Hollidaysburg Area High School

The original Senior High was located on the second floor of a business building at 308 Allegheny Street before eventually moving to 1000 Hewitt Street, or where the current Junior High is today. Prior to 1956, elementary schools in the district included seventh and eighth grade. Overcrowding in Frankstown and Duncansville led to a joint board and the department of Public Instruction to approve an addition to the Senior High, which became the new Junior High school. The Junior and Senior high co-existed and brought relief to the elementary schools since the seventh and eighth grades transferred. However, the increasing student population did not halt and a new Senior High was approved during the 1960s. The existing Junior/Senior High building was then converted to a Junior High, which it remains today. Today the senior high includes 10th, 11th, and 12th grade and is located on North Montgomery St. while the Junior High still exists at its prior location. The Senior High started a renovation project with construction starting in January 2009. The renovations include a new gymnasium and more classrooms. The school will also have a new geo-thermal heating system along with the traditional gas system.

Building Features The inside of the school contains a gymnasium, swimming pool, planetarium, and auditorium. Outside the school lies the baseball field, baseball practice facility, cross country course, and soccer field. The school also has a band practice field and an amphitheater.

In 2011, the graduation rate at Hollidaysburg Area School District was 96%.[5] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School's rate was 96.92% for 2010.[6]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 94.74%[7]
• 2009 - 94%[8]
• 2008 - 90%[9]
• 2007 - 90.8%[10]

In 2011, Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School declined to Warning status due to lagging student achievement.[11] In 2010, the High School achieved AYP status under No CHild Left Behind.

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 81% on grade level, (10% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[12]
• 2010 - 80% (6% below basic). State - 66%[13]
• 2009 - 68% (15% below basic). State - 65%[14]
• 2008 - 76% (9% below basic). State - 65%[15]
• 2007 - 68% (17% below basic). State - 65%[16]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 73% on grade level (11% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.[17]
• 2010 - 78% (12% below basic). State - 59%[18]
• 2009 - 61% (20% below basic). State - 56%.[19]
• 2008 - 68% (14% below basic). State - 56%[20]
• 2007 - 62% (17% below basic). State - 53%[21]

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 53% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.[22]
• 2010 - 40% (8% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 48% (11% below basic). State - 40%[23]
• 2008 - 52% (6% below basic). State - 39%[24]

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 11% of the Hollidaysburg Area Senior 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.[25] 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.[26] 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.

From January to June 2011, 221 Hollidaysburg Area students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 510. The Math average score was 518. The Writing average score was 491.[27] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[28] 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.[29]

In 2012, Holidaysburg Area Senior High School was recognized by US News and World Report as a Silver level high school in a nationwide school ranking.[30] The study was conducted by American Institutes for Research which examined how many students attained performance levels that exceed statistical expectations given the school's relative level of student poverty, as measured by state accountability test scores for all the school's students in the core subjects of reading and math. The study also examined the success rate for the school's least advantaged student groups (e.g., black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students) that exceed state averages. The study included 752 high schools in Pennsylvania including traditional public schools, public charter schools and public magnet schools.[31] In Pennsylvania, 136 public high schools achieved a Bronze rating in 2012; 49 achieved a silver rating and 7 received a gold rating. The highest ranking went to Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in the School District of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

The 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. 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.[32] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[33] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $19,862 for the program.[34]

The School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 27 units to graduate including: Mathematics 4 units, Communications - 4 units, social science 4 units, science - 4 units Computer Science - 1 unit, Physical Education 2 units, Health 2 units, Humanities 1 unit and electives 5 units.[35] Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

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]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2017, 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.[37][38][39] 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.[40] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The district offers an extensive variety of clubs, activities and many costly sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.[41]

The School also recognizes a club hockey team, which competes in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL). The team currently supports a Varsity Team, JV Team, Freshman (Junior High) Team as well as several Elementary Teams. The Football and Soccer Teams(Select Games only) play their games at Tiger Stadium, which is located between the Junior and Senior High, while the hockey team plays at Galactic Ice in Altoona.

• Jeff Bower - Head Coach, Men's Basketball, Marist College
• Charlie Brenneman (class of 1999) - wrestler; professional MMA fighter, formerly in the UFC's Lightweight Division[43]
• Billy Clapper (class of 2001) - Head Coach, Men's Basketball, Penn State Altoona
• Sam Lafferty - (2009-2011) Ice Hockey, Forward, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Karen Davis (class of 1962) - animal rights advocate
• Wade Schalles - National Wrestling Hall of Fame
• Judy Ward - Member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Luke Rhodes - Professional football player, Indianapolis Colts

Schmitt, Tom (2008-06-23). "Soelner takes over Lady Tigers". Altoona Mirror.

"Hollidaysburg Golden Tiger High School". Retrieved 2008-03-02.

"Hollidaysburg Area School District". Retrieved 2008-03-02.

Oakes, Kimberly. "SchoolMatters". Retrieved 2008-02-19.

"Renovation" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-02-19.