Northern High School (Dillsburg, Pennsylvania)


Northern High School is a midsized, suburban public high school located at 653 S Baltimore Street, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Northern York County School District. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, Northern High School Administration reported an enrollment of 1,044 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 104 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch. The school employed 73 teachers yielding a student teacher ratio of 14:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1 teacher at the school was rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind. Additionally, five teachers have emergency certification. All students and their parents have access to the student's assignments and grades through Sapphire online.

Graduation rate

In 2012, Northern York School District's graduation rate was 92.9%. In 2011, the Northern York County School District graduation rate was 91%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Northern York County School District's rate was 92.72% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
The Northern York County School Board has set that a minimum of 23.5 credits, including English 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Math 3 Credits, Science 3 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, PE/Driver's Edu./Health 2 credits and 7.5 Elective credits.
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. Northern High School has developed a four component process for the requirement.
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. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade. 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.

PSSA Results

In 2012, Northern High School remained in School Improvement I AYP status. In 2011, Northern High School remained in Did not make AYP - School Improvement I status due to chronic, low student achievement particularly in mathematics. Northern High School was in Did not make AYP - School Improvement I due to persistent low student achievement. 2010 was the second year the school was in school improvement status. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school was required to notify parents of its poor academic performance and to offer students to opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the school district. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Education required the Northern High School Administration to develop a school improvement plan and submit it to the PDE for approval.
In Pennsylvania, the PSSAs in reading, writing, mathematics and science are administered to the 11th grade in the spring during the school year.
;PSSA Results
;11th Grade Reading:
;11th Grade Math:
;11th Grade Science:
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 35% of Northern York County School District 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

Northern 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, 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. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,257 for the program.

SAT Scores

In 2012, 141 Northern York County School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 516. The Math average score was 531. The Writing average score was 500. 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.
From January to June 2011, 163 Northern High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 524. The Math average score was 534. The Writing average score was 495. 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.

Literacy and Math labs

In response to low student achievement, the school implemented a Literacy Lab for the 2011-12 school year. The Math Lab was implemented during the 2010-11 school year. Students may receive remediation or enrichment during the school day in these programs. The labs have computers and internet access where students may use programs specifically designed to help struggling students improve math skills. They are staffed by one of Northern’s secondary certified high school Math and English teachers. Northern students have access to Study Island reading and math remediation program from home as well.

Online Academy

The High School is a member of CAOLA. Member districts collaborate to offer a full curriculum online. The program is optional and seeks to attract student who may be considering changing to one of the 12 public, cyber charter schools which operate in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The program is run by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15.

Student assistance program

The school has a CARE team which strives to Identify, intervene, refer and monitor students that have school related behavioral, attendance or academic problems secondary to alcohol, drug or mental health issues. The teachers and guidance counselors meet regularly with the student.

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 2006-2009. Northern High School did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the school received $369,576 and $67,370 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $436,946.

Extracurriculars

Northern High School students have access to a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by the school board policy. The district is part of the Mid-Penn Conference for sports. In 2011, the district reported spending over $825,000 providing sports to students. The district charged a $20 activity fee to participate in sports. Collectively, York County public schools spent over $9 million on sports budgets in 2011-12. In 2012, Northern York County School Board eliminated taxpayer funded seventh and eighth-grade football and ninth-grade basketball as part of the budget process. Northern York County School District spent $74,378 for the transportation of sports teams in 2011-12.
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students 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.

Activities

Northern High School provides a variety of traditional school activities:
There is an extensive year round athletics program.