Chester Upland School District

In 2012, Chester Upland School District declined to Corrective Action II 9th Year Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status having failed to achieve any reading benchmarks and only 1 in 14 mathematics achievement benchmarks.[59] In 2011, Chester Upland School District declined further to Corrective Action II 9th Year Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. Of the 14 Reading measures, the District achieved only one and that was using Safe Harbor, not straight student achievement. In mathematics the District achieved 4 out of 14 measures again by using Safe Harbor.[60] In 2010, Chester Upland School District declined to Corrective Action II 8th Year AYP status. In 2003, Chester Upland School District declined from School Improvement to Corrective Action Level 1 year 1. The District has never achieved Adequate Yearly Progress status in the 12 years it has been measured.[61] In 2011, 94% of Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Chester Upland School District's rate was 44% for 2010.[62] In 2011, the graduation rate was 50%.[63] In 2012, Chester Upland School District's graduation rate was 41%.[64] In 2013, Chester Upland School District's graduation rate was 56%.[65]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 63%[66]
• 2009 - 63%[67]
• 2008 - 74%[68]
• 2007 - 74%[69]

In 2007, Johns Hopkins University reported that Chester High School was among 47 Pennsylvania high schools and nationwide nearly 2000 that have exceptionally high drop out rates. Nearly 8 percent of Pennsylvania's high schools had high dropout rates, with 60 percent or less of their incoming freshmen making it to graduation.[70][71][72]

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, "63% of the Chester Upland 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.[73] Fewer 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.[74] 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 district 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[75] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[76] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $20,260 for the program.[77]

In 2014, 118 Chester Upland School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 371. The Math average score was 356. The Writing average score was 352.[78][79] 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.[80] In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SATs in the United States.

In 2013, 109 Chester Upland School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 377. The Math average score was 370. The Writing average score was 366. 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.[81]

In 2012, 152 Chester Upland School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 357. The Math average score was 338. The Writing average score was 346. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the US, 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 2010–2011, students took the SA exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 372. The math average score was 358. The writing average score was 323.[82] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[83] In the United States, 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged scores were: Verbal 497 (out of 800), Math 514 and in Writing 489.[84]

In the Chester-Upland School District, ninth grade students must earn seven credits to be promoted to 10th grade. To move from Grade 10 to Grade 11, 13 credits must have been earned. To be promoted from Grade 11 to 12 the student must have earned a total of 20 credits. The district offers students the opportunity to recover up to two credits, not earned during the previous school year through the Credit Recovery Program, which is offered during the second semester and during the summer.

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.[85]

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.[86][87][88]

Chester High School is an urban, public high school located at 200 West 9th Street. Chester, Pennsylvania. In 2014, enrollment was reported as 841 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 78% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 32% of pupils received special education services, while less than 1% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 62 teachers.[89] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, just 87% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

In 2010, the school provided grades 7 through 12. In 2009–10, the school had 1302 pupils, with 78 teachers and a Student/Teacher Ratio of 16.69.[90]

2014 School Performance Profile

Chester High School achieved 33.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 16% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, just 2% showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology, 1% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[91][92] Statewide, the percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in Algebra I increased to 39.7% to 40.1%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in reading/literature declined to 52.5%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in biology improved from 39.7% to 41.4%.[93]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,134 of 2,947 Pennsylvania public schools (72 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.[94] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.[95][96]

Compared with last year, the percentage of schools that earned below 60 declined by nearly 1 percent per Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq. She reported that this is an indication that student achievement is improving as school resources are being used better.[97]

2013 School Performance Profile

Chester High School achieved 35.3 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 24% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 5% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 4% showed on grade level science understanding.[98] 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.[99]

Graduation rate

In 2014, the graduation rate was 57%.[100]

• 2013 - 56.81%[101]
• 2012 - 41.88%[102]
• 2011 - declined to 45.64%[103]
• 2010 - 63%.[104]

AYP history

In 2012, Chester High School was in "Corrective Action II 6th Year" due to chronic inadequate student achievement with the students achieving just 1 academic metric out of 10 measured.[105] In 2011, Chester High School was in "Corrective Action II 5th Year" due to chronic low student achievement. In 2010, the school was in "Corrective Action II 4th Year."[106]

PSSA results

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.[107]

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.[108]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 21% on grade level, (61% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[109]
• 2011 - 15% (64% below basic). State - 69.1% [110]
• 2010 - 24% (60% below basic). State - 66%[111]
• 2009 - 18% (62% below basic). State - 65%[112]
• 2008 - 10% (74% below basic). State - 65%[113]
• 2007 - 9% (76% below basic). State - 65%[114]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 9%, on grade level (80% below basic). State - 59%[115]
• 2011 - 15%, (68% below basic). State - 60.3%[116]
• 2010 - 8%, (83% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 5% (80% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 3% (87% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 3% (86% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 2% on grade level (63% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 3%, (70% below basic). State - 40% [117]
• 2010 - 1% (56% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 2% (71% below basic). State - 40%[118]
• 2008 - 0.9% (65% below basic). State - 39%

In 2012, The Smedley Allied Health Campus achieved AYP. It was the only school in the District to achieve AYP. In 2011, the school was in "Warning" status because it did not achieve Adequate Yearly Progress.[119] The school was established in 2008. It is operated in cooperation with Crozer-Keystone Health System. Students can earn 12 college credits at Widener University prior to graduation. The school focuses on preparing students to pursue health careers through providing opportunities to participate in internships and mentoring programs at Crozer-Keystone hospitals Students earn an Emergency Medical Technician and Certified Nursing Assistant certification. To attend the school, students must complete an application process which includes meeting a grade point average and compliance with the district school attendance requirements. In 2009–10, enrollment was 141 pupils. There were 18 teachers.[120]

11th grade PSSA results

Reading:

• 2012 - 41% on grade level, (26% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2011 - 31%, (38% below basic). State - 69.1%[121]

Math:

• 2012 - 33% on grade level (43% below basic). State - 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[122]
• 2011 - 21%, (53% below basic). State - 60.3% [123]

Science:

• 2012 - 7% on grade level (47% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 0%, (83% below basic). State - 40% [124]

The School serves 176 students in grades 9-11. The school is operated in partnership with Eastern University. Selected students enrolled in Science and Discovery High School earn college credits while earning credits towards high school graduation. Students receive instruction from college professors on the school's campus. Students receive extra help through tutoring during and after school using computer assisted programs such as Achieve 3000 (reading) and Apangea for mathematics. In September 2011, students staged a walkout in protest over several grievances, including class size and unqualified teachers.[125] According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education report, the school has 16 Non‐Highly Qualified Teachers and 6 with emergency certification. In Pennsylvania, a Highly Qualified teacher is one who: (1) holds full certification, (2) has at least a bachelor's degree, (3) has completed a content area major, (4) has passed a content area test, and (5) has completed teacher education coursework[126] In 2009–10, enrollment was 176 pupils. There were 7 teachers.[127]

2013 School Performance Profile

Chester Upland STEM High School achieved 15.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 30% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 14% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 7.7% showed on grade level science understanding.[128] In 2013, no SAT or graduation rate data was reported.

AYP History

In 2012, Science and Discovery Campus declined to School Improvement AYP status.[129] In 2011, the school was in Warning status because it did not achieve Adequate Yearly Progress.[130]

11th grade PSSA results

Reading:

• 2012 - 28% on grade level, (48% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2011 - 34%, (38% below basic). State - 69.1% [110][131]

Math:

• 2012 - 25% on grade level (45% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[132]
• 2011 - 15% (66% below basic). State - 60.3% [133]

Science:

• 2012 -11% on grade level (52% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 8% (56% below basic). State - 40% [124]

Columbus Elementary School is located at 320 W 10th Street, Chester. In 2013, the School's enrollment was 336 pupils in grades Preschool through 5th with 84.8% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 19.9% of the pupils receive special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted.[134] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, only 73% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides preschool and full day kindergarten.[135] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

2013 School Performance Profile

Columbus Elementary School achieved a score of 52 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012–13, only 13.9% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 21% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 18% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, just 22% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing only 12% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[136]

AYP history

In 2012, Columbus Elementary School declined to Corrective Action II 6th Year status due to intractable, low student achievement. In 2011, the School was in Corrective Action II 5th Year status due to ongoing low student achievement. In 2010, the school was in Corrective Action II 4th Year status due to chronic low student achievement in reading and mathematics.[137] In 2011, the attendance rate was 89%, while in 2010 it was 88%.[138] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 41 of the Columbus Elementary School's classroom teachers are Not Highly Qualified. The school is on the state's Persistently failing school list in 2010 and 2011. Under No Child Left Behind, the school is mandated to provide Supplemental Education Services (outside of school tutoring) to assist students to succeed in reading and math. Additionally, the school was required to offer to transfer children to a successful school in the district. In 2009, as part of a district restructuring, eighth grade was added to the school. Seventh grade was added to the school, in 2008. Due to the inadequate achievement, the school is eligible for extra funding through the School Improvement Grants.[139] In 2009–10, enrollment was 828 pupils with 77 children in Preschool. There were 48 teachers.[140]

PSSA Results

8th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 21% on grade level (52% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.[141]
• 2011 - 21% (62% below basic). State - 81.8%
• 2010 - 34% (44% below basic). State - 81%

8th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 24% on grade level (58% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76% of 8th graders are on grade level [142]
• 2011 - 11% (68% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 8% (71% below basic). State - 75%[143]

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 4% on grade level (84% below basic). State – 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 4%, (85% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 2%, (93% below basic). State – 57%[144]

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 17%, (54% below basic). State – 82%
• 2011 - 31%, (36% below basic). State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 27%, (50% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 0%, (28% below basic). State - 83%
• 2008 - 30%, (37% below basic). State - 81%

Main Street Elementary School is located in the borough of Upland. The school provides a taxpayer-funded preschool and kindergarten through 5th grade in 2013. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 335 pupils, with 49.5% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 8.6% of the pupils receive special education services, while no children were identified as gifted.[146] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 96% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides preschool and full day kindergarten.[147]

AYP History

In 2012, the school declined to Corrective Action II 6th Year status due to intractable low student math and reading achievement.[148] In 2011, the school was in Corrective Action II 5th Year status due to chronic lagging math and reading achievement.[149] In 2010, the school declined to Corrective Action II 4th Year status due to continuing low student math and reading achievement. The attendance rate was 93% in both 2010 and 2011.[150] In accordance with No Child Left Behind, due to low student achievement, the school was mandated to allow students to transfer to a successful school in the district. Students may transfer to either Stetser Elementary School or Chester Upland School of the Arts. The district must provide transportation.[151] Free tutoring is offered after school to help eligible students improve in reading, mathematics and science. The school has a Title I and Parent- School Community Council which works with parents to improve student performance. In 2009–10, enrollment was 365 pupils with 40 children in preschool. There were 16.5 teachers.[152]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 13% on grade level (53% below basic). State – 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 19% (49% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 15% (76% below basic). State – 57%[156]
• 2009 - 11% (48% below basic). State - 55%[157]
• 2008 - 8% (63% below basic). State - 52%[158]

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 52% on grade level (0% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2011 - 85%, (0% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 47%, (22% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 62%, (10% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 43%, (23% below basic), State - 81%

The school was established in 2008, by Dr. John Alston in partnership with the Chester Upland School District. It began with an enrollment of 200 children in preschool through 2nd grade. The school provides taxpayer funded preschool through 4th grade in 2011. Fourth grade was added in fall 2010.

In 2013, the school's enrollment was 293 pupils in grades preschool through 5th, with 75% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 7% of the pupils receive special education services, while 2.7% are identified as gifted.[161] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 89% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides preschool and full day kindergarten.[162] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

2013 School Performance Profile

Chester Upland School for the Arts achieved a score of 56.3 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012–13, only 30% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 28% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 47.5% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, just 66% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 18% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[163]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, enrollment was 322 pupils in grades preschool through 5th, with 239 pupils receiving a free or reduced price lunch. The School employed more than 17 teachers.[164]

In 2010 the school received a three-year $360,000 grant from The Sunshine Lady Foundation (founded by Doris Buffett) which was used to extend the school day that provides: tutoring, club activities, and music, dance and visual-arts classes.[165] In 2009–10, enrollment was 245 pupils with 81 children in preschool. There were 10.5 teachers.[166] In 2011, the attendance rate was 92%, while in 2010 it was 93%. In 2011, the school applied to the Chester Upland School Board to be converted into a charter school. In January 2012, the application was denied without explanation.[167]

AYP history

In 2012, Chester Upland School for the Arts declined to Warning AYP status due to under achievement in reading and math.[168] In both 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status.[169]

PSSA Results

4th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 61% on grade level (21% below basic). State – 72% reading on grade level[170]
• 2011 - 62%, (22% below basic). State – 73% [171]

4th Grade Math

• 2012 - 86% on grade level (11% below basic). State – 82%
• 2011 - 76%, (8% below basic). State – 85%

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 71% on grade level (4% below basic). State – 82%
• 2011 - 76%, (16% below basic). State – 82.9%

3rd Grade Reading

• 2012 - 47% on grade level (29% below basic). State – 74%
• 2011 - 58%, (24% below basic). State – 77% [172]
• 2010 - 50%, (19% below basic). State - 75%

3rd Grade Math

• 2012 - 68% on grade level (12% below basic). State – 80%
• 2011 - 68%, (11% below basic). State – 83%
• 2010 - 67%, (8% below basic). State - 84% [173]

Stetser Elementary School is located at 808 E 17th Street, Chester. It provides a taxpayer-funded preschool which begins at age 3 and kindergarten through 5th grade in 2013. The school provides a reading skills intervention program called Reading Recovery for first graders. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 205 pupils, with 80% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 15.6% of the pupils receive special education services, while 2% are identified as gifted.[174] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides full day kindergarten.[175] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, Stetser Elementary School's enrollment was 214 pupils in grades preschool through 6th, with 161 pupils receiving a free or reduced price lunch. The School employed 14.8 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 14:1.[176]

The attendance rate was 91% in 2011, while in 2010 it was 89%.[177] In 2011, the school reports that all the teachers are certified and highly qualified. In 2010 the enrollment was 268 students. During the summer of 2011, the pupils participated in First Lady Obama's Healthy Foods Initiative by growing a vegetable garden. The project was supported by an Earth Force Southeastern Pennsylvania service-learning grant and in-kind donations from the Home Depot in Folsom.[178]

2013 School Performance Profile

Stetser Elementary School achieved a score of 59 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012–13, only 47% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 53.5% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 56% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, just 55% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 56% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[179] In 2013, the attendance rate was 93%

AYP History

In 2012, Stetser Elementary School declined to a Warning AYP status.[180] In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status under the No Child Left Behind law based on Pennsylvania's Growth Model.[181] The growth model recognize the improvements in performance represented by significant growth even when the school does not reach targets of on grade level achievement.

PSSA Results

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 65% on grade level, (26% below basic), State – 82%
• 2011 - 39%, (35% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 38%, (26% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 38%, (12% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 25%, (16% below basic), State - 81%

The school is a suburban school located at 200 Commerce Dr., Chester Township, Pennsylvania. The school provides taxpayer funded preschool for ages 3 and 4, along with kindergarten through eighth grade. In 2011, the school declined to School Improvement Level II status due to continuing inadequate, on grade level achievement in reading and math. It was mandated, by the No Child Left Behind law, to offer students the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the district. In 2010, the school was in School Improvement Level I status.[184] The school was required to develop a formal school improvement plan that was submitted to the state for approval. The attendance rate was 91% in both years.[185] The school offers a wide variety of extracurriculars and after school programs. The Village Charter School was originally established as a nonprofit charter school in December 1997. In 2002, the school sued the Chester Upland School Board which had withheld the state funding it was mandated to forward to the school.[186][187] In June 2008, the school merged into the Chester Upland School District. The Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted an audit of the school, while it was a charter and found multiple irregularities.[188] In 2009–10, enrollment was 541 pupils, with 59 children in preschool. There were 22.5 teachers.[189]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 11% on grade level (73% below basic). State – 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 12%, (64% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 5%, (87% below basic). State – 57%[194]
• 2009 - 4%, (75% below basic). State - 55%[195]
• 2008 - 8%, (69% below basic). State - 52%[158]

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 18%, (39% below basic), State – 82%
• 2011 - 49%, (23% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 38%, (46% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 55%, (12% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 28%, (38% below basic), State - 81%

The school is a suburban school located at 201 Bridgewater Road, Brookhaven, Pennsylvania. In 2013, enrollment was 292 pupils, in grades 6th through 8th, with 81.8% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 20% of pupils received special education services, while 4.4% of pupils were identified as gifted.[196] According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 86% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[197]

In 2012, a district wide reorganization plan precipitated by a large decline in enrollment coupled with financial mismanagement resulting in a significant shortfall, the school was made a grade 6th-8th school.

In 2011 the school was a Pre-K - 8 School. The attendance rate was 91% in 2010 and 2011. In response to a district wide decline in enrollment, a middle school was closed and eighth grade was added to the Toby Farms Elementary School for the 2009–10 school year. In 2008–09, 7th grade was added to the Toby Farms. In 2009–10, the school enrollment was reported as 560 with 35.5 teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 15.77. Preschool enrollment was 59 pupils.[198]

2013 School Performance Profile

Toby Farms Intermediate School achieved out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, just 33% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 47.9% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, only 7% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 30.9% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[199]

AYP History

In 2012, Toby Farms Elementary School declined to School Improvement I AYP status. In 2011, the school is in Warning status due to lagging student achievement. In 2010 the school achieved AYP.[200] In compliance with No Child Left Behind, the school administration notified parents they could transfer their child to a successful school within the district.[201]

PSSA Results: Sixth and seventh grades have been tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999, as a state initiative.[202] Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science.[203] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[107] In 2014, the Commonwealth adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.[204]

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 10% on grade level (77% below basic). State – 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 8% (60% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 15% (61% below basic). State – 57%

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 37%, (41% below basic). State – 82%
• 2011 - 63%, (9% below basic). State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 53%, (16% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 47%, (10% below basic). State - 83%
• 2008 - 49%, (15% below basic). State - 81%

Showatter Intermediate School is located at 1100 West 10th Street, Chester. In 2013, enrollment was 348 pupils, in grades 6th through 8th, with 84% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 18.9% of pupils received special education services, while % of pupils were identified as gifted.[207] According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 73% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[208]

2013 School Performance Profile

Showatter Intermediate School achieved 43.2 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, just 21% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 16% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, only 4% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 33% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[209]

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, Chester Upland School District receives 77.7% of its annual revenue from the state.[255]

For the 2014–15 school year, Chester Upland School District received $60,257,247 in State Basic Education funding. The Chester Upland School District also received $1,265,791 in new Ready To Learn Block grant. The State's enacted Education Budget includes $5,526,129,000 for the 2014-2015 Basic Education Funding.[256] The Education budget also includes Accountability Block Grant funding at $100 million and $241 million in new Ready to Learn funding for public schools that focus on student achievement and academic success. The State is paying $500.8 million to Social Security on the school employees behalf and another $1.16 billion to the state teachers pension system (PSERS). In total, Pennsylvania's Education budget for K-12 public schools is $10 billion. This was a $305 million increase over 2013-2014 state spending and the greatest amount ever allotted by the Commonwealth for its public schools.[257]

In the 2013–2014 school year, Chester Upland School District received a 1.1% increase to $59,600,316 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This was $626,054 more state funding than the previous year. Additionally, Chester Upland School District received $980,044 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Delaware County, Upper Darby School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 11%. Chester Upland District has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth's budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to Austin Area School District which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding.[258] The highest percent of state spending per student is in the Chester-Upland district, where roughly 78 percent comes from state coffers. In Philadelphia, it is nearly 49 percent.[259] As a part of the education budget, the state provided the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[260]

For the 2012–13 school year, the Chester Upland School District received $58,965,034.[261] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 included $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which was an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. In addition, the Commonwealth provided $100 million for the Accountability Block Grant (ABG) program. Chester Upland School District received an additional $980,044 in ABG funding. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees' Social Security and $856 million for School Employees' Retirement fund called PSERS.[262] This amount was a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011-2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett's first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010–11 school year.

In 2011–12 school year, Chester Upland School District received a $49,251,801 allocation of state Basic Education Funding.[263][264] Additionally, Chester Upland School District received $980,044 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount was a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010–2011.[265] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District of Allegheny County, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011–12.[266] In 2010, the District reported that 3,288 students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[267] Some public school Districts experienced a reduction in funding due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011.

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $43,909,437. Among the districts in Delaware County, the highest increase went to Southeast Delco School District which got a 10.34% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-2011 was awarded to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County, which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.[268] Fifteen (15) Pennsylvania public school districts received a BEF increase of greater than 10%. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when 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 public school districts at a far greater rate than others.[269]

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 7.45% increase in Basic Education Funding (BEF) for a total of $43,048,467 to Chester Upland School District. Among the districts in Delaware County, the highest increase went to Upper Darby School District which got an 11.61% in BEF. Ninety (90) Pennsylvania public school districts received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[270] The amount of increase each public school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal.[271]

The state Basic Education Funding to the District in 2008-2009 was $40,065,439.18. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 3,066 district students received free or reduced- price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[272] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.[273][274]

All Pennsylvania school districts also received additional funding from the state through several other funding allocations, including: Reimbursement of Charter School Expenditures; Special Education Funding; Secondary Career & Technical Education Subsidy; PA Accountability Grants; and low achieving schools were eligible for Educational Assistance Program Funding. Plus all Pennsylvania school districts receive federal dollars for various programs including: Special Education funding and Title I funding for children from low income families. In 2010, Pennsylvania spent over $24 billion for public education - local, state and federal dollars combined.[275]

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 skills training; All Day Kindergarten; lower class size in Kindergarten through 3rd grade; literacy and math coaching programs (provides 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 $2,660,085 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The District used the funding to provide Full Day kindergarten, class size reduction, K-3 and publicly funded preschool.[276][277] In 2009, 100% of the kindergarteners in Area School District attended full-day kindergarten.[278]

Beginning in the 2014-2015 budget, the State funded a new Ready to Learn Grant for public schools. A total of $100 million is allocated through a formula to districts based on the number of students, level of poverty of community as calculated by its market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) and the number of English language learners. Ready to Learn Block Grant funds may be used by the Districts for: school safety; Ready by 3 early childhood intervention programs; individualized learning programs; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.[279]

Chester Upland School District received $1,265,791 in Ready to Learn Grant dollars in addition to State Basic Education funding, Special Education funding, Accountability Block Grant funding, PreK Counts funding, reimbursement for Social Security payments for employees and other state grants which the district must apply to receive.

Chester Upland School District receives state funding to provide taxpayer funded preschool at the elementary schools. For the 2013–14 school year, Chester Upland SD receive a Pre K Counts grant of $948,000.[280] For the 2011 school year, Chester Upland School District was a high priority for funding due to the 62% poverty level of children in the district's attendance area.[281][282][283] Enrollment for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is targeted to children living in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

In addition to PreK Counts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also supplements the federal Head Start preschool program with an additional funding on an annual basis. The program is available to low income children residing within the District through private providers. In 2013, Pennsylvania contributed $39,178,000 to Head Start. In 2010, Head Start received $37.6 million in Pennsylvania state education dollars. Since 2003, Pennsylvania has more than doubled the number of preschoolers in publicly funded pre-kindergarten through a multipronged system including: school-based pre-kindergarten, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts through private providers, Early Intervention, Head Start and Head Start Supplemental, and the school district's use of Accountability Block Grants. Over 100,000 Pennsylvania preschoolers participate in state taxpayer funded pre-kindergarten programs. In 2013, the federal government spends $8 billion for preschool programs nationwide.[284] In 2013, Pennsylvania was awarded a $51.7 million federal grant to fund early learning programs.[285] The funding will be used to create 50 Early Childhood Education Community Innovation Zones in areas where the lowest-performing public schools, including charter schools, exist. The federal dollars will not be used to provide seats for children in preschools. Instead the money will be used to build bureaucracy and added training for teachers/providers.[286]

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. The Chester Upland School District was denied funding by the PDE in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the District received $532,990. The District received $97,248 in 2008-09.[287] Among the public school districts in Delaware County the highest award was given to Upper Darby School District which received $1,508,520. 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 the 2009-10 state budget.

Columbus Elementary School successfully applied to participate and received a Science It's Elementary grant in 2008–09.[288] For the 2008–09 school year, the program was offered in 143 schools reaching 66,973 students across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[289] In 2007, the Pennsylvania Department of Education initiated an effort to improve science instruction in the Commonwealth's public elementary schools. Called Science: It's Elementary, the program was a hands on instruction approach for elementary science classes that develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills.[290] To encourage schools to adopt the program's standards aligned curriculum, the state provided a grant to cover the costs of materials and extensive mandatory teacher training.[291] The District was required to develop a three-year implementation plan for the participating school. The School District Administration was required to appoint a district liaison who was paid $3,000 by PDE to serve as the conduit of all information between the district and the Department and its agents along with submitting orders and distributing supplies to implementing teachers. For the 2006-07 state education budget, $10 million was allocated for the program.[292] The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 budget. The grant was discontinued in the state's 2011 budget by Governor Edward G. Rendell.

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-2011 the School District received $715,935.[293] The grant was discontinued by Governor Rendell.

Project 720 was a high school reform program implemented for three years under the Rendell administration. The intent was to increase academic rigor and improve the instruction of teachers in the Commonwealth's high schools. Teachers were expected to use data driven instructional practices and to meet the needs of diverse learners.[294] The 720 in the name referred to the number of days a student was in high school in ninth through 12th grades. High school's applied for funding and were required to agree to report to the PDE their plans, their actions and the outcomes. In 2007-08 budget year, the Commonwealth provided $11 million in funding. Chester Upland School District was one of 161 PA public school districts to apply, receiving $118,664 funding over three years.[295][296] For 2010–11, Project 720 funding was decreased to $1.7 million by Governor Rendell. The grant program was discontinued effective with the 2011-12 state budget.[297]

The Chester Upland School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants;[298][299] 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant;[300] 2013 Safe Schools and Resource Officer grants; 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Grants.[301]

The District received an extra $16,039,537 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[302][303] The funding was limited to the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years.[304] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, the Governor and the Pennsylvania School Board Association, to use the funds for one-time expenditures like acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software.

Chester Upland School District officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided several million dollars, in additional federal funding, to improve student academic achievement.[305] Plus since the District is so low performing with high poverty they would have also gotten $750 per pupil. 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.[306] 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.[307][308][309]

Chester Upland School District received a federal grant which is run by the PDE. The grant calls for the establishment and sustainability of community learning centers that provide additional educational services to students in high-poverty and low-performing schools. The grant was competitive. Applications for the grants were reviewed and scored by a panel of representatives from the educational field and professional grant writers. The District received $838,777. While 101 entities applied for the funding, only 66 were approved including eight charter schools. The District was not funded in 2010. The funding is for the 2012-13 fiscal year was $158,309.[310]

Property tax rates in 2014-15 were set by the school board at 56.3478 mills for the City of Chester and 23.9726 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township property owners.[311] 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.[312] 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 all government property (local, state and federal). 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.[313] When a Pennsylvania public school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties.[314] In 2010, miscalculations by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.[315]

• 2013-14 - 56.3480 mills for the City of Chester and 25.943 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township[316][317]
• 2012-13 - 53.1600 mills for the City of Chester and 24.4300 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township [318]
• 2011-12 - 51.3360 mills for the City of Chester and 24.2620 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township[319]
• 2010-11 - 51.3360 mills for the City of Chester and 24.2620 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township[320]
• 2009-10 - 51.3360 mills for the City of Chester and 24.0690 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township[321]
• 2008-09 - 51.3360 mills for the City of Chester and 23.6620 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township [322]
• 2007-08 - 51.3360 mills for the City of Chester and 23.4830 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township[323]
• 2006-07 - 51.3360 mills for the City of Chester and 23.7417 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township[324]
• 2005-06 - 49.7610 mills for the City of Chester and 23.5000 mills for Upland Borough/Chester Township[325]

The District funds:

Varsity