Hanover High School (Pennsylvania)

In 2012, Hanover Public School District's graduation rate was 77%.[5] In 2011, the graduation rate was 78%.[6] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Hanover Senior High School's graduation rate was 78% for 2010.[7]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2012 - 77%[5]
• 2011 - 78%[6]
• 2010 - 83%[8]
• 2009 - 83%
• 2008 - 82%[9]
• 2007 - 81%[10]
• 2005 - 85% [11]

As of 2012, Hanover Senior High School remains in Warning Status due to low student academic achievement in reading and mathematics.[12] In 2010, the high school is in Warning status due to low academic achievement and the chronically low graduation rate.[13]

Note: According to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, students must be 100% proficient in reading and math by 2014. Testing is scheduled for 2015.[14]

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 62% on grade level, (19% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[15]
• 2011 - 48% (31% below basic). State - 69.1% [16]
• 2010 - 57% (34% below basics). State - 67% [17]
• 2009 - 60%, State - 65%[18]
• 2008 - 65%, State - 65% [19]

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 54% on grade level (30% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[20]
• 2011 - 48% (31% below basic). State - 60.3% [21]
• 2010 - 47% (34% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 51%, State - 56% [22]
• 2008 - 55%, State - 55% [23]

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 29% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[24]
• 2011 - 17% (38% below basic). State - 40% [25]
• 2010 - 34% (31% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 26%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 27%, State - 39% [26]

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 59% of Hanover 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.[27] 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.[28] 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 does not offer 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 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.[29] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[30]

Science in Motion Hanover Senior High School took 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.[31] Hanover Senior High School worked with Gettysburg College to provide the experiences.

In 2012, 54 Hanover Public School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 466. The Math average score was 494. The Writing average score was 462. 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, 46 Hanover Public School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 487. The Math average score was 503. The Writing average score was 479.[32] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[33] 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.[34]

Graduation requirements are that each student must: complete a course of study to include 26 credits, including: English 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Math 3 credits, Science 3 credits, Fine Arts 1 credit, Practical Arts 1 credit, Health Safety education 1.5 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Computer Technology 1 credit, Speech 0.5 credit, Family Consumer Living 1 credit, Electives 4 credits.[35]

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.[36] The Culminating Project at Hanover Public School District requires the pupil to produce a product or complete 30 hours of community service.[37]

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.[38][39][40] 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.[41] 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.[42] 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.

The high school's students have access to a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by the school board policy. The student must be passing four major subjects. A major subject is one that awards a full credit. The student may not be failing more than two subjects, regardless of the amount of credit each subject carries.[44] Hanover Public School District does not charge students a participation fee. Hanover Public School District spent $50,303 for the transportation of sports teams in 2011-12. County-wide nearly $1 million was spent on transporting public school sports teams.[45] The total sports budget for the District in 2007-08 was $175,450 and grew to $233,666 in 2010-11. Collectively, York County public schools spent over $9 million on sports budgets (does not include facility costs) in 2011-12.[46]