Northgate Junior – Senior High School

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Northgate Senior High School's rate was 86% for 2010.[3]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 91%
• 2009 - 90%
• 2008 - 89%
• 2007 - 89% [4]

The following statewide rankings (out of 676 public school districts) are based solely on the PSSA results of the high school's junior class:[5]

• 2016- 550th
• 2015- Unknown
• 2014- 499th
• 2013- 533rd
• 2012- 535th

The school board has determined that a student must earn 26 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 4 credits, Oral Communication 0.5 credits, Computer Application 2 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 0.5 credits and 5.5 electives.[6]

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.[7]

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 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.[8]

In 2010, the high school's 11th grade ranked 91st out of 122 western Pennsylvania high schools based on five years of results in PSSAs on: reading, math writing and three years of science.[9] In 2010 - 71st out of 105 schools.[10] In 2009, the school ranked 64th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools [11]

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 59% on grade level (22% below basic). State - 66% of 11th graders were on grade level.[12]
• 2009 - 61% (29% below basic), State - 65% [13]
• 2008 - 69%, State - 64% [14]
• 2007 - 66%, State - 65% [15]

11th Grade Math

• 2010 - 33% on grade level (42% below basic). State - 59% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 51% (28% below basic). State - 55%
• 2008 - 60%, State - 56%

11th Grade Science

• 2010 - 26% on grade level (22% below basic). State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 26% (21% below basic), State - 40%
• 2008 - 28%, State - 39% [16]

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 41% of Northgate 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.[17] 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.[18] 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 school district 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, 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.[19] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[20] Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer a dual enrollment program in 2009. 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.[21]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the high school received a state grant of $1,476 for the program.[22]

The Northgate School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate are set by school board policy. Sports offered at Northgate include Varsity Football, Junior Varsity Football, Junior High Football (Grades 7-8), Varsity Cross Country, Junior High Cross Country, Golf, Swimming, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Junior High Boys Basketball, Junior High Girls Basketball, Boys & Girls Bowling, Varsity Girls Volleyball, Junior High Girls Volleyball, Boys Baseball, Girls Softball, and Varsity Track.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students who reside within the district's boundaries, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those home schooled, 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.[24]

• The enrollment in 2004 was 794.[25]
• In 2005, the average SAT score was 1040, and the average ACT score was 23.[25]
• In 2017-18, the student population consisted of 69.8% Caucasian ancestry, 13.0% Blackancestry, 3.6% Hispanic ancestry, 3.6% Asian ancestry, and 10.8% from two or more races.[2]
• There were 12.15 students per teacher in 2017-18.[2]