Cedar Cliff High School

Cedar Cliff High School
"LIFE at The Cliff."
Location
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, United States
Information
Type	High School
Established	1959
Principal	Kevin Fillgrove
Faculty	146
Grades	9-12
Number of students	approx. 1500
School Color(s)	blue and gold
Athletics	Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
Mascot	The Colt
Rival	Red Land Patriots
Website	[1]

West Shore School District region in Cumberland County

West Shore School District region in York County

Cedar Cliff High School is a coeducational public high school located in Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and is one of two high schools in the West Shore School District. It was formed in 1960 with the merger of West Shore High School and New Cumberland High School. The Cedar Cliff mascot is The Colt, and the school colors are blue, white and gold. The school is host to approximately 1500 students.

Academic achievement

In 2011, the high school declined to School Improvement II AYP status. In 2010, the school was on Making Progress: in School Improvement I status. In 2009, Cedar Cliff High School was in School Improvement I for chronic, low student achievement. According to the federal No Child Left Behind law, students must be offered the opportunity to transfer to a higher achievement high school within the district. The school was also required to create a school improvement plan and submit it to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval. <re>West SHore School District Adminstration (September 20-11). "West SHore School District - 2010-2011 PSSA Testing - Results and Status Update". http://www.wssd.k12.pa.us/files/121482/ayp%2Dpresentation.pdf. </ref>

Graduation Rate

• 2011 - 89%
• 2010 - 90%
• 2009 - 89%
• 2008 - 92%

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 67% on grade level, (17% below basic). 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 74%, State - 67%
• 2009 - 69%, State - 65%
• 2008 - 64%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 72%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 58%, on grade level (23% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 63%, State - 59%
• 2009 - 56%, State - 56%
• 2008 - 58%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 60%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 33% on grade level (20% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 43%, State - 39%
• 2009 - 46%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 34%, State - 39%

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 37% of West Shore School District 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. 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. 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.

Graduation requirements

In order to receive a diploma from West Shore School District a student must earn 29 credits in the following subject areas: English/Composition & Communication 5 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Math 3 credits, Physical Education & Health 2.34 credits.

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.

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.

Dual enrollment

The school district offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state funded 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 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. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. 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. For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $6,852 for the program.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. The school board determines eligibility for participation in coordination with respective individual governing organizations. Varsity and junior varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. In 2007–08 the district spent $910,900 on athletics. In 2007–08 West Shore spent $583,496 on school athletics (excluding coaches salaries). In 2010–11 the spending increased to $639,152 and in 2011–12 it has budgeted $600,680 for athletics. In October 2011, the school board voted to eliminate random drug testing of students who participate in extracurricular activities. Over the course of the program, six students were tested each at each high school each week for 899 tests administered, with just 37 positive results.

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.

Notable alumni

• Rikki Rockett - drummer of rock band Poison
• Kyle Brady - former tight end for the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New England Patriots
• Coy Wire - current linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons, originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills

External links

• Cedar Cliff High School website