Central Columbia High School


Columbia Central High School is a small, rural public high school in central Pennsylvania that was founded in 1960. It is commonly known in the area as "Central". The school is the sole high school operated by the Central Columbia School District. Central Columbia High School is located at 4777 Old Berwick Road, Bloomsburg. In 2013, the School's enrollment declined to 558 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 20% eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. According to the administration, 12.9% of pupils received special education services. Additionally, 4.4% of pupils were identified as gifted. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1% of teachers who were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, Central Columbia High School reported an enrollment of 613 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 83 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school is a federally Title I school. The school employed 46.5 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 20 classes were taught by teachers who were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
Central Columbia High School students may choose to attend Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School for training in the trades and service industry. The Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit CSIU16 provides the school with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, speech and visual disability services and professional development for staff and faculty.
In June 2012, The Civic Research Alliance, LLC reported to the Central Columbia School Board and community a study of the efficacy of consolidating the two public high schools operating in Bloomsburg: Central Columbia High School with Bloomsburg Area High School. While it was demonstrated that the plan would save the community millions in facility costs, the Central Columbia School Board moved forward with plans to spend over $28.7 million to renovate the high school building.

Curriculum

The school offers two academic sequences: career prep and college prep. College prep is for students planning on attending either two or four year college degree programs. This sequence offers the typical courses that would be encountered to prepare a student for college, including four years of English; four years of science, including biology and chemistry; four years of social studies, including American history and world cultures; and four years of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and elementary functions. Foreign language classes in Spanish and French are also offered, in addition to classes in the arts, including band, chorus, and painting classes. Career prep is for those who do not plan to attend college ; students take classes in practical skill areas, such as agriculture or industrial technology. The skills learned in these classes prepare students for entry into the workforce.

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Central Columbia School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 24 credits to graduate, including: a required classes in: math, English, social studies, science, Physical Education and electives.
By law, 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. 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.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2020, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams. 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. 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.

Graduation Rates

In 2016, the Central Columbia High School graduation rate was 90.44%.
201520142013201220112010
92.75%86.5%86%87%86%80%

Cyber Academy

Central Columbia Cyber Academy is an extension of the School District's educational offerings. This program is offered to students in grades 6 through 12. Each student receives a Central Columbia School District diploma upon successful completion of the courses requirements permitting graduating from the Cyber Academy.

Science in Motion

Central Columbia High School and Middle School took advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate. Susquehanna University provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

Industrial Technology curriculum

Central Columbia High School offers six technology courses including: several Manufacturing, Energy & Power Engineering and Transportation Engineering. The department also manages the TSA program. The Central Columbia High School Industrial Technology teachers and Ag. Science teachers collaborate to provide group projects for the students to complete outside of the regular school day.

Advanced Placement

In 2017, Central Columbia High School offered 10 Advanced Placement courses. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in May. Students who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at many 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, however, some schools also give credits for scores of 3. The school gives credits toward graduation to students who take the AP class.

Dual enrollment

Central Columbia High School offers a dual enrollment program through Bloomsburg University. 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 may count towards high school graduation requirements, but only towards earning a college degree. Bloomsburg University courses do not count as part of the student’s grade point average. 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 to a pre-determined number of students. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system. For the 2009–10 funding year, Central Columbia School District received a state grant of $4,908 for the program. In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis. Under state rules, other students that reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school or are homeschooled are eligible to participate in this program.

Performance

Standardized Testing

Central Columbia's School Performance Profile

The PA School Performance Profile is a measurement created by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to measure how a school district performed on its standardized tests during a given school year. The higher an SPP, the more students in the district are on grade level for reading, mathematics, and science.
The SPP data comes from the district's PSSA results. The Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs, are No Child Left Behind Act-related examinations that are administered every spring. The PSSAs test the students on their proficiency of the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics, and science. For example, the Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies and the mathematics exam included algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. These standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.
Most Recent Data (2016)
In 2016, Central's SPP was 93.4 out of 100 points. In this school year, 91.9% of students were on grade level in reading, 92.5% of students demonstrated on grade level in Algebra I, and 93.5% of pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding in Biology. Central Columbia High School ranked second among the 18 high schools in the CSIU16 region for academic achievement.
Previous School Years
The following charts show the SPP of Central Columbia's students for various tests, such as the Keystone, the PSSA, and the SAT.
School YearSPPKeystone Results
by subject
201578.5 out of 10080%
76%
76%
201479.9 out of 10075%
76%
80%
201384.3 out of 10086%
79%
79%

Keystone Results

In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra I, Reading, and Biology I. The exams are given at the end of the course. These assessments are required for graduation: however, in practice, students rarely need to pass, because statewide poor performance almost always pressures the Department of Education to waive the requirement.
In the chart below, the percentages for the students who tested on grade level are used.
YearReadingMathematicsScience
201278%67%64%
201178%69.4%--
2010----51%
2009------
200878%--54%
200776%----

Central Columbia was frequently among the highest-ranked schools in the region with regards to Keystone Results during this period. In addition, Central Columbia High School was ranked 76th out of 609 Pennsylvania high schools for combined 2006 PSSA scores for 11th graders.

SAT Results

While the SAT is not a required test, it is a common barometer for college admissions, meaning that a significant number of pupils at Central Columbia High School opt to take the exams yearly. The chart below is a compilation of the average scores of MASD students.
YearNo. of CCSD Students
who took the SATS		Verbal Average ScoreMath Average Score
201688500477
201594513539
2014107517523
2013116499506
2012125505510
2011114492498


AP Results
The Advanced Placement Exams are offered by the College Board to students who took one or more AP classes during the school year.
YearPercent
201353%
201479%
201569%
201699%
201771%

Adequate Yearly Progress

From 2003 through 2012, Central Columbia High School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress status each school year.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, only 14% of Central Columbia High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System or community colleges. According to 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.

Opportunities for students

ACE

Central Columbia School District students have access to Bloomsburg University's Summer College and Advanced College Experience during the summer of their sophomore, junior and senior years. Tuition is deeply discounted to 75% of the regular student rate. Successful students earn college credits that can be transferred to other Pennsylvania public colleges and universities through the Pennsylvania TRAC system.

Grants

Project 720

Project 720 was a high school reform program implemented for three years under the Rendell administration. The intent was to increase academic rigor and improve the instruction of teachers in the Commonwealth’s high schools. Teachers were expected to use data driven instructional practices and to meet the needs of diverse learners. The 720 in the name referred to the number of days a student was in high school in ninth through 12th grades. High schools applied for funding and were required to agree to report to the PDE their plans, their actions and the outcomes. In 2007-08 budget year, the Commonwealth provided $11 million in funding. Central Columbia School District was one of 161 PA public school districts to apply, receiving $114,478 funding over three years. For 2010-11, Project 720 funding was decreased to $1.7 million by Governor Rendell. The grant program was discontinued effective with the 2011-12 state budget.

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 and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. The Central Columbia School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the District received $203,921. The high school also received $45,413 in 2008-09, for a total funding of $249,334. Among the public school districts in Columbia County the highest award was given to Berwick Area School District which received $403,446. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.

School safety and bullying

Central Columbia High School administration reported there were seven incidents of bullying in the School in 2012. Additionally, there were 3 cases of assault on a student and no sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in ten incidents at the school, concluding with four arrests. There were several weapons violations including one gun at school and two knives Each year the school safety data is reported by the Central Columbia School District to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act established the Unsafe School Choice Option. Each state that receives federal funds was mandated to establish a statewide policy requiring that a student at a "persistently dangerous" public school be allowed to transfer/enroll in a safe public school. The policy permitted a student who becomes the victim of a violent criminal offense, while in or on the grounds of any public school that he or she attends, to transfer to a safe public school. Each year since 2006, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has released a list of Persistently Dangerous Schools. Central Columbia School District schools have not been on the lists.
The Central Columbia School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online. 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 anti harassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.

Safe School grant

In 2013, Central Columbia School District did not participate in a state Safe Schools Targeted Grant. The maximum of $25,000 grants were awarded through a competitive application process. The funds must be used for research based interventions, like: peer mediation, staff training in managing behavioral issues and creating a positive school climate. The School also did not participate in a school police officer funding program.

Extracurriculars

The Central Columbia School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The District is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website. The sports programs are through the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region.
According to PA Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Act 126 of 2014, all volunteer coaches and all those who assist in student activities, must have criminal background checks. Like all school district employees, they must also attend an anti child abuse training once every three years.
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.
Arts - Chorus, Concert Band, Dance Team, Drama Club, Marching Band, Light & Sound Club. Advisors receive additional compensation for heading these clubs, as outlined in the teachers' union contract.
Clubs - National Honor Society, Audio-Visual, C.A.R.E.Club, Math Club, Science Club, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions, Literary Club, German Club, FBLA, FFA, TSA and many more. Advisors receive additional compensation for heading these clubs, as outlined in the teachers' union contract.
According to Pennsylvania’s Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.

Athletics

The Central Columbia athletics programs have had success in recent years. The girls' basketball and softball teams are also perennial contenders. The Athletic Director is Kevin Morgan. Coaches receive additional compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. Where a sports team competes beyond the regular season additional payments are made to the coaching staff.
;Boys:
;Girls:
According to PIAA directory July 2015