Mifflinburg Area High School

Mifflinburg Area High School is a small, rural, public high school located at 75 Market Street, Mifflinburg, in Union County, Pennsylvania. It is the sole high school operated by the Mifflinburg Area School District. In 2013, the School's enrollment was reported as 586 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 32% of pupils eligible for a free or reduce priced lunch due to low family income. Additionally, 32% of pupils received special education services, while 3.4% of pupils were identified as being gifted.^[6] The school employed 47 teachers.^[7] Per the PA Department of Education 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The School is not a federally designated Title I school.

In 2010, Mifflinburg Area High School had 677 students enrolled in grades 9th through 12th with 164 students qualifying for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. By 2013, enrollment had declined to 586 students, with 32% being economically disadvantaged. In 2010, Mifflinburg Area High School employed 51 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.^[8] All of the teachers were rated Highly Qualified under the No Child Left Behind Law.^[9]

Mifflinburg Area High School students may choose to attend the award winning SUN Area Technical Institute for training in the building trades, engine mechanics, the food service industry or allied health industry. SUN Area Technical Institute is funded by payments from the funding Districts: Mifflinburg Area School District, Lewisburg Area School District, Midd-West School District, Selinsgrove Area School District and Shikellamy School District. The Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit IU16 provides the Mifflinburg Area High School 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.

Mifflinburg Area High School the borough of Mifflinburg, Buffalo Township, New Berlin, Limestone Township, West Buffalo Township, Lewis Township, Hartleton, and Hartley Township.

Graduation rate

In 2015, Mifflinburg Area School District's graduation rate was 92.9%.^[10]

• 2014 - 87.4%.^[11]
• 2013 - 91.48%^[12]
• 2012 - 88%.^[13]
• 2011 - 92%.^[14]
• 2010 - 92%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.^[15]

Former AYP graduation rate

• 2010 - 96% ^[16]
• 2009 - 91% ^[17]
• 2008 - 89%
• 2007 - 91% ^[18]
• 2006 - 91% ^[19]
• 2005 - 89% ^[20]

According to a Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children Report, in 2006, 37.6% of Mifflinburg High School graduates did not score proficient or advanced on Math and English PSSAs. The district's graduation requirements are defined in the Strategic Plan and school board policy.

School Performance Profile

2015 School Performance Profile

Mifflinburg Area HIgh School scored a 67.6 out of 100 on the state School Performance Profile in 2015. The PDE reported that 74.5% of the High School’s students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 82.7% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 75% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[21] 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.^[22][23]

2014 School Performance Profile

Mifflinburg Area High School achieved 75 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 85% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 79.5% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 67.88% showed on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[24] 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.^[25] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.^[26]

2013 School Performance Profile

In 2013, Mifflinburg Area High School achieved 84.7 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 86.67 were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 73.94% showed on grade level algebra skills. In Biology, 66.67% showed on grade level science understanding.^[27]

AYP History

In 2012, Mifflinburg Area High School remained in Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to missing 3 targets under No Child Left Behind, including graduation rate and math achievement.^[28] In 2011, Mifflinburg Area High School was in Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement. In 2010 and 2009, the High School achieved AYP.^[29]

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.^[30]

11th Grade Mathematics:

• 2012 - 64% on grade level. (13% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders were on grade level in math.^[31] Ranked 8th out of 18 IU16 high schools for math achievement.
• 2011 - 63% (10% below basic). State - 60%
• 2010 - 69%, State - 59% ^[32]
• 2009 - 64.1%, State - 56%. Ranked 6th out of 18 IU16 high schools for math.^[33][34]
• 2008 - 55.2%, State - 56% ^[35]
• 2007 - 51.9%, State - 53.7%
• 2006 - 54%, State - 52% ^[36]
• 2005 - 53%, State - 51%
• 2004 - 41%, State - 49%

11th grade Reading:

• 2012 - 78% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders were reading on grade level. Ranked 6th in CSIU16 region 11th grades for 11th grade reading achievement.
• 2011 - 73.4% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 69% Ranked 8th in CSIU16 region 11th grades for 11th grade reading.^[37]
• 2010 - 71%, State - 67%. Ranked 12th out of 18 high schools in IU16 region for reading.^[38]
• 2009 - 88%, State - 65%. Ranked 1st of 18 high schools in CSIU16 region in Reading.^[39]
• 2008 - 71.5%, State - 65% ^[40]
• 2007 - 75%, State - 65.4% ^[41]
• 2006 - 75%, State - 65.1% ^[42]
• 2005 - 80%, State - 65%
• 2004 - 67%, State - 61%

11th grade Science:

• 2012 - 60% on grade level. 4% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 55% (5% below basic). State - 40% ^[43]
• 2010 - 47.5%, State - 39% ^[44]
• 2009 - 50.7%, State - 40% ^[45]
• 2008 - 42%, State - 39%

Science in Motion Mifflinburg Area 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.^[46] Susquehanna University provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College Remediation rate

In January 2009, research was presented to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. The research examined course enrollment trends at the state’s 14 community colleges and the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The data, provided by PASSHE and the community colleges, showed that during the 2007-08 school year 20% of Mifflinburg Area High School graduates required costly remediation in math and/or reading before they could take regular college courses.^[47] This was the second highest remediation rate among the IU16 region's high schools.^[48]

SAT scores

In 2013, Mifflinburg Area High School students took the SAT exams. The School's Verbal Average Score was 504. The Math average score was 494. The Writing average score was 479. 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.^[49]

In 2012, 103 Mifflinburg Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 502. The Math average score was 503. The Writing average score was 478. 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, 108 Mifflinburg Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 499. The Math average score was 506. The Writing average score was 471.^[50] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[51] 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.^[52]

AP Courses

In 2013, Mifflinburg Area High School offered 8 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. 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 Mifflinburg Area High School 13% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.^[53]

ACE

Mifflinburg Area School District does not offer a dual enrollment program with area colleges, but the high school students do have access to Bloomsburg University's Summer College and Advanced College Experience (ACE) during the summer of their sophomore, junior and senior years (after high school graduation). Tuition is deeply discounted to 75% of the regular student rate.^[54] Successful students earn college credits that can be transferred to other Pennsylvania public colleges and universities through the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Center (PA TRAC) system.^[55]

School safety and bullying

The Mifflinburg Area High School administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the high school in 2012. Additionally, there was one assault on a student and two sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in seven incidents at the schools, with zero arrests.^{[56] [57]} 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.^[58]

The Mifflinburg Area School Board has provided the District's antibullying policy online.^[59] 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.^[60] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership 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.^[61][62]

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.^[63]

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. Mifflinburg Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the District received $198,569 and $59,896 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $258,465.^[64] Among the public school districts in Union County the highest award was given to Mifflinburg Area School District. 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.

Tuition

Students who live in the Mifflinburg Area School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Mifflinburg Area School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are: Elementary School - $8,004, High School - $9,186.^[65]

Wellness policy

Mifflinburg Area School Board established a district-wide Student Wellness policy in 2006.^[66] 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.^[67]

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.^[68] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Mifflinburg Area 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.^[69] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.^[70]

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.^[71] 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.^[72] In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.^[73] 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.^[74]

Mifflinburg Area School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available at the 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.^[75][76] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.

Extracurriculars

Mifflinburg Area School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. The District spent over $500,000 in 2013-14 (excluding facilities and transportation costs) providing these activities.^[77][78] Eligibility for participation is determined by Mifflinburg Area School Board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Students may be failing up to two courses and remain eligible to participate in sports and other extracurriculars.^[79] The District is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website.

The Mifflinburg Area School District is a member of the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference for all athletics and participates under the rules and guidelines of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region.

Mifflinburg Area High School offers: FFA, Interact Club (Rotary related), Key Club (Kiwanis related), National Honor Society Laurel Chapter, Outdoors Club, Ski Club, Technology Student Association (TSA), and Student Government.

Mifflinburg School District is known for its music program, which hosts a concert and chamber choir, marching and concert bands, as well as a jazz band and pep band. The school's drama department is a local favorite for their fall production (usually a play) and their spring production (usually a musical). The District charges students $30 a year to be in band.^[80]

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.^[81]

Sports

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.^[82][83] The District charges a $30 activity fee to athletes.^[84]

The District funds: Mifflinburg Area School District coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.^[85]

According to PIAA directory July 2013 ^[86]

References

Union County, Pennsylvania Schools
Main School Districts Lewisburg Area Lewisburg Area High School Donald H Eichhorn Middle School Mifflinburg Area Mifflinburg Area High School Mifflinburg Area Middle School
Other Schools Milton Area (partially located in Northumberland County) Milton Area High School Milton Middle School Warrior Run (partially located in Northumberland and Montour Counties) Warrior Run High School Warrior Run Middle School Career and Technology School (VoTech) SUN Area Technical Institute