Commodore Perry School District

In 2012, Commodore Perry School District declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics.[14] In 2011, Commodore Perry School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). In 2011, 94% of the 500 Pennsylvania 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 (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8% of Pennsylvania public school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2% on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.[15] Commodore Perry School District achieved AYP status each year from 2003 to 2010.[16]

In 2012, Commodore Perry School District's graduation rate was 96%.[17] In 2011, the graduation rate was 96.46%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Commodore Perry School District's rate was 100% for 2010.[18]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 100% [19]
• 2009 - 100%
• 2008 - 100% [20]
• 2007 - 100% [21]
• 2006 - 100% [22]

Commodore Perry Junior Senior High School is located at 3002 Perry Highway, Hadley. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 279 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 109 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 22 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 12:1.[23] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 6 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[24]

In 2012, Commodore Perry Junior Senior High School declined to Warning AYP Status due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics. In 2009 through 2012, Commodore Perry Junior Senior High School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Status.[25]

PSSAs

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 76% on grade level (14% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[26]
• 2011 - 77% (14% below basic). State - 69.1%[27]
• 2010 - 67% (17% below basic). State - 66%[28]
• 2009 - 65% (15% below basic), State - 65%[29]
• 2008 - 63% (25% below basic), State - 65%[30]
• 2007 - 80% (3% below basic), State - 65%[31]

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 59% on grade level (12% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[32]
• 2011 - 56% (14% below basic). State - 60.3%[33]
• 2010 - 50% (33% below basic). State - 59%[34]
• 2009 - 56% (15% below basic). State - 56%[35]
• 2008 - 52% (23% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 63% (8% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 54% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[36]
• 2011 - 42% (7% below basic). State - 40%[37]
• 2010 - 48% (13% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 33% (6% below basic). State - 40%[38]
• 2008 - 48% (9% below basic). State - 39%

Science in Motion Commodore Perry Junior Senior 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.[39] Westminster College provided the enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 14% of the Commodore Perry High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges.[40] 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.[41] 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.

Commodore Perry Junior Senior High School offers a dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities 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.[42] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[43] 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.[44]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,859 for the program.[45]

Commodore Perry School Board has determined that a student must earn 23 credits in order to graduate.[46]

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.[47] 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.[48]

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.[49] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade. Students have several opportunities to pass the exam, with those who do not able to perform a project in order to graduate.[50][51] 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.[52] 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.[53] 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 2012, 27 Commodore Perry School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 491 The Math average score was 467. The Writing average score was 470. 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 2011, 35 Commodore Perry School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 462. The Math average score was 484. The Writing average score was 429.[54] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[55] 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.[56]

8th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 76% on grade level (5% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.[32]
• 2011 - 71% (15% below basic) State - 81.8%
• 2010 - 84%, Boys - 79%/Girls-88%, (7% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 84%, Boys - 81%/Girls-88%, (4% below basic). State - 80%
• 2008 - 92% (0% below basic), State - 78% [57]
• 2007 - 73% (0% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 73% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 76%
• 2011 - 73% (24% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 56%, Boys 63%/Girls 50%, (21% below basic). State - 75%[58]
• 2009 - 68%, Boys 62%/Girls 75%, (14% below basic). State - 71% [59]
• 2008 - 65% (12% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 63% (13% below basic), State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 71% on grade level (14% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 56% (24% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 70%, Boys - 74%/Girls-67%, (14% below basic). State - 57%
• 2009 - 70%, Boys - 69%/Girls-71%, (14% below basic), State - 55% [60]
• 2008 - 53%, State - 52% [61]

7th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 83% (10% below basic). State – 76%
• 2011 - 80% (9% below basic). State – 76%
• 2010 - 68%, Boys 67%/Girls 70%, (15% below basic). State - 73% [62]
• 2009 - 84%, Boys 81%/Girls 87%, (11% below basic). State - 71%
• 2008 - 70%, (11% below basic). State - 70%
• 2007 - 73%, (0% below basic). State - 67%

7th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 77% (3% below basic). State - 80%
• 2011 - 82% (11% below basic). State - 78.6%
• 2010 - 63%, Boys 72%/Girls-57%, (20% below basic). State - 77%
• 2009 - 68%, Boys 71%/Girls-65%, (11% below basic). State - 75%
• 2008 - 60%, (25% below basic). State - 71%
• 2007 - 60%, (13% below basic). State - 67%

Commodore Perry School is located at 3002 Perry Highway, Hadley. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 248 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 114 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 23 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 10:1.[63] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[64]

In 2009 through 2012, Commodore Perry School achieved AYP status each year.[65]

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 100%, 67% advanced. State - 82%
• 2011 - 92%, 82% advanced. State - 82.9%
• 2010 - 100%, (0% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 100%, (0% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 96%, (7% below basic), State - 81%

Commodore Perry School District Administration reported that 11 or 1.97% of its students were identified as gifted in 2009.[83] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student's building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.[84]

For the 2013–14 school year, the Commodore Perry School District will receive a 1% increase or $3,730,684 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $35,136 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Commodore Perry School District will receive $46,353 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for its special education services. Among the public school districts in County, School District received the highest percentage increase at 3.2%. The 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.[124] The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[125]

For the 2012–13 school year, the Commodore Perry School District received $3,695,548.[126] 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. Commodore Perry School District will also receive $46,353 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for its special education services. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[127] 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, Commodore Perry School District received $3,695,548 in state Basic Education Funding.[128] Additionally, the district will receive $46,353 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.[129] 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.[130] In 2010, the district reported that 882 students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[131]

For the 2010-11 budget year, Commodore Perry School District received a 2.70% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $3,941,660. In Mercer County, the highest increase went to Greenville Area School District which received a 7.54% increase in state funding. One hundred fifty school districts in Pennsylvania received a 2% base increase for budget year 2010–11. The highest increase in the state was awarded to Kennett Consolidated School District of Chester County which was given a 23.65% increase in state basic education funding.[132] 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.[133]

In the 2009-2010 budget year, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.85% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $3,837,999. Three county school districts received increases of over 6% in Basic Education Funding in 2009–10. Sharon City School District received a 7.59% increase. In Pennsylvania, 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The state's Basic Education Funding to the Commodore Perry School District in 2008-09 was $3,695,547.98.[134] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by then Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education, Gerald Zahorchak through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.[135]

The state Basic Education Funding to the District in 2008-09 was $3,695,547.98. In 2008, Commodore Perry School District reported that 206 pupils received a free or reduced-price lunch due to their family meeting the federal poverty level. 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.[136][137]

The state provides supplemental funding in the form of accountability block grants. The use of these funds is strictly focused on specific state approved uses. Commodore Perry School District uses its $125,813 to fund all-day kindergarten. These annual funds are in addition to the state's basic education funding.[138] The 2008–09 school year was the fifth year the district offered all-day kindergarten to its pupils. Pennsylvania public school districts apply each year for Accountability Block Grants.[139] In 2009-10 the state provided $271.4 million in Accountability Block grants $199.5 million went to providing all-day kindergartens.[140]

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), along with other specialized equipment and provided funding for teacher training to optimize the use of the computers. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. Commodore Perry School District did not apply for funding in any of the three years of the program. It was one of 50 school districts that never applied for funding.[141] Among the public school districts in Mercer County the highest award was given to Greenville Area School District which received $344,743. 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.

Commodore Perry School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants, PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-10 budget by Governor Rendell), Education Assistance Grants, 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Commodore Perry School District received an extra $901,520 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[142] The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010-2011 school years.[143] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised 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.

Commodore Perry School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district over one half million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[144] Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success.[145] In Pennsylvania, just 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.[146] 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.[147]

Commodore Perry School Board elected to participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars.[148] Multiple examples of ways the district could reduce costs were identified for the school board. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes. Through analysis of the data, the team identified several potential cost-savings opportunities for the District, which included: establish shared services for major utility purchasing; develop shared services for Food Service Management; and establish a shared services center for technology purchasing.[149]

The Commodore Perry School Board sets property tax rates in the spring of each year as a part of its annual budget process which must be completed by June 30. 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. On the local level, Pennsylvania 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.[150] 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. 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.[151] 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.[152]

The average yearly property tax paid by Mercer County residents amounts to about 2.88% of their yearly income. Mercer County ranked 672nd out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[161] According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999–00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[162] Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).[163]

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2010–2011 school year is 2.9 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions, including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.[164]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Commodore Perry School District 2006-2007 through 2011–2012.[165]

For the 2013-14 budget year, Commodore Perry School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget year 2013–14, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index. Another 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. For the pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.[168]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Commodore Perry School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2012–2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit.[169]

For the 2011–12 school year the Commodore Perry School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Commodore Perry School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[170]

According to a state report, for the 2011–2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district's index. Of the districts who sought exceptions 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.[171]

For the 2010–11 school year budget, the Commodore Perry School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index.[172] In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.[173]

In 2010, Commodore Perry School District property tax relief was set at $133 for 1,357 approved properties.[174] The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres (40,000 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption.[175]

In Pennsylvania, the homestead exclusion reduces the assessed values of homestead properties, reducing the property tax on these homes. The homestead exclusion allows homeowners real property tax relief of up to one half of the median assessed value of homesteads in the taxing jurisdiction (county, school district, city, borough, or township).[176]

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.[177]

The District funds:

Junior High School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2013 [190]