Brandywine Heights Area School District


The Brandywine Heights Area School District is a small, rural public school district located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It serves the Borough of Topton and District Township, Longswamp Township and Rockland Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Brandywine Heights Area School District encompasses approximately. According to 2010 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 12,876. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $23,424, while the median family income was $58,993. In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010. According to District officials, in school year 2009-10, Brandywine Heights Area School District provided basic educational services to 1,800 pupils. It employed: 149 teachers, 102 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 12 administrators. Brandywine Heights Area School District received more than $8 million in state funding in school year 2009-10.
The district operates: Brandywine Heights High School, Brandywine Heights Middle School, Brandywine Heights Intermediate School, and Brandywine Heights Elementary School.

Governance

The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members, 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 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 Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the Brandywine Heights Area School Board and District Administration a "C" 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.

Academic achievement

Brandywine Heights Area School District was ranked 205th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012. The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing math and science. The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.
;Overachiever statewide ranking:
In 2010, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Brandywine Heights Area School District ranked 472nd. In 2009, the district was 468th. The editor describes the ranking as: "a 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-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."
;District AYP status history:
In 2012, Brandywine Heights Area School District achieved AYP status. In 2011, Brandywine Heights Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress. 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 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. Brandywine Heights Area School District achieved AYP status each year from 2006 to 2010.
In 2012, The District’s graduation rate was 89%. In 2011, the graduation rate was 84%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Brandywine Heights High School's rate was 83.8% for 2010.
;According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
Brandywine Heights High School is located at 103 Old Topton Road, Mertztown. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 632 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 96 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 49 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
In 2012, Brandywine Heights High School achieved AYP status. In 2011, Btandywine Heights High School was in Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement.
;PSSA results:
11th Grade Reading:
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 59% of the Brandywine Heights 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. 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.

Dual enrollment

Brandywine Heights 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. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. The District has agreements with Reading Area Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College.
For the 2009-10 funding year, Brandywine Heights Area School District applied for and received a state grant of $33236 for the program. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward G. Rendell due to a state budget crisis in 2010.

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Brandywine Heights Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26.6 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in Mathematics 4 credits, English 4 credits, Science 4 credits, social studies 3.5 credits, Physical Education 0.5 credits, Health 0.5 credit, music/art/family consumer science 1.1 credits and 9 electives.
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. Brandywine Heights Area School District has adopted a complex process which includes the student creating a portfolio that includes 10 graded pieces. Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2017, 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. 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. 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 may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

SAT scores

In 2012, 97 Brandywine Heights Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 509. The Math average score was 493. The Writing average score was 480. 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, 111 Brandywine Heights School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 492. The Math average score was 486. The Writing average score was 482. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. In the United States, 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.

Middle school

Brandywine Heights Middle School is located at 200 West Weis Street, Topton. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 554 pupils in grades 5th through 8th, with 108 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 47 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 12:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
In 2012, Brandywine Heights Middle School achieved AYP status. In 2011, Brandywine Heights Middle School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in reading.
;PSSA Results:
8th Grade Reading:
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading:
7th Grade Math:
6th Grade Reading:
6th Grade Math:
5th Grade Reading:
5th Grade Math: