Gettysburg Area High School

Map of Adams County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Gettysburg Area High School is a public high school located in the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The high school serves students from central and southern Adams County. The school's mascot is a Warrior. The school is part of the Gettysburg Area School District.

Gettysburg Area High School is located at 1130 Old Harrisburg Road. In 2013, the school reported an enrollment of 1,034 pupils, with 34% coming form low income homes.^[2] 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 a 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

Graduation rate

In 2013, Gettysburg Area School District's graduation rate rose to 90.72%. In 2012, Gettysburg Area School District's graduation rate rose to 88.77%.^[5] The Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate in 2010. Gettysburg Area School District's rate was 86% for 2010.^[6]

• 2011 - 86%^[7]
• 2010 - 90%^[8]
• 2009 - 89% ^[9]
• 2008 - 93%
• 2007 - 93% ^[10]

Academics

2013 School Performance Profile

Gettysburg Area High School achieved 87.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement.^[11] 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.^[12] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania 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 due to chronic, low academic achievement in both: reading and mathematics.^[13] 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 the parent(s) the opportunity to transfer 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.^[14] Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the Gettysburg Area School District must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.^[15] After school tutoring is made available at the high school.^[16] Gettysburg Area High School was eligible for extra funding under School Improvement Grants which the school must apply for each year.^[17]

• 2011 - declined to School Improvement II due to chronic, low academic achievement.^[18]
• 2010 - School Improvement I - Making Progress^[19]
• 2009 - declined to School Improvement I due to chronic, low academic achievement.^[20]
• 2008 - declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement^[21]
• 2007 - achieved AYP status
• 2006 - declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement^[22]
• 2003 through 2005 - achieved AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) status

PSSA Results

Effective with Spring 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Education discontinued administering the PSSA's to 11th graders.

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 71% on grade level, (11% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[23]
• 2011 - 67.9% (17% below basic). State - 69.1% ^[24]
• 2010 - 66%, State - 67% ^[25]
• 2009 - 64%, State - 65%
• 2008 - 59%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 64%, (21% below basic). State - 65% ^[26]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 63% on grade level (19% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[27]
• 2011 - 60%, (24% below basic). State - 60.3%
• 2010 - 63%, State - 59% ^[28]
• 2009 - 63%, State - 56%
• 2008 - 46%, State - 56%^[29]
• 2007 - 49%, (26% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 43% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[30]
• 2011 - 34% (17% below basic). State - 40%
• 2010 - 32%, State - 39%
• 2009 - 45%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 26%, State - 39% ^[31]

Science in Motion 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 Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate.^[32] 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 graduation, 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 7.0 credits are required between Mathematics and Science.^[33][34]

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.^[35] 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.^[36]

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.^[37][38][39] 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.^[40] 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.^[41] 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 (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

AP Courses

In 2013, Gettysburg Area High School offered 14 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College 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 the cost (approximately $91.00). 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 to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools 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.^[42] The School's courses offered include: 3 Art courses, 2 English courses, 3 History courses, 3 Math courses, Science, Spanish, Computer Science and Psychology.

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.^[43] 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.^[44] 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

The Gettysburg Area High School offers a dual enrollment program in association with Harrisburg Area Community College - Gettysburg Campus and Central Penn College.^[45] 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.^[46] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[47] 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.^[48] 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, Gettysburg Area School Board established the Virtual Academy for students in grades 6-12. It offers 30 web-based courses. Originally the courses 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^[49] Studenst who attend the academy have full access to all the District's extracurriculars including: arts, sports, prom and graduation ceremonies.

SAT scores

In 2013, Gettysburg Area School District students' Verbal Average Score was 521. The Math average score was 517. The Writing average score was 496. The College Board reported Pennsylvania students who took the test scored 494 Verbal, 504 Math and just 482 in Writing. The highest possible score is 800 on each of the exams. The nationwide scores in all three subjects, which averaged Verbal 496, Mathematics 514 and Writing 488.

In 2012, 137 Gettysburg Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 505. The Math average score was 495. The Writing average score was 494. 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, 167 Gettysburg Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 504. The Math average score was 502. The Writing average score was 485.^[50] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[51] In the United States, 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.^[52]

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 the 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. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is 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.^[53] The administration reported that just 35 students district-wide have chosen to 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 funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Mathematics) and paid for mandatory teacher training to optimize the computers' use in the classroom for improving instruction. The program was funded from 2006-2009. 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.^[54] 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.^[55] 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.^[56]

Extracurriculars

The Gettysburg Area School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive costly, sports program. The Gettysburg Area School Board sets policies regarding eligibility to participate in these activities.^[57]

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.^[58]

The School offers JROTC program and a student Technology Association both of which are award winning.

Sports

The District funds:

Varsity

Notable people

• Steve Courson, former NFL player, played football at and graduated from Gettysburg Area High School in 1973. His #71 is the only number to be retired by GAHS.
• Tim Bream, the Director of Athletic Training Services at Penn State University, who was alleged in a Sports Illustrated article^[59] to have engaged in improper practices, graduated from Gettysburg Area High School in 1979.

See also

• High schools in Pennsylvania

References

Adams County, Pennsylvania Schools
Main School Districts Bermudian Springs Bermudian Springs High School Conewago Valley New Oxford High School Fairfield Area Fairfield Area High School Gettysburg Area Gettysburg Area High School Adams County Tech Prep Littlestown Area Littlestown Senior High School Upper Adams Biglerville High School
Other Schools Public Charter schools Gettysburg Montessori Charter School Vida Charter School Private schools Adams County Christian Academy Freedom Christian School Littlestown Christian Academy Paradise School Forest Lane Mennonite School Independent Baptist Day School Oxford Christian Academy Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg Delone Catholic High School Annunciation BVM School Immaculate Conception BVM School Sacred Heart School St Francis Xavier School St Joseph Academy Preschool