Pottsville Area High School
| Pottsville Area High School | |
|---|---|
| wave | |
 |
|
|
roll tide
|
|
| Location | |
| 16th Street and Elk Avenue Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Public school, secondary |
| Established | 1853 |
| Oversight | Pottsville Area School District |
| Dean | John Powers |
| Principal | Jacqueline Wapinsky |
| Faculty | 80 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 1,250 |
| Campus | 16th and Elk Avenue |
| Color(s) | Crimson and White |
| Mascot | Crimson Tide |
| Crimson tide Average | 100 |
| Newspaper | Tide Lines |
| Yearbook | Hi-S-Potts |
| Website | http://www.pottsville.k12.pa.us/pahs/ |
Pottsville Area High School is a coeducational public high school located in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pottsville Area School District and is the largest public high school in Schuylkill County. It was founded in 1853 and has an enrollment of approximately 1,250 students in ninth through twelfth grades.[1] Students from neighboring Saint Clair Area School District attend the high school, with their district paying tuition to PASD.
Contents |
[edit] History
Founded in 1853, the Pottsville Area High School offers a comprehensive program for approximately 1250 ninth through twelfth grade students residing within the city limits as well as in neighboring communities and townships. It is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The school building, with its Italian Gothic brickwork, retains its architectural and historical integrity while housing modern facilities such as four science labs, a planetarium and observatory, four computer labs, three art and two music studios, and two gymnasiums. The library has a collection of 10,000 volumes and more than 40 magazine subscriptions and access to resources throughout the state through computer systems. A formal 1500-seat auditorium and a little theater are unique features of the building. Within the district complex are tennis courts, athletic fields, and a sports complex including a natatorium.
[edit] Graduation Rate
[edit] High School
The high school is in School Improvement I AYP status due to persistently low graduation rate in 2010. The attendance rate was reported as 94%.
- PSSA Results
- 11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 76% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level.[6]
- 2009 - 68%, State - 65% [7]
- 2008 - 60%, State - 65%[8]
- 2007 - 60%, State - 65% [9]
- 11th Grade Math
- 2010 - 60% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 55%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 36%, State - 56% [10]
- 2007 - 50%, State - 53%
- 11th Grade Science
- 2010 - 36% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 31%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 27%, State - 39%
[edit] Graduation requirements
The Pottsville Area School Board has determined that students must earn 23 credits to graduate including: 4 credits of English, 4 credits of Social Studies, 4 credits of Mathematics, 3 credits of Science, 2 credits of Humanities 1 credit of Health and Electives. Additionally, proficiency on the PSSA Reading and Mathematics Examinations or successful completion of English 12 and/or Mathematics 12 is required.[11]
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.[12]
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 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.[13]
[edit] Curriculum
Pottsville Area High School has an extensive catalogue of elective courses available to its students. The courses can range anywhere from Exploring Microsoft Office to Advanced Placement Calculus.
- Credits: The primary requirement for Pottsville Area High School students to graduate is to obtain 23 credits from their courses. Credits are arbitrarily assigned values of either 1 credit or .5 credits depending on its length, with year classes being worth 1 credit and semester courses being worth .5 credits. Credits also determine if a student is allowed to pass on to the next grade level. Students also have a required amount of credits they need to take each year, though atypically the required credits are surpassed by the amount of credits given with their required classes per year.
- Quality points: As well as being worth credits, all courses are worth specific quality points. While not required to graduate, quality points determine class rank and the valedictorian. Courses are assigned quality points based on length and difficulty. As of the 08-09 school year the quality point system will be revised with a larger range of points. Advanced courses will then be worth 6.0 quality points while semester courses will be worth 1.5-2.0 quality points. Standard year classes will continue to be worth 4.0 quality points. However, unlike credits, quality points are multiplied by the students final grade for the year. Therefore, a student who averages a B in the first marking period in a 4.0 class will only receive 3.0 quality points. At the end of each year quality points are totaled and class ranks are assigned accordingly.
- College remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 23% of Pottsville Area 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.[14] 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.[15] 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.
[edit] Dual enrollment
The 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. 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 offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[16] In 2010 the district received $2,832.00. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[17] 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.[18]
[edit] Extracurricular
[edit] Performing Arts
- Marching and Concert Band: Pottsville is also home to one of the most advanced big ten style marching band and an excellent concert band. One of the band's trademark drills is the Script Tide which is modeled after the famous Ohio State University Marching Band. The PAHS Stage Band is one of the most influential Jazz bands in the area. Such greats coming out of this band were Alan Reese, Craig Shoener, Ron D'Angelo, Dave Sterner, Ron Stabinsky, and Lawrence O. Koch. The band has worked with professional jazz trumpet players Dave Stahl, Vaughn Nark, and Andy Gravish. The Stage band participates in many of the adjudications, finishing with top honors.
Directors:
Professor George Seltzer-(c.1900-1927) Mr. Earl Haviland-(1928–1932) Mr. Leo Minnichbach-(1933–1952) Mr. Arthur Delpaz-(1953–1971) Mr. Rollin Miller-(1972–1977) Mr. Richard Fries-(1978–present)
[edit] Athletics
Pottsville Area High School has a longstanding tradition of football dating back to the days of the Pottsville Maroons. The school is as of late known as a three time District XI championship holder, losing the title in the 2007 season. Pottsville Area High School also went to two State Championship games back-to-back, but lost. Pottsville Area High School's primary football rival is Reading High School. The two schools compete annually for a trophy known as "The Rock" (in reality a large chunk of coal) - their upcoming game on October 22, 2010 will be the 89th meeting between the two schools. The trophy is currently in the possession of Pottsville.
Pottsville's biggest rival for all sports is Blue Mountain High School, as the two schools are separated by less than five miles and are the two largest schools in Schuylkill County.
[edit] Boys
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football:
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Wrestling
[edit] Girls
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
(Girls teams participate under the nickname "Lady Tide")
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Pottsville Area High School". Pottsville Area School District. 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-12-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20061211100924/http://www.pottsville.k12.pa.us/pahs/index.html. Retrieved 2007-01-07.
- ^ "Pottsville Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010". http://www.scribd.com/doc/48559221/Pottsville-Area-School-District-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 14, 2010). "Pottsville Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card". http://www.scribd.com/doc/48559188/Pottsville-High-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2010.
- ^ The Times-Tribune (June 25, 2009). "Schuylkill County Graduation Rates 2008". http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools/2008-graduation-rates-1.85916?appSession=991199429753633#axzz1CqEf2ZfQ.
- ^ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. "High School Graduation rate 2007". http://www.scribd.com/doc/23571629/PA-High-School-Graduation-Info-by-School-District-2007. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
- ^ "2010 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 14, 2010). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442.
- ^ "The 2008 PSSA Mathematics and Reading School Level Proficiency Results (by Grade and School Total)". August 2008. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2007-2008_pssa_and_ayp_results/507514.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PSSA Math and Reading results by School and Grade 2007". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2006-2007_pssa_and_ayp_results/507511.
- ^ "Math PSSA Scores by District 2007-08 Pottsville Area School District Results". The Times-Tribune. June 25, 2009. http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools#axzz1DdB73VRc.
- ^ Pottsville Area School Board. "PAHS Graduation Requirements Classes of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014". http://www.pottsville.k12.pa.us/pasd/Schools/Pottsville%20Area%20High%20School/Curriculum/Graduation%20Requirements/.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements". http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.24.html.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". http://www.scribd.com/doc/47925315/Pennsylvania-Keystone-Exams-Overview-Sept-2010.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report". http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report.
- ^ National Center for Education Statistics
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Department of Education - Dual Enrollment Guidelines.". http://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement.". March 2010. http://www.patrac.org/.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. (April 29, 2010). "Report: PA College Credit Transfer System Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Accessible". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7201&PageID=510952&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/single_web/newsroom_press_releases/news_releases/report__pa_college_credit_transfer_system_makes_higher_education_more_affordable__accessible.html.
