Solanco High School

Solanco High School is a midsized, rural public secondary school located in southern Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, United States. It is a part of the Solanco School District. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 1,188 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 320 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school employed 75 teachers, yielding a student teacher ratio of 15:1.[4] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, two teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[5]

Solanco High School
Address
585 Solanco Road

Quarryville
,
Lancaster
,
Pennsylvania
,
17566

United States
Information
School typePublic, secondary
School districtSolanco School District
SuperintendentMartin J. Hudacs[1]
PrincipalStephanie Lininger[2]
Staff64.60 (FTE)[3]
Grades9th–12th
Enrollment1,090 (2017–18)[3]
Student to teacher ratio16.87[3]
Color(s)Black and gold
         
MascotGolden Mules
Information(717) 786–2151[2]
WebsiteSolanco High School

In 2012, Solanco High School declined to "School Improvement I" AYP status due to low student achievement in both reading and mathematics, along with a low graduation rate.[6] In 2011, the school declined to "Warning" AYP status.[7] In 2012, 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 parents the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the district. Additionally, the Solanco High School administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the high school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.[8] The school is eligible for special extra funding through school improvement grants, which it must apply for each year.[9]

Graduation rate

In 2012, Solanco High School's graduation rate was 87%.[10] In 2011, the graduation rate was 86.8%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new four-year cohort graduation rate. Solanco High School's graduation rate was 86.99% in 2010.[11]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

PSSA results history

11th Grade Reading:

  • 2012 - 70% on grade level (14(% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders were on grade level.[16]
  • 2011 - 72% (14% below basic). State - 69.1% [17]
  • 2010 - 60% (18% below basic). State - 66% [18]
  • 2009 - 69% (15% below basic). State - 65% [19]
  • 2008 - 65% (18% below basic). State - 65% [20]
  • 2007 - 63% (25% below basic). State - 65% [21]

11th Grade Math:

  • 2012 - 57% on grade level (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders were on grade level.[22]
  • 2011 - 62% (15% below basic). State - 60.3% [23]
  • 2010 - 56% (25% below basic). State - 59% [24]
  • 2009 - 60% (19% below basic). State - 56% [25]
  • 2008 - 60% (20% below basic). State - 56% [26]
  • 2007 - 54% (28% below basic). State - 53% [27]
11th Grade Science
  • 2012 - 40% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[28]
  • 2011 - 34% (15% below basic). State - 40% [29]
  • 2010 - 23% (24% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 35% (23% below basic). State - 40% [30]
  • 2008 - 35% (15% below basic). State - 39% [31]

Science in Motion

Solanco High School did not take advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brings 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] Elizabethtown College offers the program in Lancaster County.

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 37% of Solanco 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.[33] 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.[34] 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.

2016 SAT: average scores
Lancaster County schools
School district Reading Math Writing Total
Cocalico 514 524 495 1534
Columbia Borough 460 448 427 1335
Conestoga Valley 515 511 479 1505
Donegal 515 508 492 1515
Eastern Lancaster County 526 524 493 1544
Elizabethtown Area 529 532 495 1556
Ephrata Area 525 526 496 1546
Hempfield 535 556 505 1595
Lampeter-Strasburg 524 533 511 1567
Lancaster 425 436 407 1268
Manheim Central 507 510 483 1501
Manheim Township 539 553 515 1608
Penn Manor 516 523 483 1521
Pequea Valley 531 526 492 1549
Solanco 509 512 471 1492
Warwick 537 539 507 1584
County average 513 516 484 1514
Pennsylvania average 481 485 458 1424
U.S. average 494 508 482 1484
Each test section is out of a score of 800 points.
Source: Public School SAT Scores, PA Department of Education
U.S. Average Source: 2016 SAT Report, CollegeBoard

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.[35] Solanco partners with Millersville University, Harrisburg Area Community College, Lancaster Bible College, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and Pennsylvania State University. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, state-funded Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to or apply to their institutions.[36]

In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students from the Commonwealth due to a state budget crisis. For the 2009-10 funding year, Solanco School District received a state grant of $2,568 for the program.[37]

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. Solanco School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26 credits to graduate, including: math - 3 credits, English - 4 credits, social studies - 3 credits, science - 3 credits, Arts and Humanities - 2 credits Physical Education (Fitness 1.5 credits and Wellness 0.5 credits) and 8 electives. An additional credit in English, math, science or social studies at the student's choice is required. Students must earn 6 credits to advance to 10th grade. They must earn 12 credits to advance to 11th grade.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students are required to 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.[38] Solanco students may take one of several courses to meet the requirement. 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.[39]

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.[40][41][42] For the class of 2019, a Composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, a civics and government exam will be added.[43] In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Literature exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 - 38% on grade level, Biology - 35% on grade level, and English Lit - 49% on grade level.[44] 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.

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of dollars of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, science, history, and math), and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers' use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. The Solanco School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08 Solanco High School received $427,158. The school received $77,938 in 2008-09 for a total of $505,096 in funding.[45] In Lancaster County the highest award was given to Lancaster School District - $1,193,377. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future grant funding was curtailed by Governor Rendell.

Extracurriculars

Solanco School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and is in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania interscholastic Athletics Association (PIAA). The school is a member of the Lancaster-Lebanon 2 Sports League.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, or charter school, and those who are homeschooled, are eligible to participate in extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.[46]

Sports

The district funds:

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References
  1. "Superintendent's Message". Solanco School District. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
  2. "Solanco High School". Solanco School District. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
  3. "Solanco HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  4. National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data - Solanco High School, 2010
  5. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Solanco High School 2012, September 21, 2012
  6. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Solanco High School Academic Report Card 2012".
  7. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Solanco High School Academic Report Card 2011, September 29, 2011
  8. US Department of Education (2003). "NCLB Parental Notices" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2011.
  9. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "School Improvement Grant".
  10. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Solanco School District AYP Data Table 2012".
  11. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
  12. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card Data table 2010, October 20, 2010
  13. The Times-Tribune (June 27, 2010). "PA School District Statistical Snapshot Database 2008-09".
  14. The Times-Tribune (June 25, 2009). "County School Districts Graduation Rates 2008".
  15. Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (2008). "High School Graduation rate 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2012.
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2012). "2011-2012 PSSA and AYP Results".
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
  19. The Times-Tribune (September 14, 2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 PSSA results".
  20. Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 15, 2008). "2007-2008 PSSA and AYP Results".
  21. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA Math and Reading results".
  22. Pittsburgh Post Gazette (October 15, 2012). "How is your school doing?".
  23. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Solanco High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011, September 29, 2011
  24. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Solanco High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010, October 20, 2010
  25. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Solanco High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, September 14, 2009
  26. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Solanco High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2008, August 15, 2008
  27. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Solanco High School Academic Achievement Report Card, 2007
  28. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Solanco High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2012" (PDF).
  29. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
  30. The Times-Tribune (2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 Science PSSA results".
  31. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Report on PSSA Science results by school and grade 2008".
  32. The Pennsylvania Basic Education/Higher Education Science and Technology Partnership, Science in Motion annual report, 2012
  33. Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 20, 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report". Archived from the original on December 11, 2013.
  34. National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2008
  35. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Dual Enrollment Guidelines".
  36. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (March 2010). "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement".
  37. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2009). "Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment Allocations to school districts for 2010-11".
  38. Pennsylvania State Board of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
  39. Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Proposed changes to Chapter 4, May 10, 2012
  40. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Keystone Exam Overview" (PDF).
  41. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". Archived from the original on March 17, 2012.
  42. Pennsylvania State Board of Education (2010). "Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4".
  43. 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
  44. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Keystone Exams".
  45. Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 22, 2008). "Classrooms for the Future grants audit" (PDF).
  46. Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities".

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