Gettysburg Area High School


Gettysburg Area High School is a public high school located in the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States. It serves students from central and southern Adams County, and is the sole high school operated by the Gettysburg Area School District. Gettysburg Area High School is located at 1130 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325. In 2016, enrollment was reported as 1067 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 36.5% of pupils eligible for free lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. Additionally, 11.7% of pupils received special education services, while 4% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 76 teachers. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school's mascot is a Warrior.
In 2013, Gettysburg Area High School reported an enrollment of 1,034 pupils, with 34% coming from low income homes. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 1,151 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 369 pupils eligible for federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school employed 82.5 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 the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Graduation rate

In 2016, the district's graduation rate was 93.86%.
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2016 School Performance Profile

The school's SPP was 81.1 out of 100 points.
Gettysburg Area High School's mandated Keystone Exams testing results were: 82.5% of students were on grade level in reading/literature and 72% of students demonstrated on-grade level in Algebra I. In Biology I, 73.37% of pupils demonstrated on-grade level science understanding at the end of the Biology course. The requirement that pupils pass the Keystone Exams in reading, Algebra I and Biology I in order to graduate was postponed until 2019 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly because less than 60% of 12 grade pupils statewide would have been eligible for graduation from high school due to failing one or more Keystone Exams. Fifty-four percent of the 2,676 public schools in Pennsylvania achieved a passing score of 70 or better.

2015 School Performance Profile

Gettysburg Area High School achieved a SPP score of 69.5 out of 100. This reflects on-grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that 83.5% of the school's students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 77.9% of students showed on-grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 71.7% demonstrated on-grade level science understanding at the end of the course. Statewide, 53 percent of schools with an eleventh grade achieved an academic score of 70 or better. Five percent of the 2,033 schools with 11th grade were scored at 90 and above; 20 percent were scored between 80 and 89; 28 percent between 70 and 79; 25 percent between 60 and 69; and 22 percent below 60. The Keystone Exam results showed that 73 percent of students statewide scored at grade level in English, 64 percent in Algebra I and 59 percent in biology.

2014 School Performance Profile

Gettysburg Area High School achieved an SPP score of 78.8 out of 100. This reflects on-grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 88% of pupils were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 77% showed on-grade level skills. In Biology, 64.8% demonstrated on-grade level science understanding at the end of the course. 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%.

2013 School Performance Profile

Gettysburg Area High School achieved an SPP score of 87.9 out of 100. This reflects on-grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 84% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 77% showed on-grade level skills. In Biology, 50% showed on-grade level science understanding. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, they now take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.

AYP history

In 2012, Gettysburg Area High School remained in "School Improvement I" Adequate Yearly Progress status due to chronic low academic achievement in both reading and mathematics. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer them the opportunity to transfer the student to a successful school within the district. Additionally, Gettysburg Area 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 Gettysburg Area School District must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students. After-school tutoring is made available at the high school. Gettysburg Area High School was eligible for extra funding under School Improvement Grants, which the school must apply for each year.
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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 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.
In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, reading/literature and Biology 1. The exams are given at the end of the applicable course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year. The state announced the change in 2010 and made it in order to comply with Governor Edward G. Rendell's agreement to change to the national Common Core standards.
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Gettysburg Area High 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 program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate. Gettysburg Area Middle School also worked with Gettysburg College to provide the experiences.

Graduation requirements

The Gettysburg School Board has determined that 29 credits are required to graduate, including: English 4 credits, Math 3 or 4 credits, Science 3 or 4 credits, Social Students 4 credits, Health and Physical Education 4 credits, Information Technology 1 credit, Graduation Project 1 credit and Electives 8 credits. A minimum total of 7 credits are required between Mathematics and Science.
By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students previously had to complete a project as 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 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 2017, 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, a civics and government exam will be added.
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. School district superintendents have the discretion to graduate up to 10% of pupils who do not pass the exams or project.
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.

AP courses

In 2013, Gettysburg Area High School offered 14 Advanced Placement courses at a higher cost than regular courses. Students have the option of taking College Board-approved courses and then taking the board's examination in the spring. At Gettysburg Area High School, students electing to take an AP course are required to take the examination and pay for their cost. 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 based on AP scores. Most give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Gettysburg Area High School 78.7% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam. The school's courses offered include three art courses, two English courses, three history courses, three math courses, science, Spanish, computer science and psychology. In 2016, the school offered 23 AP courses. Eighty percent of the pupils who took an AP course at Gettysburg Area High School achieved a 3 or better on the AP exam given at the end of the course.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 31% of Gettysburg Area High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and/or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges. 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

Gettysburg Area High School offers a dual enrollment program in association with Harrisburg Area Community College - Gettysburg Campus and Central Penn College. 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 formerly 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. Under state rules, other students who reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school, or home school, are eligible to participate in this program. In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

Gettysburg Area Virtual Academy

In 2009, the Gettysburg Area School Board established the Virtual Academy for students in grades 6-12. It offers 30 web-based courses. Originally these were only open to alternative education students. The courses are developed by a Pittsburgh company, Virtual Learning Network Partners. The administration promoted the school as a way to reduce costs of cyber charter school tuition. Students who attend the academy have full access to all the district's extracurriculars, including arts, sports, prom and graduation ceremonies.

SAT scores

In 2015, 139 Gettysburg Area School District students took the SAT. The district's average verbal score was 508. The average math score was 511. The average writing score was 480. The College Board reported that statewide, 96,826 pupils took the exams, with average scores declining in all three measurers to 495 in reading, 511 in math, and 484 in writing.
In 2014, 159 Gettysburg Area School District students took the SAT. The district's average verbal score was 496. The average math score was 491. The average writing score was 472. Statewide in Pennsylvania, the average scores were 497 in verbal, 504 in math, and 480 in writing. The College Board reported that nationwide scores were 497 in reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing. In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SAT in the United States.
In 2013, 139 Gettysburg Area School District students' average verbal score was 521. The average math score was 517. The average writing score was 496. The College Board reported that Pennsylvania students who took the test scored 494 in verbal, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The highest possible score is 800 on each of the exams. The nationwide average scores were 496 in verbal, 514 in math and 488 in writing.
In 2012, 137 Gettysburg Area School District students took the SAT. The district's average verbal score was 505. The average math score was 495. The average writing score was 494. The statewide average SAT exams results were 491 in verbal, 501 in math, and 480 in writing. In the US, 1.65 million students took the exams, achieving average scores of 496 in verbal, 514 in math, and 488 in writing. The maximum score on each section was 800, and, according to the College Board, 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.
In 2011, 167 Gettysburg Area School District students took the SAT. The district's average verbal score was 504. The average math score was 502. The average writing score was 485. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among US states, with average SAT scores of 493 in verbal, 502 in math, and 479 in 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.
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.

VoTech

High school students can attend the taxpayer-funded Adams County Tech Prep for training in the building trades, the culinary arts, diesel mechanics, allied health including Emergency Medical Technician certification, and other areas. The school is located on the Gettysburg Area High School campus at 1130 Old Harrisburg Road. Adams County Tech Prep is funded by a consortium of school districts which includes Gettysburg Area School District, Littlestown Area School District, Fairfield Area School District, Conewago Valley School District and Bermudian Springs School District.

Tuition

Students who live in the district's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Gettysburg Area School District. In these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. This is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter, and the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the district's schools. The 2012 tuition rate was $11,168.47 for Gettysburg Area High School. The administration reported that just 35 students district-wide had chosen to attend the state's cyber charter schools, rather than Gettysburg Area schools.

Grants

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funds to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class and paid for mandatory teacher training to optimize the computers' use in the classroom. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. Gettysburg Area School District administration did not apply for the grant in 2006-07. In 2007-08, Gettysburg Area School District received $290,029. For the 2008–09 school year the district received $251,813. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards. Gettysburg Area High School received the largest grant among the public high schools in Adams County. 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 his 2009-10 state budget.

Hybrid Learning grants

Gettysburg Area High School has not participated in the state's Hybrid learning initiative. Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning uses three learning models to increase student achievement: instruction from the teacher, group activities, and self-instruction through digital content. According to state testing results, among the pilot schools, 88 percent achieved higher academic performance in hybrid classes compared to traditional classes in the same district or statewide benchmarks, 75 percent reported better academic achievement, and all of them met or exceeded academic growth. In 2013-14, the state awarded $633,000 in federal Title 2A funds to accelerate teacher training in the implementation of hybrid learning programs in 50 school buildings in 34 school entities. In 2012, $1.1 million was awarded to 15 districts to launch the first hybrid pilot schools in the state that included more than 1,900 students and 48 teachers.

School safety and bullying

The Gettysburg Area School District administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the district in 2015. There were several incidents of intimidation and one sexual incident involving a student. The local law enforcement was involved in nine incidents at the school, with nine arrests made.
Each year the school safety data is reported by the district to the Safe School Center, which publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.
The Gettysburg Area School Board has provided the district's antibullying 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. The district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works 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. According to the Center for Disease Control's biannual national study of high school students in 2009, five percent of Pennsylvania students did not go to school for at least one day because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to or from school.
Education standards relating to student safety and anti-harassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention section in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.

Wellness policy

Gettysburg Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation. The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the local wellness policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
The district offers both free school breakfast and reduced-price lunch to children in low-income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and migrant youth are also automatically eligible for free meals. The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture. The district also offers a summer lunch program.
In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D. In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, all US public school districts were required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch. The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that districts raise their full pay lunch prices every year until the price of non-subsidized lunches equals the amount the federal government reimburses schools for free meals. That subsidy in 2013-2014 was $2.93. In 2015, federal reimbursement rates were $3.07 per meal for students who were income-eligible for free lunches and $2.67 for those who qualified for a reduced price. School lunch participation nationally dropped from 31.6 million students in 2012 to 30.4 million in 2014, according to the federal Department of Agriculture. Pennsylvania statistics show that school lunch participation dropped by 86,950 students in the same two years, from 1,127,444 in 2012 to 1,040,494 in 2014.
In 2014, President Barack Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.
The US Department of Agriculture requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.
Gettysburg Area School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. A nurse is available in the high school to conduct annual health screenings and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance. Nurses also monitor each child's weight.
Pennsylvania high schools have received the overdose antidote drug naloxone in a nasal spray. School nurses were also provided with educational materials and training developed by the National Association of School Nurses. The cost was covered by a grant from a private foundation.

Extracurriculars

The Gettysburg Area School District offers a variety of clubs and activities, and an extensive costly, sports program. The Gettysburg Area School Board sets policies regarding eligibility to participate in these activities. The PIAA mandates that student athletes must be passing at least four full-credit subjects to participate in sports.
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school, or home school, 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.
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.
The school offers a JROTC program and a student Technology Association, both of which are award-winning.

Sports

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid. All school entities with grades 7-12 are required to annually collect data concerning team and financial information for all male and female athletes beginning with the 2012-13 school year and submit the information to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, all non-school contributions and purchases must also be reported to PDE. The district is part of The York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association . The sports teams of Gettysburg Area Hig School call themselves the Warriors, and their school colors are maroon, white and black. The for High School Sporting Events is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students. Senior citizens that are residents of the school district are eligible for free admission.
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 before coaching.
The district funds:
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