Hopewell High School (Pennsylvania)

Hopewell Area School District region in Beaver County

Hopewell High School is a high school in Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The township is served by the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania post office, accounting for the mailing address. Hopewell High School is located at 1215 Longvue Avenue, Aliquippa. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, Hopewell High School reported an enrollment of 901 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 192 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch.

The high school employed 56 teachers yielding a student teacher ratio of 16:1.^[6] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 3 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[7]

Graduation Rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 97%.^[8] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Hopewell Senior High School's rate was 94% for 2010.^[9]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 94% ^[10]
• 2009 - 96% ^[11]
• 2008 - 97% ^[12]
• 2007 - 98% ^[13]

Academics

In 2010 and 2011, Hopewell High School achieved AYP status.^[14]

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 76% on grade level, (13% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[15]
• 2010 - 79% (7% below basic). State - 66% ^[16]
• 2009 - 83% (5% below basic). State - 65% ^[17]
• 2008 - 72% (13% below basic). State - 65% ^[18]
• 2007 - 67% (12% below basic). State - 65% ^[19]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 67% on grade level (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[20]
• 2010 - 72% (14% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 75% (11% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 59% (24% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 55% (24% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 57% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[21]
• 2010 - 48% (8% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 52% (4% below basic). State - 40% ^[22]
• 2008 - 38% (10% below basic). State - 39% ^[23]

SAT Scores

From January to June 2011, 151 Hopewell Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 473. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 462.^[24] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[25] 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.^[26]

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 26% of the Hopewell 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.^[27] 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.^[28] 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

Hopewell 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 offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.^[29] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[30] For the 2009-10 funding year, the Hopewell School District received a state grant of $4,874 for the program.^[31]

Graduation requirements

The Hopewell Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 22.5 credits to graduate including: math 3 units, English 4 units, social studies 3 units, science 3 units, Physical Education .25 unit each year, Health 0.5 unit, 3 units arts humanities and electives.^[32]

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.^[33]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 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.^[34][35][36] 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.^[37] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided district high schools 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. The Hopewell Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, Hopewell High School received $205,756. The high school received a final grant of $75,278 in 2008-09, for a total funding of $281,034.^[38] In Beaver County, the highest award was given to Freedom Area School District's high school at $476,723. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.

Extracurriculars

Hopewell High School offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy. There is an indoor pool which is available for public use.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.^[39]

Sports

Viking teams have held the following Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association championships: baseball, 1986; football, 2002; girls volleyball, 2004; girls basketball, 2006, 2007. Hopewell's girls volleyball team is a four-time defending champion in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League.

Notable alumni

• Daniel Chamovitz, noted biologist and author of What a Plant Knows
• Tony Dorsett, second overall pick in the 1977 NFL Draft, former Heisman Trophy winner at Pittsburgh, Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame, former NFL Player for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.
• Billy Evanochko, Singer/ Songwriter/ Guitarist of Billy The Kid and The Regulators. 2014 International Blues Challenge 3rd Place Band Winner, 2013 International Blues Challenge Best Self Produced CD Top 5 Finalist
• Nate Guenin plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
• Christa Harmotto, Penn State volleyball player, 2007 Big Ten Player of the Year, led team to 2007 NCAA volleyball championship, also broke Hopewell High School's record for hitting percentage and blocks.
• John W. Himes (United States Army 1998–Present) Football, Boxing, Wrestling
• Bill Koman, former NFL linebacker for the Baltimore Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Cardinals.
• Doc Medich, former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1972–1982 for five different teams.
• Stephen J. Matakovich, 20-year veteran and Sergeant of the Pittsburgh Police. Sgt. Matakovich has appeared on six episodes of COPS. Member of 1986 PIAA State Championship Baseball team.
• Jason McDole, appeared in Twyla Tharp's off-broadway show, "The Times They Are A-Changin," despite profound hearing loss that enables him to pick up only about 50 percent of normal sounds. He is currently a teacher in the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University^[40][41][42]
• Claude J. Nebel, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Office of Foreign Missions, U.S. Department of State
• Paul Posluszny, Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker, two time Bednarik Award winner, and 2005 Butkus Award winner.
• Dan Rains, former player of the Chicago Bears.
• Traci Reszetylo-Grimm, Rockette at Radio City Music Hall
• Curt Singer, former NFL player for the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and New York Jets.
• Jeffrey Snedden, Columnist for Beaver County Times^[43]
• Rushel Shell WPIAL career rushing yardage leader.
• Richard Swartz, better known as Lucky the Painproof Man,^[44] Certified Extraordinary by Ripley's Believe It or Not!^[45] and star of History Channel's Inventionland.^[46]
• Anthony Valvo, Columnist and Radio Host, Wrestleview.com

External links

• Hopewell High School
• Hopewell High School Library
• Hopewell High School Athletics
• Hopewell Viking Musicals

References

Coordinates: 40°35′17″N 80°15′11″W / 40.588°N 80.253°W / 40.588; -80.253