McGuffey School District is a midsized, rural, public school system located in Washington County, Pennsylvania. It serves 10 communities, including the boroughs of Claysville and Green Hills, and the townships of West Finley, East Finley, Morris, Donegal, Buffalo, Blaine, and South Franklin. McGuffey School District encompasses approximately 203 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 13,695 people. In school year 2007-08, McGuffey School District provided basic educational services to 2,060 pupils. McGuffey School District employed 166 teachers, 80 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 15 administrators in 2008. McGuffey School District received more than $14.3 million in state funding for the 2007-08 school year. The district name honors educator William Holmes McGuffey, who was born in West Finley Township.
In 2011, the school district ranked 330th of 498 Pennsylvania school district. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for math, reading, writing and three years of science. The McGuffey School District was ranked 80th out of 105 western Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2009. In 2008, the district was ranked 78th. In 2009, the academic achievement of the students in McGuffey School District was in the 42nd percentile of Pennsylvania Public School Districts.
Graduation rate
In 2011, the graduation rate was 90%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. McGuffey High School's rate was 85% for 2010.
High school
In 2011 the school achieved AYP status. In 2011, McGuffey High School ranked 98th of 123 high schools, in western Pennsylvania, for academic achievement based on five years of PSSA results on: mathematics, reading, writing and three years of science.
College remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 42% of the McGuffey 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.
Graduation requirements
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. At McGuffey High School, students may choose a Career Explorations Project, an Interdisciplinary Project, a Community Service Project or a Western Area Career and Technology Center Project.
Dual enrollment
Effective with the 2010-11 school year, McGuffey High School offers a dual enrollment program. The school has an agreement with California University of Pennsylvania and Community College of Allegheny County. 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, including the graduation ceremony. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.
McGuffey Middle School
In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status.
Claysville Elementary
In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status.
Budget
The district is funded by a combination of: an income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the income level.
State basic education funding
In 2011–12, the district received $9,870,129 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the district received $171,799, in state Accountability Block Grant funding. In 2010, the administration reported that 812 students received a free or reduced-price lunch based on the federal poverty levels. For the 2010–11 budget year, the McGuffey School District was allotted a 2.00% increase, in Basic Education Funding, for a total of $10,416,910.
Accountability Block Grants
Beginning in 2004–2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. For 2010–11, the district applied for and received $466,305 in addition to all other state and federal funding. McGuffey School District uses the funding to reduce class size K-3rd grade, provide full-day kindergarten for the sixth year and to hire teacher coaches to show teachers how to better teacher the children and to provide teacher training programs to improve instruction.
The district received an extra $3,258,441 in ARRA – Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.
