012-05-07. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  5. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "ALBERT GALLATIN AREA School District AYP Status 2012". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  6. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2012). "Pennsylvania Accountability System Frequently Asked Questions".
  7. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 2011). "Albert Gallatin Area School District AYP Report". Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  8. "Pittsburgh Business Times 11th Grade Ranking Information". April 10, 2011. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  9. "PBT Honor Roll rank". April 30, 2010.
  10. The Rankings: 11th grade, Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009.
  11. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Albert Gallatin High School AYP Data Table 2012". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  12. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "ALBERT GALLATIN AREA High School AYP Data Table". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  13. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented". Archived from the original on September 14, 2010.
  14. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "Albert Gallatin Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 Data table". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Albert Gallatin Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009 Performance levels". Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Albert Gallatin Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2008".
  17. "Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children - Graduation rate Pennsylvania High Schools 2007". Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2012). "2011-2012 PSSA and AYP Results".
  19. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  20. Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 2010). "2009 -2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
  21. Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 15, 2008). "Albert Gallatin Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2008".
  22. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "Albert Gallatin Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2007".
  23. Pittsburgh Post Gazette (October 15, 2012). "How is your school doing?".
  24. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Albert Gallatin Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  25. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  26. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PSSA Math and Reading Results by School 2008".
  27. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Albert Gallatin Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2006".
  28. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Albert Gallatin Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  29. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
  30. Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 15, 2008). "Report on Science PSSA Results 2008".
  31. Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 20, 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report". Archived from the original on May 3, 2012.
  32. National Center for Education Statistics
  33. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Guidelines".
  34. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (March 2010). "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement".
  35. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011". Archived from the original on 2011-10-15.
  36. College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania". Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
  37. "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011.
  38. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "School Improvement grants 2010". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17.
  39. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "School Improvement information".
  40. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania School Improvement Grant Components_Stat_Requirements". Archived from the original on 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  41. Pennsylvania Department of Education (June 9, 2010). "Pennsylvania School Improvement Grant Components_Stat_Requirements" (PDF).

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.