Blue Ridge High School (Pennsylvania)

In 2015, Blue Ridge School District’s graduation rate was 90.67%.[12]

• 2014 - 85.5%[13]
• 2013 - 88.4% [14]
• 2012 - 81%[15]
• 2011 - 75%.[16]
• 2010 - 73%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.[17]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 89%[18]
• 2009 - 85%
• 2008 - 89% [19]
• 2007 - 89% [20]

Blue Ridge High School offers the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. 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.[48] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[49] 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.[50] In 2010, the district received a $19,363 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books.

In 2014, 41 Blue RIdge School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 476. The Math average score was 478. The Writing average score was 441.[51][52] Statewide in Pennsylvania, Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 480. The College Board also reported that nationwide scores were: 497 in reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing.[53] In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SATs in the United States.

In 2013, 48 Blue Ridge School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 482. The Math average score was 493. The Writing average score was 458. 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.[54]

In 2012, 46 Blue Ridge School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 467. The Math average score was 456. The Writing average score was 442. 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, 60 Blue Ridge School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 491. The Math average score was 488. The Writing average score was 468.[55] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[56] 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.[57]

In 2015, Blue Ridge High School offered 5 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The fee for each AP Exam is $91 (2014).[58] The school normally retains $9 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs. In 2012, the fee was $89 per test per pupil. 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 Blue Ridge High School only 28.74% of the students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the associated AP exam.[59]

In 2014, Blue Ridge High School offered 5 AP courses, with just 28.5% of pupils achieving a 3 or better on the AP exam.[60] The 2013 data was withheld by the Pennsylvania Department of Education due to low student participation numbers.

For 2015-16 the School offers the following with sufficient enrollment:[61]

• AP Macroeconomics
• AP US Government & Politics
• American History AP
• AP Biology
• AP English Literature and Composition
• AP Calculus AB

Blue Ridge School Board requires that each student earn twenty-five credits, or have met the requirements of their Individualized Education Plan. The following course requirements must be met in earning the 25 credits: 4 credits of English, 4 credits of Social Studies, 3 credits of Science, 3 credits of Mathematics, 2 credits of Physical Education, .5 credits of Health, .5 credits of Independent Living, .5 credits of Desktop Applications, .25 credits of Keys to Careers, and 7.25 credits of Electives. The students must also pass the Keystone Exams in: English Language Arts, Algebra I and Biology I. Pupils who fail the exam repeatedly may complete a project at the discretion of the Superintendent.[62]

Additionally, all students must complete a graduation project as required by Pennsylvania School Code prior to the end of their senior year.[63] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.[64] Blue Ridge continues to require the project which focuses on career planning and job shadowing.

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2019,[65] public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the respective Keystone Exams for each course.[66][67] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.[68]

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Schools are mandated to provide targeted assistance to help the student be successful. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate.[69][70] For the class of 2019, a Composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements.[71] 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.[72] 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.

The school has a Freshman Academy which is designed to help freshmen experience a smooth and supportive transition from the academic expectations of middle school to the greater academic demands set forth in high school. Small group mentoring and academic assistance are provided.

Blue Ridge High School did not participate in the following state grants: Project 720 HIgh School improvement grants;[73][74] Education Assistance Grants; 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant;[75] 2013 Safe Schools and Resource Officer grants; nor the 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants.[76]

Blue Ridge School Board established a district-wide Wellness Policy in 2005.[78] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[79]

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.[80] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Blue Ridge HIgh School offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.[81] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[82]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.[83] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.[84] The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that Districts raise their full pay lunch prices every year until the price of non-subsidized lunches equals the amount the federal government reimburses schools for free meals. That subsidy in 2013-2014 was $2.93. In 2015, federal reimbursement rates were: $3.07 per meal for students who are income-eligible for free lunches and $2.67 for those who qualify for a reduced price. School lunch participation nationally dropped from 31.6 million students in 2012 to 30.4 million in 2014, according to the federal Department of Agriculture. Pennsylvania statistics show school lunch participation dropped by 86,950 students in the same two years, from 1,127,444 in 2012 to 1,040,494 in 2014.[85]

In 2014, President Barack Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.[86][87]

The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.[88][89]

Blue Ridge High School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. A nurse is available in the building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.[90][91] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.[92]

In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Health distributed to each Pennsylvania high school the overdose antidote drug naloxone in a nasal spray. School nurses were also provided with educational materials and training developed by the National Association of School Nurses.[93] The cost was covered by a grant from a private foundation.[94]

The Blue Ridge School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program.[95] Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies, in compliance with PIAA rules.[96][97] The PIAA mandates that student athletes must be passing at least four full-credit subjects to participate in sports.[98] At Blue Ridge, students must maintain an overall GPA of 77 and may be failing no more than one core class.[99]

In 2012, the Blue Ridge High School Envirothon Team won the county-wide Envirothon contest. In the regional Stock Market Game Competition, the Blue Ridge team took first place in 2012.[100]

The School offers the following clubs: National Honor Society, Student Council, Leo Club and Middle School and High School Yearbook. Students can earn one English credit working on the yearbook.

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 home schooled, 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.[101][102][103][104]

According to Pennsylvania Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Act 126 of 2014, all volunteer coaches and all those who assist in student activities, must have criminal background checks. Like all school district employees, they must also attend an anti child abuse training once every three years.[105][106][107]