West Perry School District

West Perry Area School District
Address
2606 Shermans Valley Road Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania, Perry, 17024 United States
Information
School board	9 elected members
Superintendent	Dr. Rhonda A. Brunner
Grades	K-12
Kindergarten	185
Grade 1	188
Grade 2	192
Grade 3	193
Grade 4	184
Grade 5	218
Grade 6	215
Grade 7	216
Grade 8	215
Grade 9	232
Grade 10	223
Grade 11	226
Grade 12	211
Other	Enrollment projected to decline to 2643 in 2016
Mascot	Mustang
Website	http://www.westperry.org

The West Perry School District is a public school district located in Perry County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses over 300 square miles (780 km²), covering virtually all of the western half of the county, with Newport School District, Greenwood School District, and Susquenita School District located in the more populated east. Students who live in the Horse Valley section of Toboyne Township in the far western part of the county attend Fannett-Metal School District in Franklin County. West Perry School District encompasses approximately 325 square miles. According to 2008 local census data, it serves a resident population of 17,101. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income was $17,802, while the median family income was $47,210 a year. Per District officials, in school year 2007–08, the West Perry School District provided basic educational services to 2,722 pupils through the employment of 237 teachers, 172 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 20 administrators. The demographics of the district students are: 98% white, 0% asian, 1% black and 1% Hispanic.

West Perry School District currently operates three elementary schools (K-5th): Blain Elementary School, Carroll Elementary School, and New Bloomfield Elementary School. West Perry High School (9th–12th) and West Perry Middle School (6th −8th) are located in Green Park, Tyrone Township. Additionally, the district operates Hidden Valley School which is a full-time emotional support facility for students who benefit from an alternate educational setting. Hidden Valley students are in grades 6–12 from the West Perry School District, along with students from other districts in Perry County.

Governance

The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.

The district is served by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15 which offers a variety of services including: a completely developed K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.

Academic achievement

In 2011, West Perry School District was ranked 419th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic achievement on five years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing, math and three years of science.

• 2010 – 424th
• 2009 – 448th
• 2008 – 424th
• 2007 – 400th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts.

In 2011, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. West Perry School District ranked 485th. The paper describes the ranking as: "the ranking answers the question – which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."

• 2010 – 491st
• 2009 – 491st

In 2009, the student academic achievement of the students of the West Perry School District was in the 9th percentile of the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania. Scale (0–99; 100 is state best)

Graduation Rate

In 2011, the district's graduation rate was 88%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. West Perry School District's rate was 69% for 2010.

Traditional method of reporting:

• 2010 – 85%
• 2009 – 82%
• 2008 – 82%
• 2007 – 85%

High school

In 2011, the school declined to School Improvement I status due to poor student achievement. In 2010, the school was in Warning status due to low student performance.

PSSA Results:

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 62% on grade level, (18% below basic). 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 – 60%, State – 67%
• 2009 – 61%, State – 65%
• 2008 – 48%, State – 65%
• 2007 – 61%, State – 65%
• 2006 – 63%, State – 69%

11th Grade Math

• 2011 - 46%, on grade level (32% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 – 47%, State - 59%
• 2009 – 44%, State – 56%
• 2008 – 35%, State – 56%
• 2007 – 49%, State – 53%
• 2006 – 51%, State – 52%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 37% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 – 37%, State – 39%
• 2009 – 48%, State – 40%
• 2008 – 25%, State 39%

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 37% of West Perry 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

The Board requires that each candidate for graduation shall have earned twenty-six (26) credits including: English 4 credits, Math 3 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Art/Humanities 2 credits, wellness fitness 4 credits, Career Preparation 1 credit, Technology 1 credit, and electives 6 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 State School Board regulations, for the graduating classes 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 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 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.

For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $1,434 for the program.

Middle school

In 2011, the middle school declined to School Improvement II for continuing low student achievement for students with IEPs. In 2011, 2010, the attendance rate was 94%. In 2010, the middle school is in Making Progress: in School Improvement I for low student achievement.

The school is in School Improvement I for lagging student academic achievement. The middle school's combined 7th and 8th grades ranked 470th out of 829 Pennsylvania middle schools for student academic achievement in 2008–2009.

8th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 82% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2010 – 80%, State – 81%
• 2009 – 80%, State – 80%
• 2008 – 76%, State – 78%
• 2007 – 76%, State – 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 81% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76.9% of 8th graders are on grade level
• 2010 – 80%, State – 75%
• 2009 – 68%, State – 71%
• 2008 – 64%, State – 70%
• 2007 – 70%, State – 67%

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 64% on grade level (16% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 – 56%, State – 57%
• 2009 – 61%, State – 54%
• 2008 – 48%, State – 52%

7th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 71% on grade level (12% below basic). State – 76%
• 2010 – 66%, State – 73%
• 2009 – 67%, State – 71%
• 2008 – 65%, State – 70%
• 2007 – 56%, State – 66%

7th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 76% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 78.6%
• 2010 – 73%, State – 77%
• 2009 – 70%, State – 75%
• 2008 – 65%, State – 70%
• 2007 – 56%, State – 67%

6th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 62% on grade level (14% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 – 63%, State – 68%
• 2009 – 57%, State – 67%
• 2008 – 54%, State – 67%
• 2007 – 63%, State – 63%

6th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 74% on grade level (15% below basic). State - 78.8%
• 2010 – 75%, State – 75%
• 2009 – 59%, State – 75%
• 2008 – 49%, State – 72%
• 2007 – 63%, State – 69%

Blain Elementary School

In 2011, the school is in AYP status. The attendance rate was 95%. In 2010 the attendance rate was reported as 95%. It was also 95% in 2009.

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 43% on grade level (22% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 – 47% (20% below basic). State – 64% (55 pupils)
• 2009 – 64% (19% below basic), State – 64%
• 2008 – 42%, State – 61%
• 2006 – 56%, State – 60%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 61% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 – 56% on grade level (19% below basic). State – 74%
• 2009 – 62% (13% below basic), State – 73%
• 2008 – 64%, State – 73%
• 2006 – 67%, State – 66%

4th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 62% (26% below basic), State – 73.3% (45 pupils enrolled)
• 2010 – 73%, (14% below basic). State – 73% (41 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 – 57% (19% below basic), State – 72%
• 2008 – 70%, State – 70%

4th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 73%, (20% below basic), State – 85.3%
• 2010 – 68%, (12% below basic). State – 73%
• 2009 – 61%, (20% below basic), State – 81%
• 2008 – 73%, State – 79%

4th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 80% on grade level, (2% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 – 87% (5% below basic). State – 81%
• 2009 – 89% (4% below basic), State – 83%
• 2008 – 86%, State – 81%

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 70%, (18% below basic), State – 77.2%
• 2010 – 80%, State – 75%
• 2009 – 70%, State – 77%
• 2008 – 68%, State – 77%
• 2006 – 58%, State – 69%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2011 - 77%, (3% below basic), State – 83.5%
• 2010 – 91%, State – 84%
• 2009 – 66%, State – 81%
• 2008 – 74%, State – 80%
• 2006 – 87%, State – 82%

Carroll Elementary School

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status. In 2011, 2010 and 2009 the attendance rate was 94%.

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 57% on grade level (15% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 – 57%, (23% below basic), State – 64%
• 2009 – 57% (16% below basic), State – 64%
• 2008 – 40%, State – 61%
• 2006 – 46%, State – 60%
• 2005 – 53%, State – 64%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 75% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 – 70%, (7% below basic). State – 74%
• 2009 – 68%, (12% below basic), State – 73%
• 2008 – 49%, State – 73%
• 2006 – 51%, State – 66%
• 2005 – 61%, State – 68%

4th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 59% (18% below basic), State – 73.3%
• 2010 – 60%, (22% below basic). State – 72%
• 2009 – 58% (20% below basic), State – 72%
• 2008 – 63%, State – 70%

4th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 63%, (18% below basic), State – 85.3%
• 2010 – 63%, (20% below basic). State – 84%
• 2009 – 62%, (24% below basic), State – 81%
• 2008 – 63%, State – 79%

4th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 74%, (6% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 – 79%, State – 81%
• 2009 – 70%, State – 83%
• 2008 – 83%, State – 81%

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 75%, (15% below basic), State – 77.2%
• 2010 – 72%, (19% below basic). State – 75%
• 2009 – 70%, (19% below basic), State – 77%
• 2008 – 69%, State – 77%
• 2006 – 52%, State – 69%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2011 - 67%, (13% below basic), State – 83.5%
• 2010 – 72%, (5% below basic). State – 84%
• 2009 – 60%, (11% below basic), State – 81%
• 2008 – 63%, State – 80%
• 2006 – 67%, State – 82%

New Bloomfield Elementary School

In 2010 the school reported a 95% attendance rate. In 2009 the attendance rate was also 95%.

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 57% on grade level (10% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 – 52%, (25% below basic). State – 64% (75 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 – 47%, (30% below basic), State – 64%
• 2008 – 72%, State – 61%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 83% on grade level (3% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 – 77%, (1% below basic). State – 74%
• 2009 – 58%, (12% below basic), State – 73%
• 2008 – 75%, State – 73%
• 2006 – 76%, State – 66%
• 2005 – 77%, State – 68%

4th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 69% (17% below basic), State – 73.3% (69 pupils enrolled)
• 2010 – 57%, (20% below basic). State – 72% (63 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 – 61% (24% below basic), State – 72%
• 2008 – 63%, State – 70%
• 2006 – 64%, State – 60%
• 2005 – 64%, State – 64%

4th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 82%, (7% below basic), State – 73.3%
• 2010 – 90%, (5% below basic). State – 72%
• 2009 – 84%, (5% below basic), State – 81%
• 2008 – 79%, State – 79%

4th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 84% on grade level, (2% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 – 84%, State – 81%
• 2009 – 86%, State – 83%
• 2008 – 84%, State – 81%

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 76%, (14% below basic), State – 77.2%
• 2010 – 80%, (12% below basic). State – 75% (67 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 – 84%, (6% below basic), State – 77%
• 2008 – 75%, State – 77%
• 2006 – 81%, State – 69%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2011 - 91%, (5% below basic), State – 83.5%
• 2010 – 91%, (3% below basic). State – 75%
• 2009 – 91%, (0% below basic), State – 81%
• 2008 – 93%, State – 80%
• 2006 – 98%, State – 82%

Special Education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 466 pupils or 17% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.

The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Special Education Department.

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.

West Perry School District received a $1,684,745 supplement for special education services in 2010.

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 76 or 2.85% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to dual enrollment with local colleges. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.

Budget

In 2007, the district employed 196 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $47,052 for 180 days worked. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, paid sick days, a retirement bonus and other benefits. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary. In 2009 the teacher salary range is reported as $36,644 to $67,566.

West Perry School District administrative costs per pupil were $652.85 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In 2009, the district reported that the superintendent's salary was $101,000.

In 2008, the West Perry School District spent $11,499 per pupil which ranked 342nd out of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts.

Reserves In 2008, the administration reported that the school district has $6,006,651. In 2010, the district has $6,796,104.00 in unreserved undesignated fund account and $300,000 in a unreserved designated account.

In November 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 1.70%, a local real property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, and a per capita tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the West Perry School District will receive $8,153,693 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the district will receive $154,147 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. Districts experienced a reduction in funding, due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011.

In 2010, the district reported that 846 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.

For 2010–11 school year, the West Perry School District received a 5.14% increase in state Basic Education Funding for a total of $9,026,262. This was the highest increase given to the school districts in Perry County. One hundred and fifty Pennsylvania school district received the base 2% increase. The highest increase was given to Kennett Consolidated School District of Chester County which received a 23.655 increase in state funding. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.

In the 2009–2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided West Perry School District a 5.60% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $8,622,711. This was a higher increase, in Basic Education Funding, than the two other school districts in Perry County received. Susquenita School District got an 6.39% increase in BEF in 2009. Fifteen school districts received BEF increases that exceeded 10%. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest – a 22.31% increase in Basic Education Funding from the state. The state Basic Education funding to the West Perry School District in 2008–09 was $8,165,782.58.

Accountability Block Grants

Beginning in 2004–2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, All Day Kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math Coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010–11 the district applied for and received $418,383 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The West Perry School District uses the funding to provide teacher training to improve instruction, assistance to struggling students and to pay teachers to develop new curriculum offerings in science and technology.

Education Assistance Grant

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010–11 the West Perry School District received $105,642.

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), along with other specialized equipment and provided funding for teacher training to optimize the use of the computers. The program was funded from 2006–2009. West Perry School District did not receive funding in 2006–07 It was approved for $305,953 in 2007–08. The district received $55,646 in 2008–09.

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received an extra $1,902,762 in ARRA – Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 724 students in the district received free or reduced meals due to low family income in 2008.

Race to the Top grant

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district up to one million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. According to then Governor Rendell, failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.

Common Cents state initiative

The school board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Enrollment

In February 2009, Governor Edward Rendell proposed that Pennsylvania consolidate its 500 schools districts to 100 districts. He argued that consolidation with adjacent school districts would achieve substantial cost savings. The proposal called for the savings to be redirected to improving lagging student academic achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes.

Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity. In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.

Real estate taxes

The West Perry School Board levied a Property tax of 10.2100 mills for the 2011–12 budget year. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the Commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region.

• 2010–11 - 14.4600 mills.
• 2009–10 – 14.4600 mills.
• 2008–09 – 14.4600 mills
• 2007-08 - 14.4600 mills.

Act 1 Index

The Special Session Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not permitted to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011–2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but it can be adjusted higher on a per district basis by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, depending on a number of factors, such as local property values (Market Aid Ratio) and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increasing health care costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.

The School District Adjusted Index for the West Perry School District 2006–2007 through 2010–2011.

• 2006–07 – 5.1%, Base 3.9%
• 2007–08 – 4.5%, Base 3.4%
• 2008–09 – 5.9%, Base 4.4%
• 2009–10 – 5.5%, Base 4.1%
• 2010–11 – 3.8%, Base 2.9%
• 2011–12 – 1.9%, Base 1.4%
• 2012–13 – 2.3%, Base 1.7%

For the 2011-12 school year, the West Perry School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year the West Perry School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district’s index. Of the districts who sought exceptions 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.

For the 2010 budget the school board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index limit. In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the West Perry School District was $137 per approved permanent primary residence. This was among the lowest amounts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the district, 5,403 property owners applied for the tax relief. In 2009, the tax relief was set at $143 for 5,196 property owners. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Perry County, 88% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. This was the second year they were the top recipient.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate.

Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).

History

West Perry School District was formed in 1963 from the consolidation of several smaller school districts: Green Park Union, Blain Union, and Perry Joint. The official consolidation took place on July 1, 1964. West Perry High School previously served as Green Park Union High School. West Perry Middle School opened in 1967 as Green Park Elementary.

Blain Elementary School was constructed in 1927 as a grades 1 through 12 school. Carroll Elementary, constructed around 1965, is located in Carroll Township along state Route 34 between New Bloomfield and Shermans Dale. New Bloomfield Elementary, located in the borough of Bloomfield, was constructed in 1950 as Perry Joint High School. It later served as a middle school from the creation of West Perry School District until 2003, at which time the middle school and Green Park Elementary switched functions.

Green and white were selected as the school colors because at the time of the 1963 consolidation, Green Park Union (whose colors were green and white) had just purchased new band uniforms and the district did not want to replace them. Green Park Union's mascot was the Green Hornets. School colors for Perry Joint (located in New Bloomfield) were maroon and grey, with the mascot being the Bobcats.

Bullying Policy

In 2008–09 the administration reported 14 cases of bullying in the district. The Commonwealth provides annual school safety reports online for community review. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "School Safety Reports Online". https://www.safeschools.state.pa.us/Main.aspx?App=6a935f44-7cbf-45e1-850b-e29b2f1ff17f&Menu=dbd39a1f-3319-4a75-8f69-d1166dba5d70&res=. </ref>

The West Perry School Board prohibits bullying by district students. A policy approved in January 2009 defines bullying and cyberbullying. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. 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. 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.

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.

Extracurriculars

The schools offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policies.

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.

In December 2009, the school board awarded a $735,515 contract to Kinsley Construction of York to resurface the stadium field with synthetic turf and associated renovations to the middle school soccer field.

Athletics

West Perry's 1989 football team was the last undefeated team in Pennsylvania not to make the state playoffs, a distinction that the school may hold forever since the playoff format has been massively expanded since. Ten years later the football team, led by future University of Georgia and Baltimore Ravens running back Musa Smith, became the first squad in school history to make the post-season. The team faced the Central York Panthers in the first round of the playoffs, winning by a score of 42–0, making the Panthers the eighth team that season the Mustangs had forced the "mercy rule" upon. In the second game, the district finals, the Mustangs faced the Manheim Central Barons (winners of the 10 previous District 3 AAA championships) and were not so fortunate, losing 28–21 with the game ending as West Perry reached the opponent's 1-yard line.

The West Perry baseball team won consecutive state AA titles in 1979 and 1980. The West Perry boys basketball team reached the state AAA semi-finals in 2006.