Mercer Area School District

In 2012, Mercer Area School District achieved AYP status.[17] In 2011, School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.[18] School District achieved AYP status each year from 2004 to 2010, while in 2003 the district was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.[19]

In 2012, Mercer Area School District's graduation rate was 94.85%.[20] In 2011, the graduation rate was 94.12%.[21] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Mercer Area School District's rate was 94% for 2010.[22]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 99% [23]
• 2009 - 97% [24]
• 2008 - 96% [25]
• 2007 - 96% [26]

The Mercer Area School Board has determined that a high school student must earn 24.5 credits in order to graduate, including: English 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Mathematics 3 credits, Science 3 credits, Physical Education 1.2 credits, Health 0.8 credit, Humanities/Arts 1 credit, Computer Application/Technology—1 credit, Family/Consumer Science—.5 credit and 6 elective credits.[27] Students may not have more than 1.5 credits of failure on their transcripts at graduation.

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.[28] At Mercer High School the project includes 20 hours of service learning, attendance at a governmental meeting, a thank you letter, and a final interview with a professional committee to review the students efforts. 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.[29]

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.[30] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade. Students have several opportunities to pass the exam, with those who do not able to perform a project in order to graduate.[31][32] 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.[33] 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.[34] 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.

Mercer Area Senior High School is located at 545 West Butler Street, Mercer. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 458 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 133 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school employed 25.58 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 17:1.[35] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind Act.[36]

In 2012, Mercer Area Senior High School declined to Warning AYP status, due to lagging reading and mathematics achievement.[37] Mercer Area Senior High School achieved AYP status in both 2009 through 2011.[38]

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 77% on grade level, (9% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[39]
• 2011 - 78% (8% below basic). State - 69.1%[40]
• 2010 - 71% (15% below basic). State - 66%[41]
• 2009 - 76% (10% below basic), State - 65% [42]
• 2008 - 67% (8% below basic), State - 65% [43]
• 2007 - 66% (16% below basic), State - 65% [44]

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 62 on grade level (17% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[45]
• 2011 - 64% (14% below basic). State - 60.3% [46]
• 2010 - 61% (23% below basic). State - 59% [47]
• 2009 - 68% (15% below basic). State - 55%.
• 2008 - 60% (22% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 57% (22% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 65 on grade level (3% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[48]
• 2011 - 54% (8% below basic). State - 40%[49]
• 2010 - 45% (11% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 42% (12% below basic). State - 40%[50]
• 2008 - 38% (13% below basic), State - 39%

Science in Motion Mercer Area 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.[51] The high school, Mercer Middle School and Mercer Area Elementary School all worked with Westminster College to provide the enrichment experiences to the pupils.

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 9% of Mercer Area 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.[52] 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.[53] 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 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 both high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities 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.[54] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[55] The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.[56]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $2,311 for the program.[57] For 2011-12, the Dallas Hartman Dual Enrollment Education Scholarship was available for any Junior or Senior level high school in Mercer County. The student must work off the scholarship through pre-approved community service activities valued at $15.00 per hour. Community service project hours must be completed prior to the start of the college class.[58] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

In 2012, 63 Mercer Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 505. The Math average score was 509. The Writing average score was 452. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the US, 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, 61 Mercer Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 492. The Math average score was 492. The Writing average score was 461.[59] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[60] 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.[61]

Mercer Middle School is located at 545 West Butler Street, Mercer. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 212 pupils in grades 7th and 8th, with 74 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school is a federally designated Title I School. The school employed 13 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 15:1.[62] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 17 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[63]

Mercer Middle School achieved AYP status each year in 2009 through 2012. The attendance rate was 95% in 2009 and 2010 and rose to 96% in 2012.[64]

8th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 86% on grade level (6% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.[45]
• 2011 - 84% (5% below basic) State - 81.8%
• 2010 - 90% (3% below basic). State - 81%[65]
• 2009 - 89% (7% below basic). State - 80%
• 2008 - 89% (6% below basic). State - 78% [66]
• 2007 - 74% (11% below basic). State - 75%

8th Grade Math

• 2012 - 77% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 76% [67]
• 2011 - 70% (13% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 82% (3% below basic). State - 75%[68]
• 2009 - 73% (7% below basic), State - 71% [69]
• 2008 - 85% (8% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 68% (15% below basic), State - 68%

8th Grade Science

• 2012 - 63% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 55% (22% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 62% (18% below basic). State - 57%
• 2009 - 71% (13% below basic), State - 55%[70]
• 2008 - 70%, State - 52% [71]

Mercer Area School is located at 301 Lamor Road, Mercer. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 644 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 256 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school is not a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 52 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 12:1.[72] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[73] Mercer ARea Elementary school provides full-day kindergarten.

In 2012, Mercer Area Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status, due to lagging student achievement in reading and math.[74] Mercer Area Elementary School achieved AYP status in 2009, 2010 and 2011.[75] The attendance rate was 95% in both 2009 and 2010.[76]

PSSA Results

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 93%, (2% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 88%, (3% below basic). State - 82.9%
• 2010 - 94%, (2% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 94%, (0% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 97%, (0% below basic). State - 81%

The district administration reported that 9 or 0.07% of its students were gifted in 2009.[93] 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.[94] The gifted education at Mercer Area School District focuses on: enrichment, acceleration and individualization, in which instruction is matched specifically to the student's achievement, abilities and interests.[95]

For the 2013-14 school year, the Mercer Area School District will receive a 1.8% increase or $5,221,201 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $90,346 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the district. Additionally, Mercer Area School District will receive $86,127 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Mercer County, Hermitage School District received the highest percentage increase at 2.2%. The district has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth's budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to Austin Area School District which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding.[135] The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[136]

For the 2012-13 school year, the Mercer Area School District received $5,130,855.[137] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 included $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which was an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. In addition, the Commonwealth provided $100 million for the Accountability Block Grant (ABG) program. Mercer Area School District received $86,127 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[138] This amount was a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011-2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett's first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010-11 school year.

In 2011-12, Mercer Area School District received $5,130,855 in state Basic Education Funding.[139][140] Additionally, the Mercer Area School District received $86,127 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $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. 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.[141]

For the 2010-11 budget year the Mercer Area School District received a 5.38% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $5,607,542. Greenville Area School District received the highest increase in Mercer County at 7.54%. One hundred fifty school districts in Pennsylvania received the 2% base increase for budget year 2010-11. The highest increase in the state was awarded to Kennett Consolidated School District of Chester County which was given a 23.65% increase in state basic education funding.[142] Fifteen (15) Pennsylvania public school districts received a BEF increase of greater than 10%. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when enrollment had significantly declined. 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 public school districts at a far greater rate than others.[143] In 2010, the district reported that 456 pupils received a free or reduced-price lunch due to their family meeting the federal poverty level.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.71% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $5,321,397 for Mercer Area School District. Three county school districts received increases of over 6% in Basic Education Funding in 2009-10. Sharon City School District received a 7.59% increase which was the highest in Mercer County. In Pennsylvania, 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.[144] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.[145]

The state's Basic Education Funding to the Mercer Area School District in 2008-09 was $4,976,375.29. In 2008, the district reported that 366 pupils received a free or reduced-price lunch due to their family meeting the federal poverty level.[146] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.[147][148]

The state provides additional education funding to schools in the form of Accountability Block Grants. The use of these funds is strictly focused on specific state approved uses designed to improve student academic achievement. Mercer Area School District uses its $233,770 to fund reduce class size K-3rd, to pay teachers to write new courses and lessons and to pay for teacher training to improve instruction. These annual funds are in addition to the state's basic education funding.[149] Schools Districts apply each year for Accountability Block Grants.[150] In 2009-10, the state provided $271.4 million in Accountability Block grants $199.5 million went to providing all-day kindergartens.[151]

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, Mathematics) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Mercer Area School District did not apply in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $138,389 in funding. For the 2008-09, school year the district received a final $45,413 for a total funding of $183,802. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.[152] 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.

Mercer Area Elementary School successfully applied to participate and received a Science It's Elementary grant in 2008-09. For the 2008-09 school year, the program was offered in 143 schools reaching 66,973 students across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[153] In 2007, the Pennsylvania Department of Education initiated an effort to improve science instruction in the Commonwealth's public elementary schools. Called Science: It's Elementary, the program was a hands on instruction approach for elementary science classes that develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills.[154] To encourage schools to adopt the program's standards aligned curriculum, the state provided a grant to cover the costs of materials and extensive mandatory teacher training.[155] The district was required to develop a three-year implementation plan for the participating school. The school district administration was required to appoint a district liaison who was paid $3,000 by PDE to serve as the conduit of all information between the district and the Department and its agents along with submitting orders and distributing supplies to implementing teachers. For the 2006-07 state education budget, $10 million was allocated for the program. The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 budget. The grant was discontinued in the state's 2010-11 budget by Governor Edward G. Rendell.

Mercer Area School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants, Education Assistance Grants, 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

The Mercer Area School District received $1,013,900 in ARRA - Federal stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students. This funding includes $273,200 for Title 1-A programs, $1,088,200 for construction and $337,800 for IDEA programs.[156] This extra federal funding was for the 2009-10 and the 2010-2011 school years.

Mercer Area School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district up to million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[157] Several Mercer County school districts applied for funding.[158] Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success.[159] In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.[160] 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.[161]

Mercer Area School District School Board chose 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.[162] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes. The report found multiple opportunities for savings.

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not permitted to raise taxes above that index, unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the Pennsylvania 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.[174] With the 2011 state education budget, the General Assembly voted to end most of the Act 1 exceptions leaving only special education costs and pension costs. The cost of construction projects will go to the voters for approval via ballot referendum.[175]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Mercer Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[176]

For the 2013-14 budget year, Mercer Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget year 2013-14, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index. Another 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. For the pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.[179]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Mercer Area 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.[180]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Mercer Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year the Mercer Area 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 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 publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[181]

According to a state report, for the 2011-12 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 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.[182]

Mercer Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2009-10 or in 2010-11.[183][184] 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.[185]

In 2011, property tax relief for 2,742 approved residents of Mercer Area School District was set at $148.[186] In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Mercer Area School District was $157 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,577 property owners applied for the tax relief.[187] 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption.[188]

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 individuals who have income 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.[189]

In 2009, the Mercer Area School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Mercer Area High School received $10,000 which was used to purchase cardiovascular monitoring system in support of the wellness (DDR) program.[198] Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5-year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools.

Mercer Area School District funds these sports for 336 students.

Middle School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2013 [202]