Keystone Oaks School District

In 2011, the graduation rate at Keystone Oaks School District was 93%.[17] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. High School's rate was 91% for 2010.[18]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 92%
• 2009 - 94%[19]
• 2008 - 86%[20]
• 2007 - 88%[21]

In 2007, the district reported that 25 pupils in the middle school and high school dropped out.[22]

Keystone Oaks High School is located at 1000 Kelton Avenue, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 756 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 203 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 51 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of :151.[23] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[24]

In 2011, Keystone High School is in Making Progress: in School Improvement II due to persisting low student achievement in reading by low-income students. In 2010, the high school was in School Improvement II status due to the chronic, low achievement of its students.[25][26]

The high school ranked 59th out of 105 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012, for academic achievement as reflected by the last three years of 11th grade results on: math, reading, writing and science PSSAs.[27]

• 2011 - 82nd
• 2010 - 64th
• 2009 - 83rd[28]

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 77% on grade level, (15% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[29]
• 2010 - 62% (20% below basic). State - 67%[30]
• 2009 - 67%, State - 65%[19]
• 2008 - 60%, State - 65%[31]
• 2007 - 72%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 80% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 60.3%[32]
• 2010 - 51% (26% below basics). State - 59%
• 2009 - 59%, State - 56%[33]
• 2008 - 56%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 58%, State - 53%[34]

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 39% on grade level (18% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.[35]
• 2010 - 32% (15% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 33%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 32%, State - 39%[36]

From January to June 2011, 124 Keystone Oaks students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 498. The Math average score was 500. The Writing average score was 484.[37] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[38] 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.[39]

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 41% of Keystone Oaks 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.[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.

The Keystone Oaks School Board has determined that students must perform 120 Hours of Community Service and earn the following credits to graduate: English 6 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Technology 1 credit, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 0.5 credit and five elective credits.[42]

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.[43]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2016, 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.[44][45][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.

The administration established a cyber high school in 2010. Twelve students enrolled saving the district $100,000. The program is open to students in grades 8-12.[48]

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 offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[49] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[50] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $9,415 for the program.[51]

Keystone Oaks Middle School is located at 1002 Kelton Avenue, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 524 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 188 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 36 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14.48:1.[52] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 7 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[53]

Keystone Oaks Middle School eighth grade ranked 73rd out of 141 western Pennsylvania eighth grades, by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2009, for academic achievement as reflected by the last three years of results on: math, reading, writing and science PSSAs.

• 2010 - 69th
• 2009 - 71st[54]

In 2011 Keystone Oaks Middle School achieved AYP status. In 2010 the school was in Making Progress: in School Improvement I due to chronic low achievement of its students.[55]

8th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 87% on grade level (4% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.[56]
• 2010 - 85% (6% below basic). State - 81% (157 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 84%, State - 80.9%.[57]
• 2008 - 83%, State - 78%
• 2007 - 83%, State - 75%[58]

8th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 83% on grade level (6% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 83% (8% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 - 70%, State - 71%[59]
• 2008 - 69%, State - 70%
• 2007 - 59%, State - 67%[60]

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 51% on grade level (25% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 55% (28% below basic). State - 57%[61]
• 2009 - 64%, State - 55%
• 2008 - 58%, State - 52%

Dormont Elementary School is located at 3200 Annapolis Avenue, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 354 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 123 pupils received a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 26 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.[62] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[63] In 2010 and 2011, Dormont Elementary School achieved AYP status.[64] In 2011, 85% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In math, 95% of the students in 3rd through 5th grades were on grade level and 66% scored advanced. In 4th grade science, 98% of the pupils were on grade level.[65]

Fred L. Aiken Elementary School is located at 881 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 191 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 26 pupils received a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 17 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.[66] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the school's teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[67] In 2010 and 2011, Fred L. Aiken Elementary School achieved AYP status.[68] In 2011, 93% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In math, 98% of the students in 3rd through 5th grades were on grade level and 76% scored advanced. In 4th grade science, 97% of the pupils were on grade level.[69]

Myrtle Avenue School is located at 3724 Myrtle Avenue, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 348 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 115 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 26 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.[70] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[71] In 2010 and 2011, Elementary School achieved AYP status.[72] In 2011, only 80% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In math, 89% of the students in 3rd through 6th grades were on grade level and 60% scored advanced. In 4th grade science, 91% of the pupils were on grade level.[73]

The District Administration reported that 138 or 5.83% of its students were gifted in 2009.[89] 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.[90][91]

In 2011-12, the district received a $4,541,018 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[107][108] Additionally, the School District received $96,577 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 is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011.[109] 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.[110] In 2010, the district reported that 698 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[111]

For the 2010-2011 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.68% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $4,848,389. South Fayette Township School District received an 11.32% increase, which was the highest increase in Allegheny County. .[112] The state Basic Education funding to the Keystone Oaks School District in 2008-09 was $4,541,058. Twenty three Allegheny County school district received the base 2% increase. In Pennsylvania, one hundred fifty school district received the 2% minimum increase in funding in 2010-11. Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County received an increase of over 23.65%. Sixteen school districts received Basic Education increases in excess of 10%. 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 districts at a far greater rate than others.

In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $4,631,838.[113] This was the base percentage increase, in Basic Education Funding, in the Commonwealth. Four school districts in Allegheny County received an increase of over 6 percent. Chartiers Valley School District received an 8.19% increase, which was the highest in Allegheny County in 2009-10. The state Basic Education funding to the Keystone Oaks School District in 2008-09 was $4, 541,058. In Pennsylvania, ninety school district received the 2% minimum increase in funding in 2009-10. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received an increase of over 22.31%. Fifteen school districts received Basic Education increases in excess of 10%.[114] The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal.[115]

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.[116] 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 district applied for and received $262,133 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to increase instructional time, to provide health and safety services and to provide teacher training through placing teacher coaches in the classroom.[117][118]

• 2009-10 - $262,000 for increased instructional time and teacher training coaches.[119]
• 2008-09 - $256,000.
• 2007-08 - $256,760[120]
• 2006-07 - $234,316[121]

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11 the Fairfield Area School District received $49,130.[122]

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 2006-2009. Keystone Oaks School District did not apply in 2007. In 2008, the district was denied funding by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. KOSD received $164,329 in 2009.[123] It purchased seven Promethean boards for the high school and laptops.[124]

The Keystone Oaks School Board elected 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.[125] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

The district received an extra $1,187,806 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[126] The funding is for the 2009–10 and 2010-2011 school years.[127]

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[128] 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 districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.[129] School district officials DID apply for the Race to the Top grant. However, the KOEA (Keystone Oaks Education Association) would not sign the application. Therefore, the district was not considered for these funds.

The school board levied a real estate tax of 22.0300 mills in 2011-12.[130] 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 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.[131] The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties.[132] In 2010, miscalculations by the board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.[133]

• 2010-11 - 22.03 mills[134]
• 2009-10 - 21.31 mills[135]
• 2008-09 - 21.3100 mills.[136]
• 2007-08 - 21.3100 mills.[137]
• 2006-07 - 21.3100 mills.[138]

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.[139] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[140] Several exceptions were maintained: 1) costs to pay interest and principal on indebtedness incurred prior to September 4, 2004 for Act 72 schools and prior to June 27, 2006 for non-Act 72 schools; 2) costs to pay interest and principal on electoral debt; 3) costs incurred in providing special education programs and services (beyond what is already paid by the State); and 4) costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school's share of payments to PSERS (PA school employees pension fund) taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate.[141][142]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Keystone Oaks School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[143]

• 2006-07 - 3.9%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 4.0%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 5.2%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 4.8%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 3.4%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 1.7%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.0%, Base 1.7%[144]

For the 2012-13 budget year, 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. 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.[145]

For the 2011-12 school year, Keystone Oaks School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, Keystone Oaks 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 public 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 published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[146]

According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 public 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.[147]

For the 2010-2011 school year, the school board did not apply for an exception to exceed the district's Act 1 index limit.[148][149] 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.[150]

The property tax relief amount for the Keystone Oaks School District was set at $151 for 5,644 approved applicants by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in May 2010.[151] The highest property tax relief, in Allegheny County, was awarded to Duquesne City School District at $348 per approved homestead. In Pennsylvania, the highest relief was awarded to Chester Upland School District located in Delaware County at $632. CUSD received the top relief every year since the inception of the program

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Keystone Oaks School District was $153 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 5,570 approved property owners applied for the tax relief. 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. In Allegheny County, 60% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[152] In highest property tax relief in 2009 and 2008 went to Chester Upland School District in Delaware County which got $632 per approved homestead and farmstead.

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, consequently, 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.[153]

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%).[154]

In March 2010, the school board held a public meeting regarding a plan to consolidate schools, closing several due to declining enrollment.[155] In October 2010, the board approved the plan to close several elementary schools.[156] The district reports that enrollment fell by nearly 700 students during the past 10 years. The board took action due to a $3.6 million budget deficit projected for the 2012-13 school year.[157]

A proposal was made by David Wassell, a prominent resident and leader in Allegheny County, to consolidate Allegheny County school districts to save tax dollars, focus dollars on student achievement, and improve student services. The plan calls for a proposed district that includes: Brentwood Borough School District, Baldwin-Whitehall School District, Keystone Oaks School District and Mount Lebanon School District. The proposed district would serve the communities of: Baldwin, Baldwin Township, Brentwood, Castle Shannon, Dormont, Green Tree, and Mt. Lebanon.[158]

Governor Edward Rendell proposed that consolidation with adjacent school districts, in each county, would achieve substantial cost savings. The savings could be redirected to improving lagging reading and science achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes.[159] More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater).[160] Statewide, there are 187 districts that are projected to have an enrollment decline of 15 percent or greater. Geographically, these districts are clustered in western Pennsylvania and in the state's northern tier.[161]

In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants released a report finding that the state would save hundreds of millions of tax dollars, by cutting the number of school administrations in half through consolidation of administrations, with no adverse impact on programs offered to students.[162]

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007.[163] This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity.[164] In a survey of public school superintendents of small Pennsylvania districts, 42% stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.[165]