West Allegheny School District

The West Allegheny School District is a midsized, suburban public school district which is located in the western corner of Allegheny County, approximately 16 miles (26 km) from downtown Pittsburgh. The district comprises Findlay Township, North Fayette Township, and the Oakdale Borough. The district encompasses approximately 59 square miles (150 km2) and is the largest in Allegheny County in terms of geographical area. The West Allegheny School District is home of the Pittsburgh International Airport terminal. West Allegheny was formed in 1949.

West Allegheny School District
Address
100 Bruno Lane
Imperial
, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 15126
United States
District information
TypePublic
GradesK–12
Established1949
SuperintendentDr. Jerri Lynn Lippert
Schools5
Students and staff
District mascotIndian
ColorsScarlet and Grey
Other information
Websitewww.westasd.org

Facilities

Academic achievement

The West Allegheny School District was ranked 6th out of 105 western Pennsylvania school districts in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for: math, reading, writing and 1 year of science.[1] In 2008, the school district ranked 6th out of 105 western Pennsylvania districts and was 23rd out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts. In 2007 the district was ranked 34th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts for student academic achievement.[2]

Graduation rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. West Allegheny Senior High School's rate was 92% for 2010.[3]

Under the former calculation formula::

  • 2010 – 95% [4]
  • 2009 – 97%
  • 2008 – 97%[5]
  • 2007 – 98%[6]

Senior high school

West Allegheny Senior High School's 11th grade was ranked 13th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, based on three years of results in PSSAs on: reading, math, writing and one year of science.[7] The SHS is home of the Schools TV channel West Allegheny TV, or WATV which is found on local listings channel 45. This channel includes West A Today News such as weather, school cancellations, district or school info (upcoming events, etc.).

The SHS publishes their school newspaper Indian Tribune, and a magazine called the Red Review. The SHS is also home to the districts newspaper called West A Today which puts the news channel into the newspaper. The MS also has their personal school TV show which performs the same as the SHS use. The SHS is also home to the WA RADIO, local radio channel 104.3 FM. The MS also publishes their own school newspaper and magazine called the Indian Today and the WAMS review.

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading

  • 2010 – 76% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.[8]
  • 2009 – 79%, State – 65%[9]
  • 2008 – 73%, State – 64%
11th Grade Math:
  • 2010 – 71% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
  • 2009 – 78%, State – 55% [10]
  • 2008 – 58%, State – 56%

11th Grade Science:

  • 2010 – 51% on grade level. State – 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
  • 2009 – 68%, State – 39%
  • 2008 – 38%, State – 39% [11]

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, including the graduation ceremony. 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.[12] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[13]

Middle school

In 2009, the 8th grade was ranked 7th out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on three years of student academic achievement in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science.[14] (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County

8th Grade Reading:
  • 2010 – 87% on grade level. State – 82% of 8th graders were on grade level.[15]
  • 2009 – 90%, State – 80.9%[16]
  • 2008 – 82%, State – 78%
8th Grade Math:
  • 2010 – 79% on grade level. State – 75% of 8th graders were on grade level.
  • 2009 – 80%, State – 71% [17]
  • 2008 – 65%, State – 70% [18]
8th Grade Science:
  • 2010 – 72% on grade level. State – 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
  • 2009 – 63%, State – 55% [19]
  • 2008 – 61%, State – 50%
7th Grade Reading:
  • 2010 – 87% on grade level. State – 73% of 7th graders were on grade level.
  • 2009 – 82%, State – 71% [16]
  • 2008 – 81%, State – 70%
7th Grade Math:
  • 2010 – 89% on grade level. State – 78% of 7th graders were on grade level
  • 2009 – 86%, State – 75%
  • 2008 – 84%, State – 70% [18]

6th Grade Reading:

  • 2010 – 81% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 68% of 6th graders are on grade level.
  • 2009 – 83% (3% below basic), State – 67%
  • 2008 – 78% (5% below basic), State – 67%

6th Grade Math:

  • 2010 – 86% on grade level (5% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 78% of 6th graders are on grade level.
  • 2009 – 81% (4% below basic), State – 75%
  • 2008 – 67% (16% below basic), State – 72%

Football: team history

The high school's football team was founded along with the school district in 1949. The team has become a powerhouse program in both the WPIAL and the PIAA over the past 20 years under head coach Bob Palko. Under Palko's leadership, the Indians have won 8 WPIAL championships, the most recent of which coming in 2016, have appeared in 3 PIAA championship games, and won the 2001 AAA state title.

Throughout this time span, the team has sent several players on to play at NCAA Division I schools and the National Football League. In 2001, the Associated Press named Tyler Palko, son of former head coach Bob Palko, the 2001 Pennsylvania Big School Player of the Year. He was also a member of the USA Today All-America Team (Second-team) and three-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette WPIAL Class AAA Player of the Year. Palko led his West Allegheny Indians to a PIAA state title in 2001 for AAA in Pennsylvania and has since played for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and numerous professional teams. Other notable football alums include Dorin Dickerson and C.J. Davis, who both went on to play for Pitt and in the NFL.

Through the 1960s and 1970s West Allegheny shared an intense rivalry with Fort Cherry School District, though this has faded due to an increase in enrollment at West Allegheny and a decrease in enrollment at Fort Cherry, which placed the two schools in different classifications based on school size. More recent and current rivals include Moon, Montour, South Fayette, and Chartiers Valley. Rivals in 5A are Woodland Hills, North Hills and McKeesport

Before the mid-1990s, the Indians competed in Class AA, the third-largest of the four classifications based on enrollment. As the school's enrollment increased, the team was then moved to the AAA level, where in remained through the 2015 season. When the WPIAL and PIAA switched to a six-classification system beginning with the 2016–17 academic year, the football team was placed in class 5A, the second-largest of the six new classifications.

History in the WPIAL and PIAA Playoffs since 1993

Year Classification Farthest Round Final Score
1993 AA WPIAL Semi-finals Washington 17, West Allegheny 14 (OT)
1997 AAA PIAA Semi-finals Perry 29, West Allegheny 17
1998 AAA WPIAL Quarterfinals Highlands 21, West Allegheny 11
1999 AAA PIAA Championship Strath Haven 21, West Allegheny 7
2000 AAA PIAA Championship Strath Haven 31, West Allegheny 28
2001 AAA PIAA Championship West Allegheny 28, Strath Haven 13
2002 AAA WPIAL Quarterfinals Pine-Richland 28, West Allegheny 7
2003 AAA WPIAL First Round Highlands 7, West Allegheny 6
2004 AAA WPIAL Semi-finals West Mifflin 23, West Allegheny 22
2005 AAA WPIAL Semi-finals Thomas Jefferson 35, West Allegheny 0
2006 AAA WPIAL First Round Franklin Regional 30, West Allegheny 14
2007 AAA WPIAL Quarterfinals Thomas Jefferson 49, West Allegheny 21
2009 AAA PIAA Semi-finals Manheim Central 45, West Allegheny 27
2010 AAA WPIAL Quarterfinals Mars 29, West Allegheny 3
2011 AAA WPIAL First Round Knoch 28, West Allegheny 7
2012 AAA PIAA Quarterfinals Erie Cathedral Prep 27, West Allegheny 13
2013 AAA PIAA Quarterfinals Erie Cathedral Prep 28, West Allegheny 0
2014 AAA WPIAL Championship Central Valley 35, West Allegheny 28
2015 AAA WPIAL Quarterfinals Thomas Jefferson 14, West Allegheny 0
2016 AAAAA PIAA Semi-finals Harrisburg 42, West Allegheny 10

Notable alumni

References
  1. Western Pennsylvania School District Rankings, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009.
  2. Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 23, 2007.
  3. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
  4. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2010). "West Allegheny Senior High School – School AYP Data Table 2010" (PDF).
  5. "Allegheny County School District Graduation rate 2008". The Times Tribune. 2009.
  6. Pennsylvania Partnership for Children. "High School Graduation Rates 2007". Archived from the original on November 5, 2012.
  7. The Rankings: 11th grade, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009. http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2009/05/18/focus16.html
  8. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009–2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
  9. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "West Allegheny School District Report Card 2009" (PDF).
  10. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  11. Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 2008). "Report on PSSA Science 2008".
  12. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Guidelines". Archived from the original on October 17, 2014.
  13. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement". Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  14. The Rankings: Eighth grade, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009.
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "West Allegheny Middle School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010" (PDF).
  16. West Allegheny Middle School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education PSSA Results Math and Reading School 2009
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education PSSA Results Math and Reading School 2008
  19. Pennsylvania Department of Education PSSA Results Science School 2009
  20. CBS Sports. "Tyler Palko; Player Profile". CBS Sports; CBS Broadcasting Inc.; Sportsline.com. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  21. "Arizona Cardinals; Tyler Palko No. 3 QB". NFL; ESPN. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
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