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====Dual enrollment====
====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 and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Dual Enrollment Guidelines, 2010</ref> Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patrac.org/ |title=Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement |author=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |date=March 2010}}</ref> Under state rules, other students that reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school or are home schooled are eligible to participate in this program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_district_oversight/20313/dual_and_concurrent_enrollment/974411 |title=Dual Enrollment Guidelines |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010}}</ref> For the 2009-10 funding year, the Forest Hills School District received a state grant of $2,721 for the program.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B_scmN--D7LbNmQ5ZGUyMGQtZWQ4Ni00NTkyLWEwZTYtMjY3Y2IyNWZjYjNk&hl=en |title=Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment Allocations to school districts for 2010-11 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2009}}</ref> In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.
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 and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Dual Enrollment Guidelines, 2010</ref> Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patrac.org/ |title=Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement |author=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |date=March 2010}}</ref> Under state rules, other students that reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school or are home schooled are eligible to participate in this program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_district_oversight/20313/dual_and_concurrent_enrollment/974411 |title=Dual Enrollment Guidelines |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010}}</ref> For the 2009-10 funding year, the Forest Hills School District received a state grant of $2,721 for the program.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B_scmN--D7LbNmQ5ZGUyMGQtZWQ4Ni00NTkyLWEwZTYtMjY3Y2IyNWZjYjNk&hl=en |title=Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment Allocations to school districts for 2010-11 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2009}}</ref> In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

====Graduation requirements====
Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Forest Hills School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26.5 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in math, English, social studies, science, Physical Education and electives. Students attending Vo-Tech must earn twenty-three (23) credits.<ref>Forest Hills School District, Student Handbook 2014-15, August 2014</ref>

For nearly two decades, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.24.html |title=Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements |author=Pennsylvania State Board of Education}}</ref> 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.<ref>Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Proposed changes to Chapter 4, May 10, 2012</ref>

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://static.pdesas.org/Content/Documents/Keystone_Exam_Program_Overview.pdf |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Keystone Exam Overview |year=2010}}</ref> The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4695967-74/board-students-education#axzz2fcd9tUjG |title=Pennsylvania changing high school graduation requirements |author=Megan Harris |publisher=Tribune Live |date=September 12, 2013}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pdesas.org/module/assessment/Keystone.aspx |title=Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-2/56.html |title=Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4 |author=Pennsylvania State Board of Education |year=2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Board of Education Finalizes Adoption of Pennsylvania Common Core State Academic Standards and High School Graduation Requirements, March 14, 2013</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/keystone_exams/20436 |title=Keystone Exams |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref> 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.

====SAT scores====
In 2014, 104 Forest Hills School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 498. The Math average score was 506. The Writing average score was 474.<ref>PDE, School Performance profile Forest Hills High School , November 6, 2014</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_assessment_system/20965/sat_and_act_scores/1339721 |title=SAT and ACT Scores |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/sat/PA_14_03_03_01.pdf |title=2014 College-Bound Seniors State Profile Report |author=College Board |year=2014}}</ref>

In 2013, 93 Forest HIlls School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 488. The Math average score was 515. 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 nation-wide SAT results were the same as in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://research.collegeboard.org/programs/sat/data/cb-seniors-2013 |title=The 2013 SAT Report on College & Career Readiness |author=College Board |year=2013}}</ref>

In 2012, 107 Forest Hills School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 477. The Math average score was 509. The Writing average score was 463. 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, 94 Forest Hills School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 485. The Math average score was 499. The Writing average score was 462.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/data_and_statistics/7202/sat_and_act_scores/674663 |title=Public School SAT Scores 2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref> Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/sat-scores-by-state-2011 |title=SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania |author=College Board |date=September 15, 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/while_us_sat_scores_dip_across.html |title=While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady |work=NJ.com |date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>

[[The Center for Rural Pennsylvania]], a research arm of the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]], 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rural.palegislature.us/news0706.html#8 |title=SAT Scores and Other School Data |author=The Center for Rural Pennsylvania |date=August 2006}}</ref>

====AP Courses====
In 2014, Forest Hills High School offered 5 [[Advanced Placement]] (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The fee for each AP Exam is $91 (2014).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/exam/calendar/190165.html |title=Exam Fees and Reductions: 2015 |author=College Board |year=2014}}</ref> The school normally retains $9 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs. In 2012, the fee was $89 per test per pupil. 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 Forest Hills High School just 7% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.<ref>PDE, School Performance Profile - Academic Performance Data -Forest HIlls High School, December 2014</ref> In 2013, the school offered 5 AP courses with 12% of pupils earning a 3 or better on the end of course exam.


==Athletics==
==Athletics==

Revision as of 10:08, 12 July 2015

Not to be confused with Forest Hills Local School District.
Forest Hills School District
Address
549 Locust Street

Sidman
,
Cambria County
,
Pennsylvania
15955

United States
Information
TypePublic
School board9 locally elected members
SuperintendentEdwin Bowser, Salary $113,300 (2013) (contract August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2016)[1]
Donald G. Bailey, former superintendent 2009
AdministratorChris Reighard, Business Manager Salary $89,955 (2013)

Vanessa A Sral, Education Administrator salary $107,411 (2013)
James T Lashinsky,salary $102,262

Claudia Mehall, Special Education Supervisor/psychologist $96,782 (2013)
PrincipalLucas Jacobs, ES
PrincipalEdward Alexander, MS $87,377
PrincipalCurt P Vasas, HS $94,411
Faculty132 teachers (2013)[2]
GradesPre-K-12
Age4 years old preschool to 21 years old special education pupils
Number of pupils1946 pupils (2014)[4]

1,933 pupils (2012)[5]
1,957 pupils (2010)[6]
2,064 pupils (2008)[7]
2,258 pupils (2006)[8]

2,308 pupils (2004)
 • Kindergarten139 (2012), 121 (2010)
 • Grade 1143 (2012), 139
 • Grade 2127 (2012), 124
 • Grade 3141 (2012), 127
 • Grade 4124 (2012),142
 • Grade 5129 (2012), 144
 • Grade 6139 (2012), 157
 • Grade 7146 (2012), 148
 • Grade 8164 (2012), 149
 • Grade 9146 (2012), 166
 • Grade 10143 (2012), 175
 • Grade 11167 (2012), 179
 • Grade 12166 (2012), 186 (2010)
 • Other59 pupils (2012) 35 pupils (2009)
LanguageEnglsh
Color(s)Green and Yellow
Team nameRangers
Budget$45,168,864 (2014-15)[3]

$23,807,084 (2009)
$22,819,644 (2008)
$23,824,106 (2007)
$22,954,134 (2006)
$21,035,787 (2005)

$20,185,713 (2004)
Per pupil spending$10,450 (2008)
Per pupil spending$11,829.03 (2012)[9]
Websitehttp://fhsd.k12.pa.us/

The Forest Hills School District is a small, rural, public school district in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. It serves the boroughs of Wilmore, Summerhill, South Fork, and Ehrenfeld, plus the townships of Adams, Summerhill, and Croyle. The Forest Hills School District encompasses approximately 96 square miles (250 km2). According to 2000 US Census Bureau data, it served a resident population of 13,597 people. By 2010, the District's population declined to 12,641 people.[10] The educational attainment levels for the Forest Hills School District population (25 years old and over) were 88.7% high school graduates and 16.1% college graduates.[11] The District is one of the 500 public school districts of Pennsylvania. The District operates 3 schools, providing kindergarten (5 years old) through 12th grade. Since 2009, the District has provided taxpayer funded preschool to 4 year olds.

According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, 44.7% of the District’s pupils lived at 185% or below the Federal Poverty level as shown by their eligibility for the federal free or reduced price school meal programs in 2012.[12] In 2010, the District residents’ per capita income was $14,904, while the median family income was $37,099.[13] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 [14] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[15] In Cambria County, the median household income was $39,574.[16] By 2013, the median household income in the United States rose to $52,100.[17]

According to Forest Hills School District officials, in school year 2007-08 the FHSD provided basic educational services to 2,173 pupils. It employed: 154 teachers, 110 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 10 administrators. Forest Hills School District received more than $16.5 million in state funding in school year 2007-08. Per Forest Hills School District officials, the District provided basic educational services to 1,985 pupils in 2012. It employed: 149 teachers, 113 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 10 administrators during the 2011-12 school year. The District received $17.4 million in state funding in the 2011-12 school year.[18]

Schools

School Name
Grade Level 		Address
Forest Hills Elementary School
Grades Preschool-6th grade 		547 Locust Street
Sidman, Pennsylvania 15955
Forest Hills Middle School
Grades 7th - 9th 		1427 Frankstown Road
Sidman, Pennsylvania 15955
Forest Hills High School
Grades 10-12 		489 Locust Street
Sidman, Pennsylvania 15955

High school students may choose to attend Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center for training in the construction and mechanical trades as well as other careers. The Appalachia Intermediate Unit IU8 provides the District with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, background checks for employees, state mandated recognizing and reporting child abuse training, speech and visual disability services and professional development for staff and faculty.

Governance

Forest Hills School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve without compensation for a term of four years), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[19] 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 Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the School Board. The School Board enters into individual employment contracts for these positions. In Pennsylvania, public school districts are required to give 150 days notice to the Superintendent regarding renewal of the employment contract.[20]

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the Forest Hills School Board and district administration a "F" 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.[21]

Academic achievement

In 2015, Forest Hills School District ranked 231st out of 496 Pennsylvania public school districts, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.[22] The ranking is based on the last 3 years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by PSSAs results in: reading, writing, math and science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, Algebra 1, Biology I) in high school.[23] Three school districts were excluded because they do not operate high schools (Saint Clair Area School District, Midland Borough School District, Duquesne City School District). The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th. Adapted PSSA examinations are given to children in the special education programs. Writing exams were given to children in 5th and 8th grades.

  • 2014 - 241st[24]
  • 2013 - 241st[25]
  • 2012 - 246th [26]
  • 2008 - 223rd
  • 2007 - 273rd out of 501 school districts.[27]

District AYP status history

In 2012, Forest Hills School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[28] In 2011, Forest Hills School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.[29][30] Forest Hills School District achieved AYP status each year from 2004 to 2010, while in 2003 the District was in Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement.[31]

Graduation rate

In 2014, the Forest Hills School District graduation rate was 94%.[32]

  • 2013 - 96.6% [33]
  • 2012 - 96.7%.[34]
  • 2011 - 96.1%.[35]
  • 2010 - 96.7%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Area High School's rate was 97.8% for 2010.[36]
According to traditional graduation rate calculations

High School

Forest Hills High School is located in Sidman. In 2014, enrollment was reported as 454 pupils in 10th through 12th grades, with 49% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 9% of pupils received special education services, while 2.8% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed teachers.[40] Per the PA Department of Education, 33% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012, the school reported an enrollment of 476 pupils in grades 10th through 12th, with 189 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. In 2012, the School employed 33 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 14:1.[41] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind. [42]

2014 School Performance Profile

Forest Hills High School achieved 72.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 78% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 66% showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology, only 27% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[43] 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%.[44]

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.[45] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.[46][47]

2013 School Performance Profile

Forest Hills High School achieved 78.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 84% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, only 67% showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology, just 28% showed on grade level science understanding.[48] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.[49]

AYP History

Effective with Spring 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Education discontinued administering the PSSA's to 11th graders.

In 2012, Forest Hills High School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status, due to missing all academic metrics measured.[50]

  • 2011 - achieved AYP status.[51]
  • 2010 - Making Progress School Improvement Level II[52]
  • 2009 - School Improvement Level II[53]
  • 2008 - declined to School Improvement Level II - mandated by NCLB to provide tutoring.[54][55]
  • 2007 - Making Progress - School Improvement Level I.[56]
  • 2006 - School Improvement Level I.[57]
  • 2005 - declined to Warning AYP status[58]
  • 2004 and 2003 - Achieved AYP status

Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, in 2009 Forest Hills High School administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer the parent the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the District. IN 2006, the High School Administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students. [59] Due to the low student achievement, the High School was eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants from the federal government, which the school must apply for each year.[60]

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.[61] 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.[62]

11th Grade Reading:

  • 2012 - 68% on grade level, (16% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[63]
  • 2011 - 77% (11% below basic). State - 69.1%[64]
  • 2010 - 69% (15% below basic). State - 66%[65]
  • 2009 - 64% (18% below basic). State - 65%[66]
  • 2008 - 64% (17% below basic). State - 65%[67]

11th Grade Math:

  • 2012 - 61% on grade level (25% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[68]
  • 2011 - 72% (15% below basic). State - 60.3%[69]
  • 2010 - 59% (25% below basic). State - 59%[70]
  • 2009 - 62% (20% below basic). State - 56%[71]
  • 2008 - 48% (30% below basic). State - 56%[72]

11th Grade Science:

  • 2012 - 50% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[73]
  • 2011 - 41% (10% below basic). State - 40%[74]
  • 2010 - 37% (17% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 31% (18% below basic). State - 40%[75]
  • 2008 - 25% (17% below basic). State - 39%[76]
  • 2007 - students field tested. Results withheld from the public by PDE.

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 15 % of Forest Hills 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 Pennsylvania community colleges.[77][78] 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.[79][80] 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

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 and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[81] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[82] Under state rules, other students that reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school or are home schooled are eligible to participate in this program.[83] For the 2009-10 funding year, the Forest Hills School District received a state grant of $2,721 for the program.[84] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Forest Hills School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26.5 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in math, English, social studies, science, Physical Education and electives. Students attending Vo-Tech must earn twenty-three (23) credits.[85]

For nearly two decades, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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.[86] 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.[87]

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, 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.[88] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.[89]

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.[90][91] 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.[92] 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.[93] 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.

SAT scores

In 2014, 104 Forest Hills School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 498. The Math average score was 506. The Writing average score was 474.[94][95] 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.[96]

In 2013, 93 Forest HIlls School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 488. The Math average score was 515. 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 nation-wide SAT results were the same as in 2012.[97]

In 2012, 107 Forest Hills School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 477. The Math average score was 509. The Writing average score was 463. 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, 94 Forest Hills School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 485. The Math average score was 499. The Writing average score was 462.[98] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[99] 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.[100]

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a research arm of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, 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.[101]

AP Courses

In 2014, Forest Hills High School offered 5 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The fee for each AP Exam is $91 (2014).[102] The school normally retains $9 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs. In 2012, the fee was $89 per test per pupil. 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 Forest Hills High School just 7% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[103] In 2013, the school offered 5 AP courses with 12% of pupils earning a 3 or better on the end of course exam.

Athletics

Boys Athletics

Girls Athletics

References

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