Cedar Cliff High School

Cedar Cliff High School is located in Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is older of the two high schools in the West Shore School District. It was formed in 1960 with the merger of West Shore High School and New Cumberland High School. The entire West Shore School District attended Cedar Cliff until fall 1965, when Red Land High School opened. In 2017, the school had 1,273 students enrolled. In 2011, the school had 95 teachers yielding a student teach ratio of 14:1.[2] According to a 2011 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, eight teachers are considered "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind law.[3] The Cedar Cliff mascot is The Colt, and the school colors are navy blue, white and gold. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has set the tuition for non-resident and charter school students at $8,969.40.[4]

Cedar Cliff High School
Location
Camp Hill
,
Pennsylvania

United States
Coordinates40.2296°N 76.8962°W / 40.2296; -76.8962
Information
TypeHigh School
Established1959
PrincipalKevin Filgrove
Faculty113
Grades9-12
Number of students1,273 students in 2017[1]
Color(s)navy blue and gold
AthleticsPennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
Team nameColts
Websitewww.wssd.k12.pa.us/CedarCliff.aspx
West Shore School District region in Cumberland County
West Shore School District region in York County

Academic achievement

In 2011, Cedar Cliff High School declined to School Improvement II AYP status due to chronic low student achievement in mathematics and reading.[5] In 2010, the school was on Making Progress: in School Improvement I status.[6] In 2009, Cedar Cliff High School was in School Improvement I for chronic, low student achievement. According to the federal No Child Left Behind law, students must be offered the opportunity to transfer to a higher achievement high school within the district. The school was also required to create a school improvement plan and submit it to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval.[7]

Graduation Rate

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
  • 2011 – 67% on grade level, (18% below basic). 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[12]
  • 2010 – 74% (9% below basic). State – 67%[13]
  • 2009 – 69%, State – 65%[14]
  • 2008 – 64%, State – 65%[15]
  • 2007 – 72%, State – 65%
11th Grade Math:
  • 2011 – 57%, on grade level (24% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.[16]
  • 2010 – 63% (24% below basic). State – 59%
  • 2009 – 56%, State – 56%[17]
  • 2008 – 58%, State – 56%[18]
  • 2007 – 60%, State – 53%[19]
11th Grade Science:
  • 2011 – 33% on grade level (20% below basic). State – 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
  • 2010 – 43%, State – 39%
  • 2009 – 46%, State – 40%[20]
  • 2008 – 34%, State – 39%[21]

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 37% of West Shore School District 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.[22] 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.[23] 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.

SAT Scores

From January to June 2011, 198 Cedar Cliff High School students took the SAT exams. The school's Verbal Average Score was 512. The Math average score was 510. The Writing average score was 498.[24] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal – 493, Math – 501, Writing – 479.[25] 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.[26]

Graduation requirements

In order to receive a diploma from West Shore School District a student must earn 23 credits in the following subject areas: English/Composition & Communication (four credits), Social Studies (three credits), Science (three credits), Math (three credits), Physical Education & Health (three credits).[27]

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.[28]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2017, 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. In the 2015-16 school year, it was decided by the state that the class of 2017 and 2018 are exempted from this graduation exam, and now starts with the class of 2019.[29]

Dual enrollment

The school district offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state funded 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 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.[30] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[31] 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.[32] For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $6,852 for the program.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. The school board determines eligibility for participation in coordination with respective individual governing organizations. Varsity and junior varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.[33] In 2007–08 the district spent $910,900 on athletics. In 2007–08 West Shore spent $583,496 on school athletics (excluding coaches salaries). In 2010–11 the spending increased to $639,152 and in 2011–12 it has budgeted $600,680 for athletics.[34] In October 2011, the school board voted to eliminate random drug testing of students who participate in extracurricular activities. Over the course of the program, six students were tested each at each high school each week for 899 tests administered, with just 37 positive results.[35]

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.[36]

As of the 2011–2012 school year, students participating in any competitive sport in the West Shore School district must pay a district fee, as part of their "Pay to Play" program.

Notable students
  • Eliah Houck - unicycle rider, juggler, and anti-screen activist,[37][38] Cedar Cliff class of 2022
  • Nathaniel Stains - writer, poet, and artist, Cedar Cliff class of 2022
  • Jackson Green - Runner, reader, cannoli connoisseur, Cedar Cliff class of 2021
  • Vegetable God - math legend, broccoli consumer, leader of the vegetable club, Cedar Cliff class of 2021

Notable alumni

References
  1. National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data Cedar Cliff High School, 2017
  2. NCES, Common Core of Data - Cedar Cliff High School, 2011.
  3. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers for Cedar Cliff High School, September 29, 2011.
  4. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Tuition rates per LEA, 2011.
  5. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "CEDAR CLIFF High School - School AYP Overview". Archived from the original on 2012-06-13. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  6. "CEDAR CLIFF HS School AYP Overview". Archived from the original on 2012-06-13. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  7. West Shore School District Administration (September 2011). "West Shore School District - 2010-2011 PSSA Testing - Results and Status Update" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  8. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Cedar Cliff High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011 data table". Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  9. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 15, 2010). "Cedar Cliff High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010". Archived from the original on September 9, 2012.
  10. Pennsylvania Department oF Education (2009). "Cedar Cliff High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009" (PDF).
  11. Pennsylvania Department oF Education (2008). "Cedar Cliff High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2008" (PDF).
  12. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  13. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Pennsylvania PSSA results: reading, writing, math and science in 2010".
  14. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Cedar Cliff High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, September 14, 2009
  15. The Times-Tribune (2008). "Grading Our Schools Reading PSSA 2008".
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Cedar Cliff High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results, 2009
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Cedar Cliff High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2008, August 2008
  19. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA 2007 Reading and Math school and grade".
  20. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Science PSSA 2009 by Schools. August 2009.
  21. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Science PSSA 2008 by Schools. August 2008.
  22. Pennsylvania College Remediation Report, Pennsylvania Department of Education, January 2009
  23. National Center for Education Statistics
  24. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Public School SAT Scores 2011". Archived from the original on 2011-10-15.
  25. College Board (September 2011). "SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania". Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
  26. "While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady". NJ.com. September 2011.
  27. "Cedar Cliff High School Graduation Requirements". Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  28. Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements
  29. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  30. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2010-2011 Dual Enrollment Guidelines". Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  31. Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement. site accessed March 2010.
  32. Pennsylvania Department of Education. (April 29, 2010). "Report: PA College Credit Transfer System Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Accessible".
  33. "West Shore School Board Policy Manual: Extracurriculars Policy 122 and Interscholastic Athletics Policy 123". Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  34. SPECIAL REPORT: Pay-to-play a growing trend in area school districts, Dick VanOlinda, The York Dispatch, September 15, 2011
  35. Barbara Miller (October 20, 2011). "West Shore School District eliminates random drug testing". The Patriot News.
  36. Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities". Archived from the original on October 23, 2014.
  37. "Eliah Houck". Medium. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  38. "Team Tennis - Individual Player Record". tennislink.usta.com. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  39. Fox, Barry (July 4, 2008). "Rape charge dropped against Poison drummer". The Patriot-News. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  40. Bristol, Jason (March 22, 2014). "Kyle Brady returns, speaks about leadership". CBS News. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  41. Michael, Adam (April 27, 2007). "Strong message". Gettysburg Times. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  42. https://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/2015/02/better_call_saul_star_shares_f.html
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