McGuffey School District

McGuffey School District is a rural, public school system located in Washington County, Pennsylvania. It serves 10 communities, including the boroughs of Claysville and Green Hills, and the townships of West Finley, East Finley, Morris, Donegal, Buffalo, Blaine, and South Franklin. McGuffey School District encompasses approximately 203 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 13,695 people. In school year 2007-08, McGuffey School District provided basic educational services to 2,060 pupils. McGuffey School District employed 166 teachers, 80 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 15 administrators in 2008. McGuffey School District received more than $14.3 million in state funding for the 2007-08 school year.

McGuffey School District
Address
90 McGuffey Drive

Claysville
,
Pennsylvania
15323

United States
Information
TypePublic
SuperintendentDr. Erica Kolat
GradesK-12
Enrollment1979 (2009-2010)
 • OtherEnrollment projected to decline to 1674 by 2019.[1]
Color(s)Navy and gold
Athletics conferenceWPIAL
MascotHighlander

The district name honors educator William Holmes McGuffey, who was born in West Finley Township.

School district

The school district is composed of four schools:

Academic achievement

In 2011, the school district ranked 330th of 498 Pennsylvania school district. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for math, reading, writing and three years of science.[2]

The McGuffey School District was ranked 80th out of 105 western Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2009.[3] In 2008, the district was ranked 78th.

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students in McGuffey School District was in the 42nd percentile of Pennsylvania Public School Districts.[4]

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 90%.[5] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. McGuffey High School's rate was 85% for 2010.[6]

High school

In 2011 the school achieved AYP status.[7] In 2011, McGuffey High School ranked 98th of 123 high schools, in western Pennsylvania, for academic achievement based on five years of PSSA results on: mathematics, reading, writing and three years of science.[8]

McGuffey High School in Claysville

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 42% of the McGuffey 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.[9]

Graduation requirements

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.[10] At McGuffey High School, students may choose a Career Explorations Project, an Interdisciplinary Project, a Community Service Project or a Western Area Career and Technology Center Project.[11]

Dual enrollment

Effective with the 2010-11 school year, McGuffey High School offers a dual enrollment program.[12] The school has an agreement with California University of Pennsylvania and Community College of Allegheny County. 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.[13] 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.[14]

McGuffey Middle School

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status.[15]

Claysville Elementary

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status.[16]

Budget

The district is funded by a combination of: an income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the income level.[17]

State basic education funding

In 2011–12, the district received $9,870,129 in state Basic Education Funding.[18] Additionally, the district received $171,799, in state Accountability Block Grant funding. In 2010, the administration reported that 812 students received a free or reduced-price lunch based on the federal poverty levels.

For the 2010–11 budget year, the McGuffey School District was allotted a 2.00% increase, in Basic Education Funding, for a total of $10,416,910.[19]

Accountability Block Grants

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. For 2010–11, the district applied for and received $466,305 in addition to all other state and federal funding. McGuffey School District uses the funding to reduce class size K-3rd grade, provide full-day kindergarten for the sixth year and to hire teacher coaches to show teachers how to better teacher the children and to provide teacher training programs to improve instruction.[20][21]

Federal Stimulus funding

The district received an extra $3,258,441 in ARRA – Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[22]

Geographics

The district borders the state of West Virginia on the west, Avella School District on the north, Trinity Area School District on the east and Greene County, Pennsylvania on the south. It is also bordered by the Washington Area School District.

Personnel
  • Erica L. Kolat, Superintendent[23]
  • Johannah Vanatta, Assistant Superintendent[24]

References
  1. Pennsylvania Department of Education McGuffey School District Enrollment and Projections, January 2009
  2. Pittsburgh Business Times (April 11, 2011). "Statewide Ranking Information Pennsylvania Schools,". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  3. The Rankings: Western Pennsylvania School Districts, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009.
  4. The Morning Call (2009). "2009 PSSA RESULTS McGuffey School District". Archived from the original on 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  5. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "McGuffey School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2011 - District AYP Data Table". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  6. Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented". Archived from the original on September 14, 2010.
  7. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "MCGUFFEY HS School AYP Overview". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  8. Pittsburgh Business Times (September 29, 2011). "11th Grade Ranking Information". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  9. Pennsylvania College Remediation Report
  10. "Pennsylvania Code § 4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements".
  11. McGuffey High School Administration (2010). "McGuffey High School Student Handbook" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  12. Keith A. Kucherawy, Principal (2010). "Dual Enrollment notice McGuffey High School" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  13. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "General Dual Enrollment Funding Information". Archived from the original on 2010-05-28.
  14. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Guidelines". Archived from the original on 2014-10-17.
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "McGuffey Middle School Academic Achievement report Card AYP Report". Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "CLAYSVILLE Elementary School AYP Overview". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (2009). "Income Tax Information". Archived from the original on 2009-12-13.
  18. PA Senate Appropriations Committee (June 28, 2011). "School District 2011–12 funding Report". Archived from the original on October 8, 2014.
  19. PA Basic Education Funding-Printout2 2010–2011 Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee Education Budget information. Archived 2014-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
  20. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Accountability Block Grant report 2010, Grantee list 2010".
  21. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Accountability Block Grant Mid Year report". Archived from the original on 2013-10-15.
  22. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (April 2010). "Washington County ARRA FUNDING Report website". Archived from the original on 2010-04-09.
  23. http://www.mcguffey.k12.pa.us/OfficeoftheSuperintendent.aspx
  24. http://www.mcguffey.k12.pa.us/OfficeoftheAssistantSuperintendent.aspx

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