Belle Vernon Area School District

In 2015 Belle Vernon Area School District graduation rate was 93.72%.[39]

• 2014 – 91.08%[40]
• 2013 – 91.36%
• 2012 – 93.64%.[41]
• 2011 – 95%.[42]
• 2010 – 90%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.[43]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 – 94%[44]
• 2009 – 85.39%[45]
• 2008 – 92%[46]
• 2007 – 92%[47]

Belle Vernon Area High School is located at 425 Crest Avenue, Belle Vernon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 915 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 228 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 57.6 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:89:1.[48] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[49]

In 2011, Belle Vernon Area High School declined to Warning status due to lagging achievement in Reading. In 2010 the school achieved AYP status.[50]

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 – 72% on grade level, (14% below basic). State – 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[51]
• 2010 – 71%, (8% below basic). State – 66%[52]
• 2009 – 68%, (14% below basic). State – 65%[53]
• 2008 – 73%, (13% below basic). State – 65%[54]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 – 69%, on grade level (15% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.[55]
• 2010 – 72%, (13% below basic). State – 59%
• 2009 – 60% (19% below basic). State – 56%.
• 2008 – 53% (24% below basic). State – 56%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 – 44% on grade level (10% below basic). State – 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.[56]
• 2010 – 28% (17% below basic). State – 39%
• 2009 – 38% (14% below basic). State – 40%[57]
• 2008 – 36%, State – 39%

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 33% of Belle Vernon 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.[58] 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.[59] 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.

From January to June 2011, 141 Belle Vernon Area High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 478. The Math average score was 479. The Writing average score was 450.[60] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal – 493, Math – 501, Writing – 479.[61] 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.[62]

Belle Vernon Area 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.[63] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[64] For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $14,015 for the program.[65]

The Belle Vernon Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26 credits to graduate, including: 4 units Math, English 4 units, social studies 4 units, science 4 units, including Biology, 2 units Arts and Humanities, Physical Education and electives.[66] If a student does not meet the "proficient level or higher" in Mathematics they must complete the PSSA Enhancement Math Class with a grade of 75% or higher each of the four nine weeks (students must get a grade of 75% or higher each quarter) to graduate. A final Appeals Committee considers cases of student who are not on track to graduate.

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.[67]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 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.[68][69][70]

The high school received a $2000 grant to be used for antibullying education initiatives. The grant was awarded by The Marcus L Ruscitto Foundation.

In 2011, the district joined BVA eAcademy which provides students with online courses through a collaboration with other Westmoreland County school districts.[71] The 2011–2012 WIU eAcademy Course Catalog includes 54 courses available to students.

Belle Vernon Middle School is located at 500 Perry Avenue, Belle Vernon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 339 pupils in grades 7th through 8th, with 122 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 20.85 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1.[72] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[73]

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate in both years was 94%.[74]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 – 68% on grade level (8% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 – 58% (21% below basic). State – 57%[78]
• 2009 – 68% (13% below basic). State – 55%[79]
• 2008 – 59%, State – 52%[80]

Rostraver Middle School is located at 250 Crest Avenue, Belle Vernon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 323 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 78 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 20.70 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1.[83] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[84]

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status.[85] The attendance rate was 94% in both years.

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 – 68% on grade level (15% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 – 67% (17% below basic). State – 57%[89]
• 2009 – 71% (8% below basic). State – 55%[90]
• 2008 – 68%, (15% below basic). State – 52%[91]

Marion Elementary School is located at 500 Perry Avenue, Belle Vernon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 590 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 245 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 35 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 17:1.[92] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[93]

In 2011, the school achieved AYP status. Marion Elementary School was in School Improvement status for 2009–10 and 2010–11 due to chronic, low reading achievement in several grades.[94] According to No Child Left Behind, School Improvement Status required the district's administration to offer the opportunity to Marion Elementary students to transfer to a successful school (Rostraver Elementary School) within the district. It also mandated the administration develop and implement a plan to improve student achievement at the school and to notify all parents of the plan.[95][96]

PSSA Results

4th Grade Science

• 2011 – 77%, (11% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 – 84%, (4% below basic), State – 81%
• 2009 – 82%, (8% below basic), State – 83%
• 2008 – 79%, (9% below basic), State – 81%

Rostraver Elementary School is located at 300 Crest Avenue, Belle Vernon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 581 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 157 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 35 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 17:1.[101] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[102]

In 2010 and 2011, the school achieved AYP status.[103] In 2010, the attendance rate was 95% and declined to 94% in 2011.[104]

PSSA Results

4th Grade Science

• 2011 – 87%, (4% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 – 85%, (8% below basic), State – 81%
• 2009 – 86%, (2% below basic), State – 83%
• 2008 – 81%, (6% below basic), State – 81%

The district administration reported that 138 or 4.71% of its students were gifted in 2009.[115] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student's building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.[116]

In 2011–12, the district received a $9,161,937 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[134][135] Additionally, the Belle Vernon Area School District received $185,019 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011–2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010–2011.[136] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011–12.[137] In 2010, Belle Vernon Area School District reported that 827 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[138]

For the 2010–11 budget year, the Belle Vernon Area School District received a 2.82% increase for $9,908,857 in state Basic Education Funding. The highest increase in Westmoreland County was given to the Yough School District a 7.40% increase in Basic Education Funding. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010–11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.[139] The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where a district received at least the same amount as the year before, even where enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of Governor Rendell's policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.

In 2009–10, Belle Vernon Area School District received a 5.20% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $9,637,413. The highest increase in Westmoreland County went to Southmoreland School District with a 6.44% increase. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. Ninety school districts were given the base 2% increase. The state's Basic Education Funding to the Belle Vernon Area School District in 2008–09 was $9,161,936.72.[140] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.[141] In 2008 the district reported that 790 students received a free or reduced-price lunch due to low family income.[142]

Beginning in 2004–2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania's school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010–11, the district applied for and received $502,187 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten and to provide assistance to struggling students.[143][144]

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, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. Belle Vernon Area School District Administration did not apply to participate in 2006–07 nor in 2007–08. Belle Vernon Area School District received $165,458 in 2008–09.[145] In Westmoreland County, the highest award was given to Franklin Regional School District – $412,677. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County – $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.

For the 2010–11 school year, Belle Vernon Area School District administration applied for a School Improvement Grant. It was eligible for funding due to the chronic, low achievement at Marion Elementary School.[146] The district received $46,180.00

In 2010, Pennsylvania received $141 million from the federal –US Department of Education, to turn around its worst-performing schools. The funds were disbursed via a competitive grant program.[147] The Pennsylvania Department of Education has identified 200 Pennsylvania schools as "persistently lowest-achieving," making them eligible for this special funding.[148] Pennsylvania required low performing schools to apply or provide documentation about why they had not applied. The funds must be used, by the district, to turn around schools in one of four ways: school closure, restart – close the school and reopen it as a charter school. The other two options involve firing the principal. One would require at least half the faculty in a chronically poor performing school be dismissed. The second involves intensive teacher training coupled with strong curriculum revision or a longer school day.[149]

The district received an extra $2,115,522 in Federal Stimulus ARRA funds in 2009–2011. This was in addition to all regular state and federal funding.[150] These extra dollars must be focused on programs to improve the academic achievement of low-income students who receive free and reduced-price lunch or special education students.

Belle Vernon Area School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have meant millions in additional federal dollars to improve student academic achievement. The district has been identified as a turnaround school district. This means the district would have received an additional $700 to $900 per student above and beyond the primary grant funding. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.[151] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.[152][153][154]

Belle Vernon Area School Board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars.[155] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

The Belle Vernon Area School Board set property tax rates in 2011–12 at 18.2500 mills for residents in Fayette County and 77.6900 mills in Westmoreland County.[156] A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region.[157] Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate – land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75 and 85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.[158] The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties.[159] In 2010, miscalculations by the board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.[160]

• 2010–11 – 17.0700 mills for residents in Fayette County and 72.9300 mills in Westmoreland County.[161]
• 2009–10 – 16.3800 mills for residents in Fayette County and 70.4900 mills in Westmoreland County.[162]
• 2008–09 – 16.5200 mills for residents in Fayette County and 68.4900 mills in Westmoreland County.[163]
• 2007–08 – 16.1600 mills for residents in Fayette County and 68.4000 mills in Westmoreland County.[164]
• 2006–07 – 16.3500 mills for residents in Fayette County and 69.7300 mills in Westmoreland County.[165]

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011–2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions, including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of 0.75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.[166] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[167] Several exceptions were maintained: 1) costs to pay interest and principal on indebtedness incurred prior to September 4, 2004 for Act 72 schools and prior to June 27, 2006 for non-Act 72 schools; 2) costs to pay interest and principal on electoral debt; 3) costs incurred in providing special education programs and services (beyond what is already paid by the State); and 4) costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school's share of payments to PSERS (PA school employees pension fund) taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate.[168][169]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Belle Vernon Area School District 2006–2007 through 2011–2012.[170]

• 2006–07 – 5.5%, Base 3.9%
• 2007–08 – 4.6%, Base 3.4%
• 2008–09 – 6.0%, Base 4.4%
• 2009–10 – 5.6%, Base 4.1%
• 2010–11 – 4.0%, Base 2.9%
• 2011–12 – 1.9%, Base 1.4%
• 2012–13 – 2.3%, Base 1.7%[171]

For the 2012–13 budget year, Belle Vernon Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2012–2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit.[172]

For the 2011–12 school year, Belle Vernon Area School Board applied for three exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: Maintenance of Local Tax Revenue; Maintenance of Selected Revenue Sources and Teacher Pension Costs. Each year, the School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[173]

According to a state report, for the 2011–2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district's index. Of the districts who sought exceptions: 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.[174]

The School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.[175] For the 2009-10-year school budget, the Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index.[176] In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.[177]

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Belle Vernon Area School District was set at $163 for the 115.793 approved primary homesteads and farmsteads.[178] The highest tax relief in Fayette County went to Uniontown Area School District at $202 for 5,550 homesteads. In Westmoreland County the highest tax relief went to New Kensington–Arnold School District at $300.[179] In 2009, Belle Vernon was set at $165 for 5,714 approved homesteads and farmsteads.[180] The tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners must apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 acres (4.0 ha) contiguous and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Fayette County, 71% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009 while in Westmoreland County 61% of property owners participated[181] Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010.[182] This was the second year CUSD was the top recipient.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently people who have an income of substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.

Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).[183]

Clubs offered include: Art Club, Bible Club, Book Group, BotsIQ, Broadcast Staff, Caring Team, Cheerleaders, Chorus, Drama Club, F.A.S.T. Council, French Club, High School Gifted Activities, Home Economics Club, Interact Club, LEO Club, Politics Club, Majorettes, Marching Band, MIC/SADD, National Forensic League, National Honor Society, Newspaper, Prom Committee, Senior Class of 2011, Ski Club, Spanish Club, Student Advisory, Council, The Future Is Mine, Yearbook.