Crestwood School District (Pennsylvania)

In 2011, Crestwood School District's graduation rate was 97% [16] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Crestwood High School's rate was 93% for 2010.[17]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 97%[18]
• 2009 - 97%
• 2008 - 94%[19]
• 2007 - 94%[20]

The Crestwood School Board has determined that a student must successfully complete 23 credits which include: 4 credits of English, 4 credits of Social Studies, 4 credits of Mathematics, 4 credits of Science, 2 credits of Arts & Humanities, 2 credits of World Language, 2 credits of electives and 1 credit Health/Physical Education.[21]

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a graduation 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.[22] At Crestwood High School the project consists of: a research paper and an oral presentation.[23]

Beginning with the class of 2016, by Pennsylvania school regulations, students must take the Keystone Exams in Literature, Biology 1 and Algebra 1.[24]

Crestwood High School is located at 281 South Mountain Blvd, Mountain Top. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 1,062 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 194 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 52 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 20:1.[25] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 10 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[26]

In 2010 and 2011, Crestwood High School achieved AYP status under No Child Left Behind.[27]

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 71% on grade level, (13% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[28]
• 2010 - 67% (17% below basic). State - 66% [29]
• 2009 - 71% (14% below basic), State - 65%[30]
• 2008 - 72% (12% below basic), State - 65%
• 2007 - 66% (15% below basic), State - 65%[31]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 59% on grade level (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.[32]
• 2010 - 55% (24% below basic). State - 59% [33]
• 2009 - 53% (22% below basic), State - 56%.
• 2008 - 61% (24% below basic), State - 56%
• 2007 - 49% (26% below basic), State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 46% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 40% (15% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 45%, State - 40%[34]
• 2008 - 40%, State - 39%

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 19% of Crestwood 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.[35] 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.[36] 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 high school 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.[37] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[38] 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.[39]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $32,644 for its dual enrollment program.[40]

From January to June 2011, 170 students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 503. The Math average score was 516. The Writing average score was 495.[41] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[42] 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.[43]

Crestwood Middle School is located at 281 S Mountain Blvd, Mountaintop. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 469 pupils in grades 7th and 8th, with 102 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 30 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1.[44] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 10 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[45]

In 2011, Crestwood Middle School achieved AYP status.[46] The school was in School Improvement I level AYP Status in 2009 and 2010.[47] In 2010, the school's attendance rate was reported as 95%.

8th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 95% on grade level (72% advanced). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.[48]
• 2010 - 90% (62% advanced). State - 81% [49]
• 2009 - 90% (66% advanced), State - 80%
• 2008 - 87% (64% advanced), State - 78%[50]
• 2007 - 83% (58% advanced), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 86% on grade level (57% advanced). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 80% (54% advanced). State - 75% [51]
• 2009 - 81% (7% below basic), State - 71%[52]
• 2008 - 79% (8% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 79%, State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 73% on grade level (8% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 68% (16% below basic). State - 57%
• 2009 - 74% (10% below basic), State - 55% [53]
• 2008 - 74%, State - 52%[54]

In 2010, The institute for Public Policy and Economic Development reported that Crestwood School District had the highest percentage of 8th grade students scoring advanced in science achievement - 35.5%, among all Luzerne County School Districts on the 2009 PSSAs.[55]

7th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 89% on grade level (54% advanced). State – 76%
• 2010 - 82% (54% advanced). State - 73%
• 2009 - 81% (6% below basic). State - 71%
• 2008 - 80% (7% below basic). State - 70%
• 2007 - 76% (9% below basic). State - 67%

7th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 84% on grade level (58% advanced). State - 78.6%
• 2010 - 84% (59% advanced). State - 77%
• 2009 - 73% (10% below basic). State - 75%
• 2008 - 76% (12% below basic). State - 71%
• 2007 - 74% (10% below basic). State - 67%

Fairview Elementary School is located at 117 Spruce Street, Mountaintop. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 708 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 137 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 41 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 17:1.[56] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[57] In 2010 and 2011, Fairview Elementary School achieved AYP status.[58] In 2011, only 79% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 6th. In math, 88% of the students in 3rd through 6th grades were on grade level and 65% scored advanced. In 4th grade science, 94% of the pupils were on grade level.[59]

Rice Elementary School is located at 3700 Church Road, Mountain Top. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 797 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 112 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 44 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 18:1.[60] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[61] In 2010 and 2011, Elementary School achieved AYP status.[62] In 2011, 86% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 6th. In math, 93% of the students in 3rd through 6th grades were on grade level and 66% scored advanced. In 4th grade science, 95% of the pupils were on grade level.[63]

The District Administration reported that 85 or 2.80% of its students were gifted in 2009.[76] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. 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.[77]

In 2011-12, the district received a $6,817,516, allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[103][104] Additionally, the School District received $119,491 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011.[105] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.[106] In 2010, the district reported that 584 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[107]

For the 2010-11 school year, the state basic education funding to Crestwood School District was increased 9.63% for a total of $7,469,015. The highest increase in Luzerne County was awarded to Hazleton Area School District at 12,61%. Sixteen Pennsylvania school districts received an increase over 10%. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. Among Pennsylvania school districts, the highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.[108] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.[109]

For the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 7.33% increase in Basic Education funding for Crestwood School District a total of $6,812,784. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $6,347,347.04. The highest increase in BEF for the school districts in Luzerne County was awarded to Hazleton Area School District at a 13.36% increase. The highest increase in Pennsylvania went to Muhlenberg School District of Berks County which received an increase of 22.31 percent. Sixteen school districts received an increase in funding of over 10 percent in 2009.[110] In 2009, the district reported that 595 students were eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to low family income.[111]

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 training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010-11 the Crestwood School District applied for and received $324,326 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide all-day kindergarten for the sixth year.[112][113]

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Crestwood School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08, it was denied funding. The district received $187,656 in 2008-09.[114]

Crestwood School District received an extra $1,774,945 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used only in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[115]

School district officials applied for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district several hundred thousand additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[116] The teachers' union agreed to support the effort.[117] 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. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of a majority of school districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.[118]

The Crestwood School Board decided to not 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.[119] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

The school board levied a real estate tax of 9.1600 mills in 2011-12.[120] 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. 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 government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. On the local level, Pennsylvania district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.[121]

• 2010-11 - 8.5145 mills [122]
• 2009-10 - 8.5145 mills [123]

In 2008, Luzerne County conducted a county wide property value reassessment. The previous county wide assessment had been done in 1965.[124]

• 2008-09 - 197.3000 mills[125]
• 2007-08 - 189.3000 mills.[126]

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 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 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.[127]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Crestwood School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[128]

• 2006-07 - 4.9%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 4.4%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 5.7%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 5.3%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 3.8%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 1.8%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.2%, Base 1.7% [129]

The Crestwood School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.[130] In the Spring of 2010, 135 of 500 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.[131]

In 2011, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Crestwood School District was $64 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 6,526 property owners applied for the tax relief.[132] In 2011 within Luzerne County, the highest reported amount went to Wilkes-Barre Area School District set at $211 per approved homestead. The property tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill for each property. 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. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $641 per homestead and farmstead in 2010.[133] CUSD was given $632 in 2009. This was the second year they were the top recipient.

• 2010 - $65 for 6,478 properties[134]
• 2009 - $66 for 6,414 properties[135]

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%).[136]