Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School

Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School is a small suburban, public junior senior high school located at 805 West Centre Street, Shenandoah In Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. In 2015, enrollment was reported as 443 pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 59% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. Additionally, 20% of pupils received special education services, while 4.5% of pupils were identified as gifted.[7] The school employed 38 teachers according to US News and World Report's annual hIgh school ranking report.[8] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 12% of the teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[9] This is the sole junior high or senior high school operated by the Shenandoah Valley School District.

Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior HIgh School
Address
805 West Centre Street

Shenandoah
,
Schuylkill County
,
Pennsylvania
17976-1441

United States
Coordinates40.8195°N 76.2114°W / 40.8195; -76.2114
Information
TypePublic
School board9 locally elected members
SuperintendentMr Brian K Waite, (contract May 2, 2016 - May 1, 2021)[1] (salary - $115,000)[2]

Mr. Anthony Demailis (former Acting Superintendent)

Stanley G. Rakowsky former superintendent 1994-2015
AdministratorMr. Anthony Demalis, Business Manager

Mr. Phillip Andras, Director of Special Education
Michelle Zinkus, Jr/Sr High School Special Education Coordinator
Brooke Wowak, Elementary Supervisor of Special Education
Don Brown, Technology Coordinator

David Lukashunas, Maintenance supervisor
PrincipalMr. Phillip Andras
Grades7-12
Age12 years old to 21 years old special education
Number of pupils443 pupils (2015-16)[3]

467 pupils (2014-15)[4]
455 pupils (2010-11)

536 pupils (2005-06)[5]
 • Grade 7106 (2014), 69 (2010)
 • Grade 880 (2014), 76
 • Grade 981 (2014), 74
 • Grade 1059 (2014), 77
 • Grade 1177 (2014), 80
 • Grade 1265 (2014), 79 (2010)
LanguageEnglish
Color(s)    Columbia Blue and White
SongShenandoah Valley Alma Mater
Fight songOn, Wisconsin!
Athletics conferenceAnthracite Football League/Schuylkill League
MascotBlue Devils
YearbookThe Mirror
Feeder schoolsShenandoah Valley Elementary School
Per-pupil spending$10,542 (2008)

$12,616.39 (2010) 340th
$21,331.28 (2012) 19th in state

$17,669.96 (2014) ranked 76th in state[6]
WebsiteShenandoah Valley School District website

In 2014, Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School enrollment was reported as 467 pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 71% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 17.7% of pupils received special education services, while 2% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 27 teachers.[10] Per the PA Department of Education 100% of the teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School reported an enrollment of 455 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 296 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 41 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 11:1.[11] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 25 classes were taught by teachers who were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[12] The attendance rate was reported as 92%.

High school students may choose to attend Schuylkill Technology Centers for training in the construction trades, mechanical trades, as well as other careers. In 2015, 23 district pupils attended the tech school.[13] The district also offers SV Virtual Academy for pupils who desire to attend school online. The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit IU29 provides the district with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, speech and visual disability services and professional development for staff and faculty.

Graduation rate

In 2015, The district’s graduation rate was 88.8%.[14]

  • 2014 - 85%.[15]
  • 2013 - 80%[16]
  • 2012 - 67%.[17]
  • 2011 - 79%.[18]
  • 2010 - 79%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.[19]
According to traditional graduation rate calculations

Academic achievement
2015 School Performance Profile

Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School achieved a score of 60 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that just 69% of the students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 50% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, only 45% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[24] Statewide, 53 percent of schools with an eleventh grade achieved an academic score of 70 or better. Five percent of the 2,033 schools with 11th grade were scored at 90 and above; 20 percent were scored between 80 and 89; 28 percent between 70 and 79; 25 percent between 60 and 69 and 22 percent below 60. The Keystone Exam results showed: 73 percent of students statewide scored at grade-level in English, 64 percent in Algebra I and 59 percent in biology.[25][26]

2014 School Performance Profile

Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School achieved 54.7 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 62% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 51.8% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 40.5% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[27][28] Statewide, the percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in Algebra I increased to 39.7% to 40.1%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in reading/literature declined to 52.5%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in biology improved from 39.7% to 41.4%.[29]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,134 of 2,947 Pennsylvania public schools (72 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.[30] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.[31][32]

Compared with last year, the percentage of schools that earned below 60 declined by nearly 1 percent per Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq. She reported that this is an indication that student achievement is improving as school resources are being used better.[33]

2013 School Performance Profile

Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School achieved 59.1 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 60% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, only 43.69% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 40% showed on grade level science understanding.[34] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.[35]

AYP history

In 2012, Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School declined to School Improvement I Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to low graduation rate and chronic, low student academic achievement in both reading and mathematics. 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 district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.[36]

  • 2010 and 2011 declined to Warning AYP status.[37]
  • 2007 through 2009, Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School achieved AYP status.[38]
  • 2006 - Warning AYP status.[39]
PSSA results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[40]

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 39% of Shenandoah Valley 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.[41][42] 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.[43][44] 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

Shenandoah Valley High School does not offer the Pennsylvania 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.[45] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[46] 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.[47] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth budget, due to a state budget crisis.

SAT scores

In 2015, just 32 Shenandoah Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 443. The Math average score was 469. The Writing average score was 406.[48] The College Board also reported that statewide 96,826 pupils took the exams with average scores declining in all three measurers to: 495 in reading, 511 in math and 484 in writing.[49]

In 2014, 45 Shenandoah Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 415. The Math average score was 426. The Writing average score was 403.[50][51] Statewide in Pennsylvania, Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 480. The College Board also reported that nationwide scores were: 497 in reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing.[52]

In 2013, 59 Shenandoah Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 436. The Math average score was 457. The Writing average score was 415. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.[53]

In 2012, 42 Shenandoah Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 435. The Math average score was 441. The Writing average score was 440. 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, 47 Shenandoah Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 445. The Math average score was 461. The Writing average score was 438.[54] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[55] 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.[56]

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a research arm of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, compared the SAT data of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania to students in urban areas. From 2003 to 2005, the average total SAT score for students in rural Pennsylvania was 992, while urban students averaged 1,006. During the same period, 28 percent of 11th and 12th graders in rural school districts took the exam, compared to 32 percent of urban students in the same grades. The average math and verbal scores were 495 and 497, respectively, for rural students, while urban test-takers averaged 499 and 507, respectively. Pennsylvania’s SAT composite score ranked low on the national scale in 2004. The composite SAT score of 1,003 left Pennsylvania ranking 44 out of the 50 states and Washington, DC.[57]

AP Courses

In 2015, Shenandoah Valley High School offered 2 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The fee for each AP Exam is $91 (2014).[58] The school normally retains $9 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs. In 2012, the fee was $89 per test per pupil. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School none of the students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[59] In 2014, none of the pupils who took an AP course at Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School, achieved a 3 or better.[60]

Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School offered AP Music Theory in the 2014-2015 school year. AP courses are also offered through the Virtual Academy.

Graduation requirements

The Shenandoah Valley School Board has determined that a student must earn 22.5 credits to graduate.[61]

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.[62] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.[63]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2019,[64] public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.[65] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade. Students have several opportunities to pass the exam, with those who do not able to perform a project in order to graduate.[66][67] 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.[68] 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.[69] 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.

References
  1. PDE, ED Names and Addresses, 2016
  2. John E. Usalis (April 1, 2016). "Acting Crestwood super accepts job in Shenandoah district". The Citizens' Voice.
  3. PDE (2016). "Shenandoah Valley School District".
  4. PDE, Enrollment by LEA and School 2014-15, Nov 2014
  5. PDE, Enrollment by LEA and School 2005-06, Nov 2005
  6. PDE, Finances Selected Data 2013-14, 2014
  7. Pennsylvania Department of Education (November 4, 2015). "Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School Fast Facts 2015".
  8. US News and World Report, Best High Schools, 2015
  9. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2015). "Highly Qualified Teacher Guidelines". Archived from the original on 2016-06-24.
  10. US News and World Report, Best High Schools, 2014
  11. National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data - Shenandoah Valley High School, 2010
  12. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Shenandoah Valley High School 2012, September 21, 2012
  13. PDE, District Fast Facts 2015 Shenandoah Valley School District, December 4, 2015
  14. PDE, Graduation rate by LEA, 2015
  15. PDE, Graduation rate by LEA, 2014
  16. PDE, Graduation rate by LEA, 2013
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Shenandoah Valley School District AYP Data Table 2012". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shenandoah Valley School District AYP Data Table 2011, September 29, 2011
  19. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
  20. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shenandoah Valley School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 data table 2010, February 11, 2011
  21. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, September 14, 2010
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  27. Pennsylvania Department of Education (November 6, 2014). "Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School Academic Performance Data 2014".
  28. Evamarie Socha (November 6, 2014). "Half of Valley districts see state test scores decline". The Daily Item.
  29. Eleanor Chute (November 21, 2014). "Pennsylvania student scores declined with reduced funding, test results show". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  30. Acting Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq, Acting Secretary of Education Announces Results of 2013-14 School Performance Profile; Strong Performance in 72 Percent of Schools, November 6, 2014
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  34. Pennsylvania Department of Education, High School Academic Performance Data 2013, October 4, 2013
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  39. PDE, Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2006, 2006
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  62. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
  63. Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Proposed changes to Chapter 4, May 10, 2012
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  67. Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4".
  68. Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Board of Education Finalizes Adoption of Pennsylvania Common Core State Academic Standards and High School Graduation Requirements, March 14, 2013
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