Biglerville High School

Biglerville High School is a small public high school located in the borough of Biglerville, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Upper Adams School District. The high school serves the boroughs of Biglerville, Bendersville, and Arendtsville. It also serves the residents of Tyrone Township, Butler Township, and Menallen Township. In 2013, Biglerville High School's enrollment was 517 pupils, with 38.5% coming from low income homes.[2]

Biglerville High School
Location
161 North Main Street
Biglerville, Pennsylvania 17307
United States

(Adams County)
Information
TypePublic
SuperintendentWesley Doll
School number(717) 677-7191
PrincipalBeth Graham
Teaching staff37.67 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment528 (2017–18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.02[1]
Campus typeRural
Color(s)          Black and gold
MascotCanner
Assistant PrincipalNathan Becker
Athletic DirectorAnthony Graham
WebsiteBiglerville High School
Map of Adams County, Pennsylvania school districts

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 542 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 176 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school employed 36.5 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 15:1.[3] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one teacher was rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[4]

Biglerville High School students may choose to attend Cumberland Perry Vocational Technical School for vocational training. The Lincoln Intermediate Unit IU12 provides the school with a wide variety of services, such as specialized education for disabled students and hearing, speech and visual disability services and professional development for staff and faculty.

Graduation rate

In 2013, Upper Adams School District's graduation rate was 91%.[5] In 2012, the district's graduation rate was 88.11%.[6]

The graduation rate for the Class of 2011 was 88%.[7] In 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new four-year cohort graduation rate. Upper Adams School District's rate was 91% for 2010.[8]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

Academics
2013 School Performance Profile

Biglerville High School achieved 73.6 out of 100. This reflects on-grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 78.7% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, only 64% showed on-grade level skills. In Biology, just 45% showed on-grade level science understanding.[13] 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 PSSA. Instead, they now take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.

PSSA results

PSSAs are NCLB related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012. 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 course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.

11th Grade Reading:
  • 2012 - 70% on grade level, (8% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders were on grade level.[14]
  • 2011 - 75% (6% below basic). State - 69.1% [15]
  • 2010 - 65%, State - 67% [16]
  • 2009 - 67%, State - 65%
  • 2008 - 66%, State - 65% [17]
  • 2007 - 64%, State - 65% [18]
11th Grade Math:
  • 2012 - 59% on grade level (15% below basic). State - 59% of 11th graders were on grade level.[19]
  • 2011 - 64%, (15% below basic). State - 60.3%
  • 2010 - 54%, State - 59% [20]
  • 2009 - 60%, State - 56% [21]
  • 2008 - 52%, State - 56%
  • 2007 - 49%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
  • 2012 - 56% on grade level (2% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[22]
  • 2011 - 56% on grade level (4% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
  • 2010 - 45%, State - 39% [23]
  • 2009 - 41%, State - 40%
  • 2008 - 40%, State - 39%

Science in Motion

Biglerville High School did not take 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.[24] Gettysburg College provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 31% of Biglersville 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.[25] 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.[26] 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 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. 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.[27] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[28] 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.[29] Students who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school, or home school, are eligible to participate in the district's dual enrollment program by Pennsylvania law. For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,193 for the program.

In 2014, Upper Adams School District offered several dual enrollment courses in conjunction with Pennsylvania College of Technology. Penn College NOW classes are taught by approved Biglerville High School teachers at the high school.[30]

Graduation requirements

Graduation requirements vary widely among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts. The Upper Adams School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 24 credits to graduate, including: math 3 credits (Algebra IB, Geometry required), English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3 credits (Biology I required), humanities 2 credits, physical education 2 credits, health 0.5 credit, Driver's Ed. 0.25 credit, and electives 5 credits.[31]

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.[32] 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.[33]

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.[34] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSA for 11th grade.[35]

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate.[36][37] For the class of 2019, a composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, a civics and government exam will be added.[38] 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.[39] 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.

SAT scores

In 2013, Upper Adams School District students took the SAT. The district's average verbal score was 477. The average math score was 481. The average writing score was 454. The College Board reported that average statewide scores were 494 in verbal, 504 in math, and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.[40]

In 2012, 101 Upper Adams School District students took the SAT. The district's average verbal score was 457. The average math score was 476. The average writing score was 449. The statewide verbal SAT results were: verbal 491, math 501, and writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams, averaging 496 verbal, math 514, and writing 488. According to the College Board, 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2011, 75 Upper Adams School District students took the SAT. The district's average verbal score was 473. The average math score was 487. The average writing score was 462.[41] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states, with average scores of verbal 493, math 501, and writing 479.[42] 1.65 million US students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 verbal, 514 math, and 489 writing.[43]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education 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.[44]

AP courses

Before the 2018-2019 school year, Biglerville High School did not offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP World History and AP Literature and Composition are now offered (as of 2018).

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 (English, science, history, math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers' use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. The Upper Adams School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07 or in 2007-08. The district received $104,861 in 2008-09.[45] Among the public school districts in Adams County, the highest award was given to Gettysburg Area School District, which received $341,842. 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.

Tuition

Students who live in the Upper Adams School 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 Upper Adams School District. For 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 it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the district's schools. The 2012 tuition rate for the Biglerville High School was $8,949.98.[46]

Wellness policy

Upper Adams School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006.[47] 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 was in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "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.[48]

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district could 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. Additionally, 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.[49] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Biglerville High School offers a free breakfast and free or 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 a 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.[50] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[51]

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.[52]

In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.[53]

Biglerville High School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in each building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) 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.[54] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.

The district participated in Highmark Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools, which enabled mobile data collection of pertinent health and physical fitness screening data on students K-12 in a database held by InnerLink, Inc. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Health eTools for Schools also provided interdisciplinary research-based curriculum in nutrition, physical education and physical activity to participating districts. The program was discontinued in 2013.[55]

Extracurriculars

Biglerville High School offers a wide variety of clubs and activities, and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). The school is in PIAA District 3. The school's mascot is a Canner.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.[56]

Sports

The district funds (as of 2013):

Varsity

[57]

Band

The Biglerville Band program, until the end of the 2017-2018 school year was led under the direction of Mrs. Jamie Cope. During the 2018-2019 school year, Mr. Rei Philippi took over as band director. The BHS Marching Band is an award winning program. The program offers many music ensemble including: High School Concert Band, Middle School Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Flute Ensemble, Indoor Drumline, and Indoor Guard.

Marching Band Titles

Tournament of Bands (tob-info.net)

  • Group 1-Open Atlantic Coast Championships - 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
  • Chapter/Region 6 Championships - 2004, 2006-2013, 2015-2018

United States Scholastic Band Association (now USBands) (usbands.org)

  • Group 1 National Championships - 2008
Indoor Drumline Titles

Keystone Indoor Drill Association (kida.org)

  • Scholastic Gold Percussion Ensemble - 2004, 2017, 2018
  • Scholastic Gold Moving Percussion - 2000, 2008

Tournament Indoor Association

  • Chapter 6 Championships Scholastic Intermediate - 2010
Indoor Guard Titles

Keystone Indoor Drill Association

  • Scholastic Gold Guard - 2007
  • Scholastic White Guard - 2008
  • Scholastic Blue Guard - 2013

Tournament Indoor Association

  • Chapter 6 Championships Scholastic Intermediate - 2010
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References
  1. "Biglerville HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  2. Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile - Biglerville High School, 2013
  3. National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core Data - Biglerville High School, 2010
  4. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Biglerville High School 2012, September 21, 2012
  5. Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile fast Facts Upper Adams School District, 2013
  6. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "UPPER ADAMS School District AYP Data Table 2012". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  7. Pennsylvania Department of Education, UPPER ADAMS School District AYP Data Table 2011, September 29, 2011
  8. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented". Archived from the original on September 14, 2010.
  9. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Upper Adams School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 data table". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  10. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Upper Adams School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009".
  11. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Upper Adams School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2008".
  12. Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. "High School Graduation rate 2007". Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  13. Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "Biglerville High School Academic Performance Data 2013".
  14. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2012). "2011-2012 PSSA and AYP Results".
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Biglerville High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010" (PDF).
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 2008). "PSSA Math and Reading Results by School 2008".
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA Math and Reading results by School and Grade".
  19. "How is your school doing?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 15, 2012.
  20. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2010 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  21. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results".
  22. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Biglerville High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  23. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Pennsylvania PSSA Science Achievement 2010".
  24. The Pennsylvania Basic Education/Higher Education Science and Technology Partnership, Science in Motion annual report, 2012
  25. Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report".
  26. National Center for Education Statistics - IPEDS 2008
  27. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Pennsylvania Department of Education - Dual Enrollment Guidelines".
  28. Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement. Site accessed March 2010.
  29. Pennsylvania Department of Education (April 29, 2010). "Report: PA College Credit Transfer System Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Accessible,".
  30. Pennsylvania College of Technology administration (2014). "Penn College NOW Dual Enrollment".
  31. Upper Adams School Board, Student Handbook 2010, 2010
  32. Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements
  33. Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Proposed changes to Chapter 4, May 10, 2012
  34. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview" (PDF).
  35. Megan Harris (September 12, 2013). "Pennsylvania changing high school graduation requirements". Tribune Live.
  36. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". Archived from the original on 2012-03-17.
  37. Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4".
  38. Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Board of Education Finalizes Adoption of Pennsylvania Common Core State Academic Standards and High School Graduation Requirements, March 14, 2013
  39. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Keystone Exams".
  40. College Board (2013). "The 2013 SAT Report on College & Career Readiness".
  41. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011". Archived from the original on 2011-10-15.
  42. College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania". Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
  43. "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011.
  44. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania (August 2006). "SAT Scores and Other School Data".
  45. Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 22, 2008). "Classrooms for the Future grants audit" (PDF).
  46. Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2012). "Pennsylvania Public School District Tuition Rates".
  47. Upper Adams School Board Policy Manual, Student Wellness Policy 246, May 2006
  48. Probart C, McDonnell E, Weirich JE, Schilling L, Fekete V (September 2008). "Statewide assessment of local wellness policies in Pennsylvania public school districts". J Am Diet Assoc. 108 (9): 1497–502. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.06.429. PMID 18755322.
  49. Pennsylvania Department of Education – Division of Food and Nutrition (July 2008). "Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools for the School Nutrition Incentive".
  50. USDA, Child Nutrition Programs - Eligibility Manual for School Meals, 2012
  51. Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center, The Pennsylvania School Breakfast Report Card, 2009
  52. USDA, Child Nutrition Programs, June 27, 2013
  53. United States Department of Agriculture (2011). "Food and Nutrition Service Equity in School Lunch Pricing Fact Sheet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-22.
  54. Pennsylvania State Department of Health (2010). "Pennsylvania Bulletin Doc. No. 10-984 School Immunizations; Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases".
  55. PR Newswire, Highmark Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools Available Free Through 2009, 2007
  56. Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities".
  57. Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association (2013). "PIAA School Directory".

See also
  • High schools in Pennsylvania

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