Boiling Springs High School (Pennsylvania)

In 2013, South Middleton School District's graduation rate was 90%.[11] In 2012, Boiling Spring High School's graduation rate was 93%. In 2011 the graduation rate was 96%.[12] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Boiling Springs High School's rate was 83% for 2010.[13]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 91% [14]
• 2009 - 96% [15]
• 2008 - 91%[16]
• 2007 - 91% [17]
• 2006 - 86% [18]

Boiling Springs High School achieved 79 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - just 71% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, only 67% showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology, only 49% showed on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[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, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.[20]

In 2012, Boiling Springs High School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. In 2010 and 2011, Boiling Springs High School was in Warning AYP status due to missing several academic metrics.[21] In 2010, the School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[22] Principal Joseph Mancuso expressed concern over the steadily declining math scores at the high school plus the school was far below the AYP level of 67% on grade level in math for 2011.[23]

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[24]

In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.[25]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 74% on grade level, (12% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[26]
• 2011 - 65% (17% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[27]
• 2010 - 66%, State - 67% [28]
• 2009 - 68%, State - 65% [29]
• 2008 - 68%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 67%, State - 65%[30]
• 2006 - 73%, State - 65%
• 2005 - 76%, State - 65%[31]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 59% on grade level (26% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[32]
• 2011 - 51% (27% below basic). State - 60.3% [33]
• 2010 - 54%, State - 59%[34]
• 2009 - 54%, State - 56% [35]
• 2008 - 55%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 55%, State - 53%
• 2006 - 51%, State - 52%
• 2005 - 60%, State - 51%

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 40% on grade level (18% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[36]
• 2011 - 40% (11% below basic). State - 40% [37]
• 2010 - 26%, State - 39%[38]
• 2009 - 42%, State - 40% [39]
• 2008 - 37%, State - 39% [40]

Science in Motion Boiling Springs High School did not take 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.[41] Gettysburg College provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 29% of South Middleton 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.[42] 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.[43] 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.

Dual Enrollment - The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer this state funded program.[44][45]

In 2013, South Middleton School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 516. The Math average score was 512. The Writing average score was 516. 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.[46]

In 2012, 130 South Middleton School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 515. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 506. 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, 134 South Middleton School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 512. The Math average score was 513. The Writing average score was 510.[47] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[48] 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.[49]

The South Middleton School Board has determined that 30 total units are required for graduation including: 4.5 units of English, 3.5 units of Math, 4 units of Social Studies, 3 units of Science, 2 units of a Foreign Language, 2 units of Arts/Humanities. Microsoft Office, Physical Education, Health, Safety Education, and Personal Finance.[50]

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.[51] 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.[52]

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.[53] The exam is given at the end of the respective course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.[54]

Students have several opportunities to pass the exams. 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.[55][56] 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.[57] 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.[58] 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.

In 2013, Boiling Springs High School offered 8 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The student pays the fee for the exam which was $89 per test per pupil in 2012. 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 Boiling Springs High School only 32% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the AP exam.[59]

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. South Middleton School District did not apply for funding in 2006-2007. In 2007-2008, South Middleton School District received $171,947 and another $69,450 in 2008-2009 for a total funding of $241,397.[61] Among the public school districts in Cumberland County the highest award was given to Big Spring School District which received $695,531. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of his 2009-2010 state budget.

The Student Assistance Program is a statewide initiative designed to help school personnel identify students who may be experiencing serious school-related problems. Through a systematic process, students are identified, interviewed and, if appropriate, referred to an outside agency. The program is called the Student Assistance Core Team at Boiling Springs High School. It consists of school and agency personnel specially trained to work with at-risk students.[62]

The summer school is provided to assist student who have failed core courses and who are in danger of not graduating on time. It offers high school and middle school students an opportunity to catch up with peers or to make up a failed course and get back on track to graduate. Attendance is optional.[63]

South Middleton School Board established a district-wide Student Wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246.[64] 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." The District is a participant in: Healthy School Zone, PANA, and the Carlisle Health and Wellness Foundation's Wellness @ Work initiative.

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 and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, 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.[65] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

The 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.[66] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[67]

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.[68] 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.[69] 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 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.[70] 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.[71][72]

Boiling Springs 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.[73][74] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.[75]

Boiling Springs High School offers a variety of activities, clubs and an extensive athletics program to students. Varsity and junior varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Eligibility for participation is determined by the South Middleton School Board policies.[76] The District performs random drug testing on students who participate in extracurricular activities.[77] The District is compliant with state law, due to posting its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website in the Athletics section.

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.[78]

According to Pennsylvania’s Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.[79][80]

BSHS's football team consistently makes it to the playoffs. Most notably in 2005, the Bubblers went 10-0 only to lose to Littlestown, PA in the first round of the PIAA playoffs in a classic game. They are also known for their wrestling team who had many finalists in the state tournament.

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