Pocono Mountain School District

• Barrett Township
• Paradise Township
• Pocono Township

• Jackson Township
• Tobyhanna Township
• Tunkhannock Township

• Coolbaugh Township
• Mount Pocono Borough

In 2012, the District graduation rate was 88%. In 2011, the District graduation rate was 83%.[18] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Pocono Mountain School District's rate was 82% for 2010.[19]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 93% [20]
• 2009 - 92%
• 2008 - 93% [21]
• 2007 - 93% [22]

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Pocono Mountain School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 28 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in math, English, science, and social studies 3 courses, Fitness wellness, Consumer Family Dynamics, Career Education, SAT Preparation and electives 9 courses.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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.[23] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.[24]

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.[25][26][27] 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.[28] 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.[29] 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.

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 26% of Pocono Mountain School Districts 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.[30] 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.[31] 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.

Pocono Mountain West High School is located at Panther Lane, Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania. The school served 1,509 students in grades 10th and 12th, with 820 students qualifying for a federal free lunch due to family poverty. It had 114 classroom teachers in 2010, a principal and 4 assistant principals.[32]

In 2012, Pocono Mountain West High School declined to Corrective Action II 5th Year status due to missing all 12 academic metrics regarding achievement in mathematics and reading.[33] In 2011, Pocono Mountain West High School declined to Corrective Action II 4th Year status due to chronic low achievement in mathematics and reading. In 2010, the school was in Making Progress: in Corrective Action II Level AYP status.[34] The graduation rate at PMWHS was 86%. The graduation rate from PMWHS was 92% in 2011 and 94% in 2010.[35] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the school administration to develop a school improvement plan and submit it for approval. Due to its low academic performance, the high school administration was required by No Child Left Behind to offer the opportunity to students to transfer to a successful high school in the district. Letters were sent to each student's parents in August. The transfer right was available beginning in 2007-08. Since Pocono Mountain East High School declined to Corrective Action I status in 2011, students could not transfer.[36] The school's administration was required to develop a School Improvement Plan and submit it to the Pennsylvania Department of education for approval. The Pocono Mountain West High School offers Supplemental Educational Services (free tutoring outside of class) and the Pathways to Proficiency tutoring program to support academic achievement.[37]

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 58% on grade level (23% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[38]
• 2011 - 67% (17% below basic). State - 69.1% [39]
• 2010 - 65% (16% below basic). State - 66% [40]
• 2009 - 63% (18% below basic), State - 65% [41]
• 2008 - 56% (21% below basic). State - 65% [42]
• 2007 - 57% (20% below basic). State - 65% [43]

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 56% on grade level (23% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[44]
• 2011 - 63% (18% below basic). State - 60.3%
• 2010 - 62% (18% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 54% (19% below basic). State - 56%
• 2008 - 56% (25% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 44% (31% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 19% on grade level (34% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[45]
• 2011 - 20% (38% below basic). State - 40%[46]
• 2010 - 19% (37% below basic), State - 39%
• 2009 - 19% (32% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 17% (23% below basic). State - 39%

Science in Motion Pocono Mountain West 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.[47] The High School worked with Cedar Crest College to provide the experiences.

In 2012, 267 Pocono Mountain West High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 442. The Math average score was 456. The Writing average score was 422. 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, 318 Pocono Mountain West High School students took the SAT exams. The school's Verbal Average Score was 449. The Math average score was 4444. The Writing average score was 431.[48] Pennsylvania students as a whole ranked 40th among states, with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[49] 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.[50]

Pocono Mountain West Junior High School is located at Panther Lane, Pocono Summit. In 2010, the school had 1,045 pupils in grades 8th and 9th, with 603 receiving a federal free lunch due to family poverty. There were 96 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 10:1.[51] In 2012, Pocono Mountain West Junior High School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging achievement in reading and mathematics. In 2011, Pocono Mountain West Junior High School achieved AYP status.[52]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science

• 2012 - 46% on grade level (27% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 49% (28% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 46% (34% below basic). State – 57% [59]
• 2009 - 36% (37% below basic). State - 55% [60]
• 2008 - 38% (32% below basic). State - 52% [61]

Clear Run Intermediate School is located at 3600 Memorial Blvd., Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. The school provides ?grades 3-6. In 2010 the school had 932 pupils, with 593 students receiving a federal free lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 108 teachers, making the student–teacher ratio an exceptionally low 8:1.[62] The Intermediate school was built in 1927 (the first school of PMSD the first ever class of 1928 was Mr Smith. It first opened in 1928 all students attended the school 1928-29.

In 2012, Clear Run Intermediate School improved to achieving Adequate Yearly Progress status.[63] In 2011, Clear Run Intermediate School declined to Warning status due to chronic low student achievement in Reading and math. In 2010, the school achieved AYP status.[64] Due to its low academic performance in 1996-, 97–98

and –, the school administration was required by No Child Left Behind to offer the opportunity to students to transfer to Swiftwater Intermediate School which was a successful intermediate school in the district. Letters were sent to each student's parents in August.[65] Clear Run Intermediate School offered Supplemental Educational Services (free tutoring outside of class) program to support improved academic achievement.[66] In 2006, the Pennsylvania Department of Education required the school administration to develop a School Improvement Plan which it submitted for approval.[67]

PSSA Results

Clear Run Elementary Center is located at 3700 Memorial Blvd., Tobyhanna. In 2010, the school had 841 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 582 pupils receiving a federal free lunch due to family poverty. The school had 84 teachers for a very low student–teacher ratio of 9:1. The school is designated as a Title I School-Wide Program.[69] the elementary center first opened in 1997, while the intermediate school was built in 1927

In 2012, Clear Run Elementary Center declined to School Improvement I status due to chronic low student academic achievement. In 2011, the school declined to Warning status due to low student achievement in reading and mathematics. In 2010 the school achieved AYP status.[70]

PSSA Results

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 77%, (4% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 71%, (13% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 72%, (17% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 81%, (3% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 73%, (5% below basic), State - 81%

Tobyhanna Elementary Center is located at Old Route 940, Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania. In 2010, the school had 697 pupils grades kindergarten through 5th, with 352 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 59 teachers for a student pupil ratio of 11:1.[73]

In 2012, Tobyhanna Elementary Center declined to School Improvement I status due to low student achievement in reading and mathematics. In 2011, Tobyhanna Elementary Center declined to Warning' status due to low student achievement in reading. In 2011, Tobyhanna Elementary Center achieved to AYP status.[74]

PSSA Results

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 93%, (1% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 92%, (3% below basic). State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 97%, (1% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 97%, (1% below basic). State - 83%
• 2008 - 93%, (1% below basic). State - 81%

Pocono Mountain East High School is located at Pocono Mountain School Road, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania. The school served 1,448 students with 516 students qualifying for a federal free lunch due to family poverty. It had 108 classroom teachers in 2010.[81]

In 2011, Pocono Mountain East High School declined further to Corrective Action II status due to chronic low achievement in mathematics and reading and a low graduation rate.[82] In 2011, Pocono Mountain East High School declined to Corrective Action I status due to chronic low achievement in mathematics and reading. In 2010, the school was in School Improvement II Level AYP status.[83] Due to its low academic performance, the high school administration was required by No Child Left Behind to offer the opportunity to students to transfer to a successful high school in the district. Letters were sent to each student's parents in August. Since Pocono Mountain West High School was in Corrective Action Level II status, students could not transfer.[84][85]

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 62% on grade level (15% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[86]
• 2011 - 69% (15% below basic). State - 69.1%
• 2010 - 70% (16% below basic). State - 66%
• 2009 - 62% (17% below basic). State - 65%

11th Grade Math

• 2012 - 64% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 59%[87]
• 2011 - 67% (17% below basic). State - 60.3% [88]
• 2010 - 69% (16% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 54% (24% below basic). State - 56%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 36% on grade level (15% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[89]
• 2011 - 30% (29% below basic). State - 40%
• 2010 - 33% (21% below basic), State - 39%
• 2009 - 32% (25% below basic). State - 40%

In 2012, 248 Pocono Mountain East High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 481. The Math average score was 498. The Writing average score was 467. 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, 293 PMEHS students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 480. The Math average score was 494. The Writing average score was 452.[90] Pennsylvania students as a whole ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.

Pocono Mountain East Junior High School is located at Pocono Mountain School Road, Swiftwater. The school has 841 pupils in grades 8th and 9th, with 341 receiving a federal free lunch due to family poverty. There are 71 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.[91]

In 2012, Pocono Mountain East Junior High School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging reading achievement in two subgroups.[92] In 2011, Pocono Mountain East Junior High School achieved AYP status.[93]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science

• 2012 - 62% on grade level (19% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 61% (19% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 54% (26% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 - 55% (22% below basic). State - 55%

Swiftwater Intermediate School is located at Pocono Mountain School Road, Swiftwater. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010 the school had 779 pupils, in grades 6th and 7th, with 272 pupils receiving a federal free lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 71 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.

Swiftwater Intermediate School achieved AYP status in 2010 through 2012.[96] The school was closed in June 2012 due to sharply declining enrollment district wide and a serious budget shortfall for 2012-13.

PSSA Results

8th Grade Reading 2011 - 86% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 81.8%

8th Grade Math' 2008 - 75% (13% below basic). State - 70%

8th Grade Science' 2008 - 56% (20% below basic). State - 52%

Swiftwater Elementary Center is located at 135 Academic Drive, Swiftwater. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010 the School had 856 pupils, in grades Kindergarten through 5th, with 336 pupils receiving a federal free lunch due to family poverty. The school is not a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 76 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.

In 2012, Swiftwater Elementary Center declined to Corrective Action I AYP status due to low student achievement in reading and mathematics.[100] In 2011, Swiftwater Elementary Center was in Making Progress: in School Improvement II AYP status.

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 91%, 51% advanced (1% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 87%, 54% advanced (2% below basic). State - 82.9%
• 2010 - 83%, (7% below basic). State - 81%

Pocono Mountain School District offers the Pennsylvania dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. 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.[105] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[106] 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.[107] In 2010, the district received a 33,131 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books. The cash grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward G. Rendell as part of his 2010-11 state budget.

The District Administration reported that 264 or 2.42% of its students were identified as gifted in 2010. The District Administration reported that 221 or 1.87% of its 11,809 students were gifted in 2008.[119] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. 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 or meet multiple criteria as set forth in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Guidelines. Determination of gifted ability may not be based on IQ score alone.[120][121]

For the 2012-13 school year, the Pocono Mountain School District received $21,906,602.[150] 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. Pocono Mountain School District received $627,698 in ABG funding.

In 2011-12, Pocono Mountain School District received a $19,282,222 allocation of state Basic Education Funding.[151][152] Additionally, the Pocono Mountain School District received $627,698 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.[153] 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.[154] In 2010, the district reported that 5,121 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[155]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.30% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $19,303,962.29 to the Pocono Mountain School District. Among the public school districts in Monroe County, the highest increase went to East Stroudsburg Area School District which got a 7.5% increase. Stroudsburg Area School District and Pleasant Valley School District both received a base 2% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.[156] The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where a district received at least the same amount as the year before, even where enrollment had significantly declined. This was the second year of Governor Rendell's policy to fund some public school districts at a far greater rate than others.[157]

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a base 2% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $19,307,162 to Pocono Mountain School District. Among the districts in Monroe County, the highest basic education funding increase 6.34% went to Stroudsburg Area School District. Ninety Pennsylvania public school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[158] The amount of increase each school district receives was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.[159]

The state Basic Education Funding to the Pocono Mountain School District in 2008-09 was $18,928,590.72. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 4,428 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[160]

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. 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 $1,703,729 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full-day kindergarten, to pay for teacher training and teachers to develop new courses.[161][162]

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) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. The Pocono Mountain School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08 PMSD received $1,206,310. The district received $213,492 in 2008-09.[163] Pocono Mountain School District received the highest CFF funding among districts In Monroe County. 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 G Rendell in 2010.

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 Pocono Mountain School District received $707,403.[164] A total of 685 students attended the district's Education Assistance Program After School Tutoring during the 2010‐2011 school year. Additionally, the district ran a summer program during the summer of 2010 with 547 students attending from the 6 elementary centers.

The District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education grants, PA Science Its Elementary grants, 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Pocono Mountain School District received an extra $6 million in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[165] The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010-2011 school years.[166] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised to use the funds for one-time expenditures like acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software. Pocono Mountain reported using two-thirds of the funds to purchase instructional supplies, equipment, consulting and staff development. One-third was used for the staff's medical insurance and health claims.[167]

Pocono Mountain School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over $1.5 million in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[168] 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.[169] 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.[170][171][172]

In the summer of 2011, Pocono Mountain School District administration did not apply for School Improvement Grant funding, from the federal government (over $9.9 million available). Pocono Mountain West High School was eligible for funding due to chronic low achievement in reading and math. The grant stipulates the funds be used for improving student achievement using one of four federally dictated strategies. The strategies are: transformation, turnaround, restart with new faculty and administration or closure of failing schools.[173] The Pennsylvania Education Secretary awarded $66 million to reform Pennsylvania's lowest-achieving schools in August 2011. The funding is for three years.[174]

For the 2010-11 school year, Pocono Mountain School District administration did not apply for the School Improvement Grant. The district was eligible for funding due to the chronic, low achievement at the Pocono Mountain West High School and Coolbaugh Elementary Centre.[175]

In 2010, Pennsylvania received $141 million from the federal –US Department of Education, to turn around its worst-performing schools. The funds were disbursed via a competitive grant program.[176] The Pennsylvania Department of Education has identified 200 Pennsylvania schools as "persistently lowest-achieving," making them eligible for this special funding.[177] Pennsylvania required low performing schools to apply or provide documentation about why they had not applied. The funds must be used, by the district, to turn around schools in one of four ways: school closure, restart - close the school and reopen it as a charter school. The other two options involve firing the principal. One would require at least half the faculty in a chronically poor performing school be dismissed. The second involves intensive teacher training coupled with strong curriculum revision or a longer school day.[178]

The Pocono Mountain 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.[179] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Property tax rates in 2012-13 were set by the Pocono Mountain School Board at 147.2900 mills. 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.[180] Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school 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.[181]

• 2011-12 - 147.2900 mills
• 2010-11 - 139.3800 mills [182]
• 2009-10 - 132.7500 mills.[183]
• 2008-09 - 129.7500 mills.[184]
• 2007-08 - 121.2400 mills.[185]
• 2007-08 - 114.9500 mills.
• 2005-06 - 109.1700 mills.[186]

The average yearly property tax paid by Monroe County residents amounts to about 5.52% of their yearly income. Monroe County ranked 53rd of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[187] According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[188] 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%).[189]

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.[190] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[191] The following 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.[192][193]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Pocono Mountain School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[194]

For the 2013-14 budget year, Pocono Mountain School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2013-2014, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 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 the tax limit. For the exception for pension costs, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.[196]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Pocono Mountain School Board applied for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index for special education costs. 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.[197]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Pocono Mountain School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: special education and teacher pension costs. Each year, the Pocono Mountain 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 published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[198]

According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 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.[199]

The Pocono Mountain School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011: special education costs and teacher pension costs.[200] For the 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.[201] 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.[202]

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Pocono Mountain School District was $399 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 15,550 property owners applied for the tax relief.[203] 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 Monroe County, 57.91% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[204] In Monroe County, the highest amount of tax relief $458, went to property owners in Pleasant Valley School District. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead.[205] This was the third year they were the top recipient.

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, individual with income much 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.[206]

The entire district was originally home of the Cardinals. However, when it was determined that a new school would have to be built, another squad was then needed. The Cardinals still remain at the original high school, the East high school. Barrett Elementary Center, Pocono Elementary Center, and Swiftwater Elementary Center are also Cardinals. PM West is home to the Panthers. The Cardinals are red and white, and the Panthers are blue and silver.

The Pocono Mountain School District has a new newspaper club website https://web.archive.org/web/20110902131658/http://wjhsnewpaperclub.webs.com/.

The Pocono Mountain School District belongs to District 11 of the PIAA. The school's athletic teams compete in Pennsylvania's East Penn Conference, widely considered one of the most elite high school athletic leagues in the nation.. Both high schools are AAAA.

The District funds:

Pocono Mountain East High School

Pocono Mountain West High School

Pocono Mountain West Junior High School

According to PIAA directory July 2012 [212]