Blackhawk High School

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, Blackhawk High School reported an enrollment of 1,073 pupils in grades 8th through 12th, with 231 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch.[3] Blackhawk High School's student population is 98% white. It has marginal to no amounts Hispanic or American Indian students.

The school employed 81 teachers yielding a student teacher ratio of 13:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 11 classes are taught by teachers who were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the No Child Left Behind Act.[4]

In 2012, Blackhawk High School was ranked 18th in Pennsylvania, and 955th nationally (22,000 high schools ranked nationwide), by US News and World Report for academic programs.[5]

Local region academic ranking 11th graders

• 2012 - 47th out of 104 high schools [6]
• 2011 - 49th
• 2010 - 55th (out of 106 local)
• 2009 - 70th among western Pennsylvania high schools based on three years of results in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science.[7]

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 25% of the Blackhawk 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.[17] 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.[18] 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.

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 offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[19] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[20] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $3,412 for the program.[21]

From January to June 2011, 147 Blackhawk High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 493. The Math average score was 510. The Writing average score was 475.[22] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[23] 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.[24]

The Blackhawk School Board has determined that a Blackhawk High School pupil must earn 23.5 credits to graduate including: mathematics 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 0.5 credit, Software Apps 0.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits and electives 3.5. A student must earn a minimum of 5.5 credits to obtain sophomore standing. All students are required to successfully complete four credits of Mathematics in order to graduate. Music academy students will take other classes and not be required the 4 math credits and take less gym credits.[25]

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.[26] At Blackhawk High School students have one of three options: Comprehensive Career Development Plan, Community Service Project and In-depth Academic Research Project.[27]

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.[28][29][30] 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.[31] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

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 2006-2009. Blackhawk School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07 or in 2007-08. The district received $113,840 in 2008-09.[32] In Beaver County the highest award ($476,723) was given to Freedom Area School District. 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.

Local region academic ranking 8th graders

• 2012 - 30th out of 105 local districts
• 2011 - 42nd
• 2010 - 52nd (out of 106 local)
• 2009 - 35th out of 141 western Pennsylvania schools based on three years of results in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science.[33]

PSSA Results

8th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 93% on grade level, 69% advanced (2% below basic). State - 81.8%
• 2010 - 90%, 64% advanced (3% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 82%, 61% advanced (8% below basic), State - 80%
• 2008 - 85%, 62% advanced (6% below basic), State - 78% [34]
• 2007 - 87% (3% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 87% on grade level 54% advanced (5% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 82%, 58% advanced (6% below basic). State - 75% [35]
• 2009 - 78%, 52% advanced (7% below basic). State - 71% [36]
• 2008 - 83%, 58% advanced (5% below basic). State - 70%
• 2007 - 84%, 55% advanced (4% below basic). State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 76% on grade level (6% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 76% (7% below basic). State – 57% [37]
• 2009 - 61% (16% below basic). State - 55% [38]
• 2008 - 62% (12% below basic). State - 52% [39]
• 2007 - tested, but results not made public.

The high school offers a cyber program run by a Cyber School Coordinator. The program began in the 2011-2012 school year. Students, along with their parent or guardian meet with a guidance counselor and the cyber coordinator to set a curriculum/course of study. Blackhawk School District partnered with the Regional Choice Initiative (RCI), of the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit to offer this full-time cyber program. Blackhawk cyber students have full access to the online curriculum from their home using RCI issued equipment, which includes a laptop computer, printer and headphones. Internet access is also provided for the student—free of charge.

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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]

Having a rich athletic tradition, the school offers multiple sports, including wrestling, golf, soccer, football, baseball, softball, volleyball, swimming, tennis, lacrosse, hockey, and track and field. It has a Football Mother's Club as well as a Quarterback Club. Blackhawk offers multiple opportunities for the musically talented. In the 2011 season, the Blackhawk men's varsity soccer team went undefeated for the first time, finishing with a record of 16-0-1, and defeating archrival, Beaver, in the last game of the regular season for the section title. There is an orchestra, concert band, PIMBA championship winning marching band, competitive marching band, jazz band, pit orchestra for the musicals and plays, and indoor competitions consisting of indoor percussion competition and indoor color guard performances for the winter months. BHS also offers the Music Academy for students considering a professional job in the realm of music. These students have the opportunity to take more music related classes instead of academic classes and includes extra band classes. The music academy requires no higher academic achievement but does allow for less state required classes. Blackhawk High School has a proud history, beginning as a merger of the larger Darlington Area School District, which dated back to the early 1920s as having a reputation in excellence, both on the athletic fields and in the classroom. Blackhawk High School also has a wealth of alumni that have gone on to greatness, and has a high legacy retention rate, allowing for a family friendly atmosphere of familiarity and comfort for its students. BHS is located in a scenic, rural space; surrounded by heavily wooded areas and fields of golden wheat, each morning, the sun rises over the hills to greet coming students. Football games are played on the original district field, located in Darlington, Pennsylvania.

Sung to the tune of Deutschlandlied

Full of memories, life and character,
Blackhawk High School stands proud and tall;
Giving knowledge and maturity,
Guiding lives to lead one and all.
As we look to thee, help us learn to see,
Life in every point of view;
Make us wiser still,
give us strength and will,
so as to make us proudly hail to thee.[41]

• Greg Best, football player
• Dante Calabria, basketball player
• Clayton Hamilton, baseball player
• Brian Omogrosso, baseball player
• Brendan McKay, baseball player
• Archie Miller, basketball player and coach
• Sean Miller, basketball player and coach
• Adam Liberatore, baseball player

• School website