Montgomery Area High School

Montgomery Area High School is a diminutive public high school in Montgomery, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. It is the sole high school operated by the Montgomery Area School District. The School serves: the borough of Montgomery as well as Clinton Township, Brady Township, and Washington Township in Lycoming County. In 2015, enrollment was reported as 364 pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 35.9% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 9% of pupils received special education services, while 1% of pupils were identified as gifted.^[5] The school employed 23 teachers.^[6] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The Board converted the high school to a joint junior and senior high school for 2014-15.

In 2013, Montgomery Area High School's enrollment was reported as 254 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 28% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 10% of pupils received special education services, while none of the pupils were identified as gifted. The School employed 23 teachers.^[7] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

In 2010, Montgomery Area High School had 279 students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 with 83 students qualifying for a federal free or reduce priced lunch due to family poverty. It employed 25 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.^[8] All of the teachers were highly qualified as defined by No Child Left Behind.^[9]

Graduation rate

In 2015, the District’s graduation rate was 96.97%.^[10]

• 2014 - 90.77%^[11]
• 2013 - 94.9%.^[12]
• 2012 - 92%.^[13]
• 2011 - declined to 89%.^[14]
• 2010 - 89%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.^[15]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 85%^[16]
• 2009 - 87%
• 2008 - 87%^[17]
• 2007 - 87% ^[18]
• 2005 - 86%

Graduation requirements

The Montgomery Area School Board has determined that a student must earn 28 credits to graduate, including: English 4 credits, Mathematics 4 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, Science 4 credits, and Health 1 course, Physical Education 2 courses, Drivers Education 1 course and enough electives to achieve 28 credits.^[19]

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.^[20] The students at Montgomery Area High School are required to complete a career planning project. 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.^[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] The students at Montgomery Area High School are required to complete a career planning project.

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

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Schools are mandated to provide targeted assistance to help the student be successful. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate.^[25][26] 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.^[27] 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.^[28] 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

Montgomery Area High School achieved 84.2 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement.The PDE reported that 94% of the High School’s students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 96% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 81% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[29] 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.^[30][31]

2014 School Performance Profile

Montgomery Area High School achieved 81.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 95% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 91.6% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 78% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[32][33] 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%.^[34]

2013 School Performance Profile

Montgomery Senior High School achieved 77.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 90.6% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 84% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 67% showed on grade level science understanding.^[35]

AYP history

In 2011 and 2012, Montgomery Area High School was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics.^[36] From 2003 through 2010, Montgomery Area High School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status each school year.^[37]

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 covered content from: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.^[38]

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 course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.^[39]

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 73% on grade level, (6% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[40]
• 2011 - 74% (12% below basic). State - 69.1% ^[41]
• 2010 - 73% (11% below basic). State - 66% ^[42]
• 2009 - 73% (4% below basic), State - 65% ^[43]
• 2008 - 63% (15% below basic), State - 65%^[44]
• 2007 - 76% (14% below basic), State - 65% ^[45]
• 2005 - 78%, 40% advanced (13% below basic), State - 65% ^[46]
• 2004 - 61%, 24% advanced (20% below basic), State - 61%

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 75% on grade level (5% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[47]
• 2011 - 78%, (3% below basic). State - 60.3%.^[48]
• 2010 - 72%, (14% below basic). State - 59% ^[49]
• 2009 - 78% (7% below basic). State - 56% ^[50]
• 2008 - 78% (5% below basic). State - 56% ^[51]
• 2007 - 63% (13% below basic). State - 53%^[52]
• 2005 - 76% (10% below basic). State - 51%
• 2004 - 72% (16% below basic). State - 49%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 42% on grade level (5% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[53]
• 2011 - 60% (5% below basic). State - 40%
• 2010 - 45%, (11% below basic). State - 39%^[54]
• 2009 - 49% (6% below basic). State - 40% ^[55]
• 2008 - 44% (7% below basic). State - 39% ^[56]

Science in Motion Montgomery Area 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.^[57] Susquehanna University provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 17% of Montgomery Area 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.^[58] 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.^[59] 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

Montgomery Area High School offers the Pennsylvania dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses at local higher education institutions to earn college credits. 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.^[60] Students may earn credits through Luzerne County Community College and Keystone College. They also have access Pennsylvania College of Technology NOW program.^[61] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[62] 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.^[63] In 2010, the District received a $6,320 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books. In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

ACE

Montgomery Area School District students 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.^[64] 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.^[65]

AP courses

In 2013, the High School offers 2 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The School offers AP Statistics and AP Calculus in 2013-14. The student pays the fee for the exam which was $89 per test per pupil in 2012. 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. Montgomery Area High School gives 1.5 credits towards graduation to students who take/pass the school's AP class. At Montgomery Area High School 7.5% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.^[66]

SAT scores

In 2014, 41 Montgomery Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 491. The Math average score was 522. The Writing average score was 435.^[67][68] 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.^[69] In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SATs in the United States.

In 2013, 36 Montgomery Area School District's Verbal Average Score was 493. The Math average score was 458. The Writing average score was 434. 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.^[70]

In 2012, 35 Montgomery Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 467. The Math average score was 489. The Writing average score was 444. 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, 42 Montgomery Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 481. The Math average score was 527. The Writing average score was 474.^[71] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[72] 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.^[73]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education 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.^[74]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that 71 percent of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania chose to continue their education after high school in 2003, whereas 79 percent of urban high school graduates opted to continue their education.

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. Montgomery Area School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the District received $102,358. For the 2008-09, school year the District received $45,413 for a total of $147,771. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.^[75] Among Lycoming County school districts, Jersey Shore Area School District received the largest grant - $428,436. 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

Montgomery Area School District administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the high school in 2014. Additionally, there was an assault on a student and three sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in three incidents at the school.^{[76] [77]} 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.^[78]

The Montgomery Area High School administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the High School in 2012. Additionally, there were and no sexual incidents involving students. There was one assault on a student reported. The local law enforcement was involved in two incidents at the schools, with two arrests.^[79][80] 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.^[81]

The Montgomery Area School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online.^[82] 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.^[83] 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.^[84][85] MOntgomery Area School District has a bullying prevention program called PRIDE.^[86]

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.^[87]

Wellness policy

Montgomery Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006.^[88] 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 Pennsylvania public school districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.^[89]

The federal 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.^[90] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Montgomery Area School District 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.^[91] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.^[92]

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.^[93] 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.^[94] 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 Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.^[95] 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.^[96]

Montgomery Area School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in 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.^[97] 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.^[98][99] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.^[100]

Extracurriculars

The Montgomery Area School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program. Several sports are offered in cooperation with the Muncy School District. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies.^[101][102] The District is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website. The sports programs are overseen by the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District 4 .^[103] The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region.

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 home schooled, 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.^{[104][105][106]}

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.^{[107][108][109]}

Sports

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.^[110] 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.^[111][112]

The District funds:

According to PIAA directory July 2014^[113]

References

Lycoming County, Pennsylvania Schools
Main School Districts East Lycoming Hughesville Junior Senior High School Loyalsock Township Loyalsock Township High School Montgomery Area Montgomery Area High School Montoursville Area Montoursville Area High School Muncy Muncy Junior-Senior High School South Williamsport Area South Williamsport Junior Senior High School Williamsport Area Williamsport Area High School
Other Schools Canton Area (partially located in Bradford and Tioga Counties) Canton Junior Senior High School Jersey Shore Area (partially located in Clinton County) Jersey Shore Area High School Private schools Williamsport Christian School Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton St. John Neumann Regional Academy High School Southern Tioga (partially located in Tioga County) North Penn-Liberty High School (Liberty, Tioga County, Pennsylvania) Mansfield High School (Mansfield, Pennsylvania) Wellsboro Area (partially located in Tioga County) Wellsboro Area High School Career and Technology School (VoTech) Lycoming Career and Technology Center