Dover Area High School

In 2014, Dover Area School District's graduation rate was 90.38%.[10]

• 2013 - 91.56%
• 2012 - 90%
• 2011 - 81%[11]
• 2010 - 78.62%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.[12]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 92%[13]
• 2009 - 92%[14]
• 2008 - 90%
• 2007 - 90%[15]

Dover Area High School achieved 73.7 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 63% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 62% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 41% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[16][17] 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%.[18]

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.[19] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.[20][21]

Dover Area High School achieved out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 71% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 60.77% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 34.3% showed on grade level science understanding.[22] 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.[23]

In 2012, Dover Area High School declined again to School Improvement status due to low student achievement in both reading and mathematics. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, Dover Area High School administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer the parent the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the district. Additionally the school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.[24] The High School was eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants which the school must apply for each year.[25]

In 2011, Dover Area High School declined to Warning status due to lagging student academic achievement in math and in reading. In 2010 the High School achieved AYP status.[26] From 2003 through 2010, Dover Area High School Achieved AYP status each school year.

The Dover Area School Board has set that a minimum of 25.66 credits, including specified required courses and projects required for graduation, must be successfully completed to qualify a student for graduation. Additionally, seniors planning for early graduation must pass/earn two (2) credits while all others must pass/earn four (4) credits regardless of total credits earned to date in order to graduate.[40]

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.[41] 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.[42]

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.[43][44][45] 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.[46] 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.[47] 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.

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 28% of Dover Area 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.[48][49] 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.[50][51] 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.

Dover Area 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 and programs at their high school, including the graduation ceremony. 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.[52] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[53] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $10,655 for the program.[54]

In 2014, Dover Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 485. The Math average score was 480. The Writing average score was 451.[55] 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.[56]

In 2013, 147 Dover Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 492. The Math average score was 490. The Writing average score was 466. 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.[57]

In 2012, Dover Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 472. The Math average score was 479. The Writing average score was 444. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2011, 134 students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 486. The Math average score was 486. The Writing average score was 450.[58] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[59] 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.[60]

In 2014, Dover Area High School offered 9 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Dover Area High School, just 15% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[61] The fee for each AP Exam is $91 (2014).[62] The school normally retains $9 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs. In 2012, the fee was $89 per test per pupil.

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. Dover Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08 it was denied funding by the PDE. The district received $158,286 in 2008-09.[63] In York County, the top recipient district was West Shore School District which received $1,023,131. 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.

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.[64] 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. Dover Area School District did not participate in any of the three years. There were 161 PA public school districts that got extra funding.[65][66] 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.[67]

Dover Area School District has not participated in the state’s Hybrid learning initiative. Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning uses three learning models to increase student achievement: instruction from the teacher, group activities, and self-instruction through digital content. According to state testing results, among the pilot schools, 88 percent achieved higher academic performance in hybrid classes compared to traditional classes in the same district or statewide benchmarks, 75 percent reported better academic achievement, and all of them met or exceeded academic growth.[68] In 2013-14, the state awarded $633,000 in federal Title 2A funds to accelerate teacher training in the implementation of hybrid learning programs in 50 school buildings in 34 school entities. In 2012, $1.1 million was awarded to 15 districts to launch the first hybrid pilot schools in the state that included more than 1,900 students and 48 teachers.[69]

The Dover Area School District administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the district in 2013. Additionally, there were incidents of racial intimidations, one bomb threat, one terroristic threat and no sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in eleven incidents at the schools, with six arrests.[70] [71] Each year the school safety data is reported by the district to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.[72]

Dover Area School District administration reported there were 8 incidents of bullying in 2011-12, while there was 1 incident of bullying in the district in 2009. Additionally, the district reports in 2011-12, there were 38 incidents at the schools involving law enforcement with 30 arrests made.[73][74]

The Dover Area School Board has provided the Dover Area School District's antibully policy online.[75] All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.[76] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.[77]

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.[78]

The Dover Area School District's students have access to a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. For 2014-15, the Board budgeted $1,094,945 for activities including sports.[79][80] Eligibility for participation is determined by the school board policy.[81] The district is part of the York-Adams League for sports. The district charges a $50 activity in 2011-12. It also charges $20 for the PIAA mandated physical to participate in sports.[82]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.[83]

According to PA Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Act 126 of 2014, all volunteer coaches and all those who assist in student activities, must have criminal background checks. Like all school district employees, they must also attend an anti child abuse training once every three years.[84][85]

• Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District - ruling against the school district which had required the presentation of "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolution as an "explanation of the origin of life."