Crestwood High School (Pennsylvania)
Crestwood High School is a ninth through twelfth grade, suburban, public high school located on Route 309 in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the only high school in the Crestwood School District (Pennsylvania), which encompasses an area of 110 square miles (280 km2) with a combined population of 19,383. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, Crestwood High School reported an enrollment of 1,062 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 194 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch. The school employed 52 teachers yielding a student teacher ratio of 20:1.[4] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 10 of the school teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[5]
Crestwood High School | |
---|---|
Location | |
, Luzerne County , | |
Information | |
Type | Public |
School district | Crestwood School District |
Principal | Margaret Foster John Gorham[1] |
Faculty | 52 |
Grades | 9-12 |
Enrollment | 883 (2016-17)[2] |
Color(s) | Red, White, and black |
Athletics | Soccer, Field Hockey, Football, Tennis, Golf, Swimming, Cross Country, Track and Field, Basketball, Wrestling, Soft Ball, Baseball, Lacrosse |
Athletics conference | Wyoming Valley Conference |
Mascot | The Comet |
Tuition | for nonresident and charter school students $6,282.13 [3] |
Website | http://www.csdcomets.org |
In 2010 and 2011, Crestwood High School achieved AYP status under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[6]
Students at Crestwood High School may choose from numerous academic, athletic, and co-curricular programs, but mainly focusing on humanities, mathematics and science, business, fine arts, and vocational-technical programs. This allows students not only to be prepared for 2 year or 4 year colleges, but also the workforce or military service. Added on to the High School's building, in 2000, was the seventh through eighth grade Middle School.
In December 2006, an F2 tornado tore through the back area of the high school. There was no serious or irreparable damage done to the section. The roof of the high school gym collapsed while the girls' basketball team was inside, but no one was hurt.
Graduation rate
In 2011, Crestwood School District's graduation rate was 97% [7] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Crestwood High School's rate was 93% for 2010.[8]
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
Graduation requirements
The Crestwood School Board has determined that a student must successfully complete 23 credits which include: 4 credits of English, 4 credits of Social Studies, 4 credits of Mathematics, 4 credits of Science, 2 credits of Arts & Humanities, 2 credits of World Language, 2 credits of electives and 1 credit Health/Physical Education.[12]
By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a graduation 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.[13] At Crestwood High School the project consists of: a research paper and an oral presentation.[14]
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2016, 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.[15][16][17] 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.[18] 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 Pennsylvania high schools, the PSSAs are administered to all the eleventh grade students.
11th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 71% on grade level, (13% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[19]
- 2010 - 67% (17% below basic). State - 66% [20]
- 2009 - 71% (14% below basic), State - 65%[21]
- 2008 - 72% (12% below basic), State - 65%
- 2007 - 66% (15% below basic), State - 65%[22]
11th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 59% on grade level (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.[23]
- 2010 - 55% (24% below basic). State - 59% [24]
- 2009 - 53% (22% below basic), State - 56%.
- 2008 - 61% (24% below basic), State - 56%
- 2007 - 49% (26% below basic), State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 46% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 40% (15% below basic). State - 39%
- 2009 - 45%, State - 40% [25]
- 2008 - 40%, State - 39%
College remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 19% of Crestwood 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.[26] 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. 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.[27] 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.
SAT scores
From January to June 2011, 170 Crestwood School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 503. The Math average score was 516. The Writing average score was 495.[28] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[29] 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.[30]
Dual enrollment
Crestwood High School offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state funded 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 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.[31] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[32] 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.[33]
For the 2009-10 funding year, the Crestwood School District received a state grant of $32,644 for its dual enrollment program.[34]
Online grade book and technology
The high school provides parents and students with online access to the student's grades and assignments. The school received several state Classroom For the Future Grants. These grants paid for the high school to acquire laptop computers and white boards for use in the core curriculum classrooms (English, History, Science, Math).[35] The CFF grant program was funded from 2006-2009. Crestwood School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08, it was denied funding. The high school received $187,656 in 2008-09.[36]
Extracurriculars
The district offer a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports teams. Eligibility to participate in all extracurriculars is set by school board policy.[37][38][39]
Some of the sports programs make it to Regional and Districts Championships, and some make it to States. The field hockey team has won four state titles, the most in Pennsylvania, and makes it to states almost every year, the basketball team has won five District Championships in the past six years, and the tennis, track and field and wrestling teams have also placed at Districts. In 2004, a turf stadium was added for the football, soccer, field hockey teams, and Marching band performances. The school's mascot is the Comet. Its colors are red and white with a touch of black.
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.[40]
"Kids for Cash"
Crestwood High School was one of the schools in Luzerne County impacted by the Kids for cash scandal, which was exposed in 2008.[41] Former judge Mark Ciavarella, who was the epicenter of the scandal, gave talks to the student assembly every year.
Communities Served by Crestwood High School
- Dorrance Township
- Fairview Township
- Nuangola
- White Haven
- Wright Township
- Slocum Township
- Dennison Township
- Rice Township
- Penn Lake
Notable graduates
- Martin Bibla, class of 1997, college football for the University of Miami, professional football for the Atlanta Falcons.
- Diane Madl Olympic Field Hockey Member.
- Sara Silvetti, class of 2000, 2008 Olympic Field Hockey Member and U.S. Field Hockey National Team Member[42]
- Matt Wotherspoon, baseball player[43]
References
- http://www.csdcomets.org/schools/crestwood_secondary_campus_-_grades_7-12
- "Crestwood HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- Pennsylvania Department of Education, Tuition rates per LEA, 2011
- National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data - Crestwood High School, 2010
- Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Crestwood High School, September 29, 2011
- Pennsylvania Department of Education, Crestwood High School AYP Overview, September 29, 2011
- Pennsylvania Department of Education, Crestwood School District AYP data table, September 29, 2011
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented". Archived from the original on 2010-09-14.
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Crestwood School District Report Card Academic Achievement Report Card 2010" (PDF).
- The Times Tribune (June 2009). "Crestwood School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2008".
- The Pennsylvania Partnership for Children (2008). "Pennsylvania High School Graduation Rates report". Archived from the original on 2012-11-05.
- Crestwood School District Administration (November 2010). "Crestwood High School Student Handbook" (PDF).
- Pennsylvania State Board of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
- Crestwood School District Administration (2008). "Crestwood School District Strategic Plan" (PDF).
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview" (PDF).
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". Archived from the original on 2012-03-17.
- Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Keystone Exams".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
- The Times-Tribune. (2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 PSSA results".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA Math and Reading results".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Crestwood High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF).
- Pennsylvania Department of Education, Crestwood High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010, March 5, 2011
- The Times-Tribune (2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 Science PSSA results".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report".
- National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2008
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011". Archived from the original on 2011-10-15.
- College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania". Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
- "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011.
- Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Dual Enrollment Guidelines". Archived from the original on 2014-10-17.
- Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement. site accessed March 2010.
- Pennsylvania Department of Education. (April 29, 2010). "Report: PA College Credit Transfer System Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Accessible".
- Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PA Dual Enrollment School District Grants 2010-11 Fall Appendix 2". Archived from the original on 2014-04-28.
- Crestwood High School Administration. "Crestwood Classrooms for the Future". Archived from the original on 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
- Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 2008). "Classrooms For the Futuire grants audit" (PDF).
- Crestwood School Board. "Crestwood School District Interscholastic Athletic Policy 123". Archived from the original on 2010-09-28.
- Crestwood school District Administration. "Crestwood School District Sports". Archived from the original on 2012-08-01.
- Crestwood School Board. "Crestwood School District Extracurricular Activity Policy 122". Archived from the original on 2010-09-28.
- Pennsylvania Office of the Governor (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities". Archived from the original on October 23, 2014.
- "Lack of Education at Juvenile Camp". Citizen's Voice. April 2, 2010.
- Bufano, Matt (1 July 2016). "Three area natives named to Olympic field hockey team". The Citizens' Voice. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- "Times Leader – Crestwood grad Matt Wotherspoon debuts in SWB RailRiders blowout". Times Leader. Retrieved May 12, 2016.