Allegheny-Clarion Valley Junior/Senior High School

In 2013, Allegheny-Clarion Valley Junior Senior High School graduation rate was 89%.[6] In 2012, the high school's graduation rate was 91.78%.[7]

In 2011, Allegheny-Clarion Valley Junior Senior High School graduation rate was 94%.[8] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School's rate was 94% for 2010.[9]

Former AYP graduation rate:

• 2010 - 95%[10]
• 2009 - 95%[11]
• 2008 - 91%
• 2007 - 91%[12]

A student attending A-C Valley School District must earn 24 credits[13] in grades 9-12 in order to graduate, as well as have completed the state-required Graduation Project and Pennsylvania Standard School Assessments (PSSA).

2013 School Performance Profile

Allegheny-Clarion Valley Junior/Senior High School achieved 73.5 out of 100. Reflects on-grade-level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 67% were on grade level. In Algebra 1/math, 78.7% showed on-grade-level skills. In Biology/science, 60% showed on-grade-level science understanding.[19] 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, Allegheny-Clarion Valley Junior/Senior High School declined Warning AYP status.[20] In 2010 and 2011, the school achieved AYP status.[21]

PSSA History

PSSAs are NCLB related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012. Effective with Spring 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Education discontinued administering the PSSA's to 11th graders. The eighth grade and seventh grade will continue to be tested in the spring of each year. In 2010 and 2011, the school achieved AYP status.[21]

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 62% on grade level, (20% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[22]
• 2011 - 56%, (31% below basic). State - 69.1%[23]
• 2010 - 62% (21% below basic). State - 68% (78 pupils enrolled)[24]
• 2009 - 66%, State - 65%
• 2008 - 48%, State - 65%[25]
• 2007 - 49%, State - 65%[26]

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 65% on grade level (22% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[27]
• 2011 - 41% (28% below basic). State - 60.3%[28]
• 2010 - 50% (28% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 58%. State - 56%[29]
• 2008 - 41%. State - 56%
• 2007 - 38%. State - 54%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 51% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[30]
• 2011 - 25% (21% below basic). State - 40%[31]
• 2010 - 28% (7% below basic). State - 39%[32]
• 2009 - 25%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 26%, State - 39%[33]

Allegheny-Clarion Valley Junior Senior High School and Allegheny-Clarion Valley Elementary 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.[34] Clarion University provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 24% of Allegheny-Clarion Valley 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.[35] 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.[36] 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.

In 2013, Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 528. The Math average score was 495. The Writing average score was 488. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.[37]

In 2012, 34 Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 451. The Math average score was 460. The Writing average score was 448. 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, 36 students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 465. The Math average score was 485. The Writing average score was 449.[38] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[39] 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.[40]

The Allegheny-Clarion Valley School 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 offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[41] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[42]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $5,799 for the program.[43]

8th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 69% on grade level (10% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2011 - 83% (6% below basic). State - 81.8%
• 2010 - 70% (9% below basic). State - 81% (71 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 77%, State - 80%[44]
• 2008 - 78%, State - 78%

8th Grade Math

• 2012 - 79% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 76%
• 2011 - 75% (14% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 57% (19% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 - 67%, State - 71%[45]
• 2008 - 56%, State - 70%[46]

8th Grade Science

• 2012 - 65% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 72% (13% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 64% (18% below basic). State - 57%
• 2009 - 61%, State - 54%
• 2008 - 46%, State - 52%[47]

7th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 73% (16% below basic). State – 76%
• 2011 - 70% (8% below basic). State – 76%
• 2010 - 73% (7% below basic). State - 73% (60 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 60%, State - 71%[44]
• 2008 - 64%, State - 70%

7th Grade Math

• 2012 - 82% (13% below basic). State - 80%
• 2011 - 83% (13% below basic). State - 78.6%
• 2010 - 76% (8% below basic). State - 77%
• 2009 - 71%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 65%, State - 70%

In 2013, Allegheny -Clarion Valley Junior Senior High School offered 2 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. 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 Allegheny-Clarion Valley Senior High School less than 10 students took an AP course in 2012-13.[48]

Students who live in the Allegheny-Clarion Valley 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 Allegheny-Clarion Valley 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 Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates was High School - $8,668.89.[49]

The Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. The Allegheny-Clarion Valley School Board determines eligibility policies to participate in these programs [50] and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). The district is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website.

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.[51]

Beginning in 2016, Allegheny-Clarion Valley Junior/Senior High School entered into an athletic co-op agreement with Union Junior/Senior High School with regard to football, cross country, and golf. Under the agreement, Union High School would act as the host school for football (Though games are expected to be played at both schools evenly), while A-C is the host school for golf and cross-country.[52]

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