Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School

Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School is a diminutive, rural public high school. It is located at 51 North Fork Road, Westfield, in the western region of Tioga County, in Pennsylvania, USA. It is one of two public high schools operated by Northern Tioga School District. In 2015, Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School's enrollment was reported as 390 pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 51.5% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 11% of pupils received special education services, while 1.7% of pupils were identified as gifted. In 2014, enrollment was reported as 399 pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 47% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 12.7% of pupils received special education services, while 1% of pupils were identified as gifted. Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School employed 35 teachers in 2013.^[9] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

By 2013, Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School enrollment was 412 pupils (7th-12th) with 45% qualifying for a free or reduced-price lunch. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 360 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 177 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school was a federally designated Title I school in 2010. Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School employed 31 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.^[10] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.^[11]

In 2006, Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School enrollment was just 367 pupils in grades 7th through 12th.^[12]

The BLaST Intermediate Unit IU17 provides the Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, background checks for employees, state mandated recognizing and reporting child abuse training, speech and visual disability services and professional development for staff and faculty.^[13]

Graduation rate

• 2015 - 89.33%^[14]
• 2014 - 94.67%^[15]
• 2013 - 86%^[16]
• 2012 - 85% ^[17]
• 2011 - 96%
• 2010 - 90% ^[18]
• 2009 - 89%

Graduation requirements

The Northern Tioga School District School Board has determined that 26 credits are required for graduation, including English - 4 credits, Math - 3 credits, including Algebra and Geometry; Social Studies - 3 credits, including American Government, Science - 3 credits, including Science 9 & Biology; Physical Education - 2 credits, Health - 0.5 credit, Computer applications 1 credit, Fine or Practical Arts - 1 credit, Senior Project 1 credit that includes 40 hours community service and 7.5 credits of electives.^[19] In August 2013, the School Board approved adding a personal finance course to the graduation requirements.^[20]

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.^[21] 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.^[22]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2018,^[23] public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.^[24] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.^[25]

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate.^[26][27] 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.^[28] In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Literature exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level.^[29] 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.

Academics

2015 School Performance Profile

Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School achieved 73.7 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that 78% of the High School’s students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 70% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 70% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[30] 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.^[31][32]

2014 School Performance Profile

Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School achieved 73.6 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 78% were on grade level. In Algebra 1/Math, 76.8% showed on grade level skills. In Biology/science, only 50% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[33][34] 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%.^[35]

2013 School Performance Profile

Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School achieved 68.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 75% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 68% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 44% showed on grade level science understanding. In writing, 62% o fteh eighth graders demonstrated on grade level writing skills.^[36] 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, they now take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.

AYP history

In 2012, Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School declined to School Improvement Level I Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to chronic low student achievement in both reading and math.^[37] Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High 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, Northern Tioga School District was required to pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.^[38]

• 2011 - declined to Warning AYP status due to low student academic achievement.^[39]
• 2010 - achieved AYP status^[40]
• 2009 - declined to Warning AYP status due to low student academic achievement.^[41]
• 2008 - achieved AYP status^[42]
• 2007 - achieved AYP status^[43]
• 2006 - achieved AYP status^[44]
• 2005 - achieved AYP status^[45]
• 2004 - achieved AYP status^[46]
• 2003 - Warning AYP status, due to lagging student achievement^[47]

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.^[48] In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the applicable course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.^[49]

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 53% on grade level, (19% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[50]
• 2011 - 52% (29% below basic). State - 69.1%^[51]
• 2010 - 65%, State - 67% (55 pupils)^[52]
• 2009 - 54%, State - 65% (57 pupils enrolled)^[53]
• 2008 - 54%, State - 65% (62 enrolled)^[54]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 36% on grade level (33% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[55]
• 2011 - 41% (38% below basic). State - 60.3% ^[56]
• 2010 - 61%, State - 59% ^[57]
• 2009 - 40%, State - 56% ^[58]
• 2008 - 51%, State - 55%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 29% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[59]
• 2011 - 28% (20% below basic). State - 40% ^[60]
• 2010 - 41%, State - 39%
• 2009 - 33%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 30%, State - 39%

8th Grade Science

• 2012 - 64% on grade level (9% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 63% (9% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 52%, State - 57%
• 2009 - 60%, State - 55%
• 2008 - 45%, State - 52%

Science in Motion Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School did not take advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate.^[61] Cedar Crest College provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

Dropout Early Warning System

In 2013, Northern Tioga School District did not implement a no cost dropout prevention Early Warning System and Interventions Catalog at Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School.^[62] The process identifies students at risk for dropping out by examining the pupil’s: attendance, behavior and course grades. Interventions are implemented to assist at-risk pupils to remain in school. The program is funded by federal and private dollars.^[63]

AP Courses

Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School does not offer Advanced Placement courses.

SAT scores

In 2014, 44 Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 479. The Math average score was 489. The Writing average score was 461.^[64][65] 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.^[66] In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SATs in the United States.

In 2013, 30 Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 459. The Math average score was 458. The Writing average score was 432. 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.^[67]

In 2012, 28 Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School students took the SATs. The School's Verbal Average Score was 485. The Math average score was 478. The Writing average score was 443. 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, 40 students at Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School took the SAT exams. The school's Verbal Average Score was 475. The Math average score was 464. The Writing average score was 449.^[68] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[69] 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.^[70]

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.^[71]

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Northern Tioga School District was denied funding in 2006-07 by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In 2007-08, the District received $266,753 and in 2008-09 it received another $136,238 for a total funding of $402,991.^[72] The funding was shared between the three high schools in the District.

Among the public school districts in Tioga County, the highest award was given to Northern Tioga School District which received $514,344. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.

School safety and bullying

Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School administration reported there were four incidents of bullying in the school in 2014. Additionally, there were several assaults on students and no sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in one incident resulting in an arrest.^{[73] [74]} Each year the school safety data is reported by the district to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.^[75]

Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School administration reported there was one incident of bullying in the District in 2012. Additionally, there was on inident involving a weapon and one sexual incident involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in one incidents at the schools making 2 arrests.^[76]

The Northern Tioga School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online.^[77] All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the District must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.^[78] The Center for Schools and Communities works in with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.^[79][80] According to the Center for Disease Control’s biannual national study of high school students in 2009, five percent of Pennsylvania students did not go to school for at least one day because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to or from school.^[81]

Education standards relating to student safety and anti harassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.^[82]

Wellness policy

Northern Tioga School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006.^[83] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.^[84]

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.^[85] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.^[86] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.^[87]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.^[88] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.^[89] The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that Districts raise their full pay lunch prices every year until the price of non-subsidized lunches equals the amount the federal government reimburses schools for free meals. That subsidy in 2013-2014 was $2.93.

In 2014, President Barack Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.^[90][91]

The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.^[92][93]

Northern Tioga School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. A nurse is available in the Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.^[94][95] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.^[96]

Extracurriculars

The Northern Tioga School District offers an extensive program of after school clubs, arts programs and a costly interscholastic athletics program.^[97] Eligibility to participate is set by school board policy and communicated via the Athlete's Code of Conduct. Academic eligibility for athletic activities is based on the premise that academic performance is the keystone of the future and the standard against which participation is measured. Athletes must passing in all subjects, (60%). Grades are checked on a weekly basis.^[98] This exceeds the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) mandates which says that student athletes must be passing at least four full-credit subjects to participate in sports.^[99]

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 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.^[100]

According to PA Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Act 126 of 2014, all volunteer coaches and all those who assist in student activities, must have criminal background checks. Like all school district employees, they must also attend an anti child abuse training once every three years.^{[101][102][103]}

Sports

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.^[104] According to Pennsylvania’s Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.^[105][106] In 2015, Andrew Boyer serves as the Athletic Director. The School is in PIAA District 4.^[107]

Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School sports

Junior High School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2015^[108]

References

Tioga County, Pennsylvania Schools
Main School Districts Northern Tioga Cowanesque Valley Junior Senior High School Williamson Senior High School
Other Schools Canton Area (partially located in Bradford and Lycoming Counties) Canton Junior Senior High School Galeton Area (partially located in Potter County) Galeton Area High School Private schools New Covenant Academy Wesley Academy Southern Tioga (partially located in Lycoming County) North Penn-Liberty High School (Liberty, Tioga County, Pennsylvania) Mansfield High School (Mansfield, Pennsylvania) Wellsboro Area (partially located in Lycoming County) Wellsboro Area High School