Redbank Valley School District

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 - 67% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.[13]
2008 - 64%, State - 65%
2007 - 78%, State - 65% [14]

11th Grade Math:
2009 - 48% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2008 - 31%, State - 55%
2007 - 57%, State - 53%[15]

11th Grade Science:
2009 - 31% on grade level. State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 35%, State - 39%[16]

College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 27% of Redbank Valley 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.[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.

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.[19]

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.[20] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[21]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $1,749 for the program.[22]

The general fund budget for the 2014/2015 school year is exactly $17,489,000.76. This is a slight increase from last year's budget of $16,439,194.00. Redbank Valley, as of May 2014, has a deficit of approximately 1.5 million. This has resulted in all-around cuts, ranging from the sciences, to general supplies, and textbooks.

In the 2009/2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.0% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $8,425,418. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $8,260,213.85. Two percent was the lowest level of increase for districts in 2009. Seventy school districts received a 2% increase in 2009. Clarion-Limestone Area School District received a 4.86% increase in state basic education funding. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[34] The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.[35]

The district reports that 435 students enrolled in the federal free and reduced school lunch program in 2007-2008.

The district received $1,389,322 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific education programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[36] This funding was for 2009-2011 school years.

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district millions in additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[37] 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.[37] Pennsylvania was not approved in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state RTTT application judging will occur in June 2010.[38]

In 2008, the district reported a $3,259,400 in an unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was $6,390,000.[39]

Property tax rates in 2008-2009 were set at: Armstrong County residents - 19.4200 mills and the residents in Clarion County was 42.6700 mills.[40] School districts located in more than one county are required to apportion the tax levy based on the market value in each county as determined by the State Tax Equalization Board pursuant to section 672.1 of the School Code. As a result, the tax rate increases are not the same for each county in a multi-county school district.[41] 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.

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Redbank Valley School District was $116 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,162 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Clarion County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2009, went to Clarion-Limestone Area School District at $140. The highest property tax relief, among Pennsylvania school districts, went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead.[42] 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. In Clarion County, 47% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. In Armstrong County, 77% of residents applied for property tax relief.

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, so 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.

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%).

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, 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. These include a mandatory yearly physical for all sports; fall, winter, or spring. To participate in all athletic activities and/or events, students or participants must pay a $50.00 "activity fee" as outlined the 2014/2015 handbook. If the fee has failed to be paid, the participant is to be exempted from practices and games, performances, until which time the fee has been paid, or the school has dismissed him or her from team eligibility.

As of the 2017/2018 school year, RVSD offers the following extracurricular activities and programs.[43]

Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Football, Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball, Wrestling

Bible Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Future Farmers of America, Journalism Club, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Outdoor Club, Ski Club, Student Council, Broadcast Journalism, Show Choir, SPARK Club - Chapter of The Smile Project, AV Club, Robotics (FIRST, BEST, VEX)