Richland School District (Cambria County, Pennsylvania)

In 2012, Richland School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[28] In 2011, Richland 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.[29][30] Richland 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.[31]

In 2014, the district's graduation rate was 92%.[32]

• 2013 - 80% [33]
• 2012 - 95%
• 2011 - 96%.[34]
• 2010 - 95%, Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.[35]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 95%[36]
• 2009 - 95%
• 2007 - 96%[37]

Richland High School is located at One Academic Avenue, Johnstown. In 2014, enrollment was reported as 788 pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 22.6% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 8.6% of pupils received special education services, while 2% of pupils were identified as gifted.[38] The school employed 43 teachers.[39] Per the PA Department of Education, 2% of the teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school is not a Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012, the school reported an enrollment of 771 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 117 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. In 2012, the school employed 43 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 17.7:1.[40] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 19% of courses were taught by teachers who were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[41]

2014 School Performance Profile

Richland High School achieved 83.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 85.9% of pupils were reading on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 83% showed on grade level math skills. In Science/Biology 1, 72% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course. In Writing - 73% of 8th graders demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[42][43] Statewide, the percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in Algebra I increased to 39.7% to 40.1%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in reading/literature declined to 52.5%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in biology improved from 39.7% to 41.4%.[44]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,134 of 2,947 Pennsylvania public schools (72 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.[45] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.[46][47]

2013 School Performance Profile

Richland High School achieved 80.2 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 86% of pupils were on grade level. In math/Algebra 1, 74% showed on grade level mathematics skills. In science/Biology, 71.8% showed on grade level science understanding. In writing, 71% of 8th graders demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[48] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.[49]

AYP History

In 2012, Richland High School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[50] In 2009 through 2011, Richland High School achieved AYP status.[51] In 2008, Richland High School was in Warning AYP status due to lagging student academic achievement.[52] AYP status for Richland High School was not reported prior to 2008 due to the district combining 7th through 12th grades in one school building. Earlier AYP reporting was under Richland Middle School and Richland Senior High School.[53]

PSSAs

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[54] In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.[55] Effective with Spring 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Education discontinued administering the PSSA's to 11th graders.

11th Grade Reading

• 2012 - 87% on grade level, (5% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[56]
• 2011 - 74% (11% below basic). State - 69.1%[57]
• 2010 - 81% (9% below basic). State - 66%[58]
• 2009 - 77% (9% below basic). State - 65%[59]
• 2008 - 73% (11% below basic). State - 65%[60]
• 2007 - 88% (6% below basic). State - 65%[61]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 70% on grade level (17% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[62]
• 2011 - 61%, (22% below basic). State - 60.3%[63]
• 2010 - 68%, (17% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 60% (15.5% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 58% (17% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 70% (9% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 57% on grade level (4% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[64]
• 2011 - 44% (12% below basic). State - 40%[65]
• 2010 - 47% (7% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 53% (8.5% below basic). State - 40%[66]
• 2008 - 41%, (11% below basic). State - 39%

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 10% of the Richland 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.[67] 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.[68] 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 Richland School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 25 credits to graduate, including: Math 4 credits, English 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Physical Education 1.6 credits, Health 0.6 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits and electives 5.8 credits.[69] The district offers a Learn and Earn program where students may take a reduced course load their senior year, giving them time to take college courses or work. The high school also has an Associate in High School plan which allows students to accelerate their studies and earn two years of college credits.[70]

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.[71] 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.[72]

By Pennsylvania State 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 respective Keystone Exams for each course.[73] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.[74]

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Schools are mandated to provide targeted assistance to help the student be successful. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate.[75][76] 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.[77] 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.[78] 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.

The Challenge Program offers $250.00 cash incentives to Senior High School students who excel in the categories of: Academic Improvement, Attendance, Community Service and Academic Excellence. The program partners with businesses to motivate students both in and out of the classroom by encouraging good habits in students that will last throughout their education and into their future careers. For the 2010–2011 school year, the top 10% of students in each of the categories will be eligible to win $250.00.[79]

In 2014, 111 Richland School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 492. The Math average score was 501. The Writing average score was 503.[80][81] Statewide in Pennsylvania, Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 480. The College Board also reported that nationwide scores were: 497 in reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing.[82] In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SATs in the United States.

In 2013, 95 Richland School District students took the SAT exams. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.[83]

In 2012, 95 Richland School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 493. The Math average score was 498. The Writing average score was 495. 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, 82 School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 505. The Math average score was 492. The Writing average score was 493.[84] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[85] 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.[86]

In 2011, 110 Richland School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 484. The Math average score was 493. The Writing average score was 470.[84] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[85] 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.[86]

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a research arm of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, compared the SAT data of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania to students in urban areas. From 2003 to 2005, the average total SAT score for students in rural Pennsylvania was 992, while urban students averaged 1,006. During the same period, 28 percent of 11th and 12th graders in rural school districts took the exam, compared to 32 percent of urban students in the same grades. The average math and verbal scores were 495 and 497, respectively, for rural students, while urban test-takers averaged 499 and 507, respectively. Pennsylvania's SAT composite score ranked low on the national scale in 2004. The composite SAT score of 1,003 left Pennsylvania ranking 44 out of the 50 states and Washington, DC.[87]

In 2014, Richland High School offered 3 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The fee for each AP Exam was $91 (2014).[88] The school retains $9 of that fee as a rebate to help with administrative costs. In 2012, the fee was $89 per test per pupil. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Richland High School 24.8% of the students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[89]

Seventh grades have been tested in reading and mathematics since 2006, under the federal mandates of NCLB. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I, take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999, as a state initiative.[90] Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science.[91] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[54] In 2014, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.[92]

PSSA Results

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 82% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 59%[99]
• 2011 - 77% (10% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 76% (9% below basic). State - 57%[100]
• 2009 - 70% (6% below basic). State - 55%[101]
• 2008 - 63%, State - 52%[102]

Richland Elementary School is located at 321 Schoolhouse Road. In 2014, the Richland Elementary School enrollment was 844 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 30% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 10% of the pupils receive special education services, while 2% are identified as gifted.[103] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 76% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides full-day kindergarten since 2012.[104] The school is a federally designated Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012, enrollment was 829 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 154 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 46 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 18:1.[105] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[106] The school provided full-day kindergarten to all its pupils.[107]

2014 School Performance Profile

Richland Elementary School achieved a score of 90 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2013–2014, only 72% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 6th. In 3rd grade, 70% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 82% were on grade level (3rd-6th grades). In 4th grade science, 93% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 75% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[108]

Richland Elementary School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status each school year 2003 through 2012.[109] Attendance rate was 95% in 2011 and 96% in 2010.[110]

PSSA History

Each year, in the Spring, in order to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Law, 3rd graders and sixth graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing. Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th.[111] The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.[112][113][114] The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.[115] The first cohort of children who attended Accountability Block Grant funded full-day kindergarten reached third grade and took the PSSAs in the spring of 2008.

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 85%, (2% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 89%, (3% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 89%, (4% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 95%, (0% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 97%, (0% below basic), State - 81%

The district administration reported that 25 or 1.55% of its students were gifted in 2009.[137] 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.[138][139]

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, Richland School District receives 27.2% of its annual revenue from the state.[163][164]

For the 2014–2015 school year, Richland School District received $3,036,349 in State Basic Education funding. The district received $66,386 in new Ready To Learn Block grant. The State's enacted Education Budget includes $5,526,129,000 for the 2014–2015 Basic Education Funding.[165] The Pennsylvania Education budget also includes Accountability Block Grant funding at $100 million and $241 million in new Ready to Learn funding for public schools that focus on student achievement and academic success. The State is paying $500.8 million to Social Security on the school employees behalf and another $1.16 billion to the state teachers pension system (PSERS). In total, Pennsylvania's Education budget for K-12 public schools is $10 billion. This was a $305 million increase over 2013–2014 state spending and the greatest amount ever allotted by the Commonwealth for its public schools.[166]

In the 2013–2014 school year, Richland School District received a 2.5% increase or $3,038,213 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $72,911 more than its 2012–2013 state BEF to the district. Additionally, Richland School District received $36,379 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Cambria County, Westmont Hilltop School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 2.5%. The district had 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.[167] The highest percent of state spending per student is in the Chester-Upland School District, where over 78 percent comes from state coffers. In Philadelphia, it is nearly 49 percent.[168] As a part of the education budget, the state provided the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[169]

Beginning in the 2014–2015 budget, the State funded a new Ready to Learn Grant for public schools. A total of $100 million is allocated through a formula to districts based on the number of students, level of poverty of community as calculated by its market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) and the number of English language learners. Ready to Learn Block Grant funds may be used by the districts for: school safety; Ready by 3 early childhood intervention programs; individualized learning programs; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.[170]

Richland School District received $102,765 in Ready to Learn Grant dollars in addition to State Basic Education funding, Special Education funding, reimbursement for Social Security payments for employees and other state grants which the district must apply to receive.

The Richland School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants;[171][172] PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009–2010 budget by Governor Rendell);[173] Education Assistance Grants; 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant;[174] 2013 Safe Schools and Resource Officer grants; Project 720 High School Reform grants (discontinued effective with 2011–2012 budget); nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Richland School District received an extra $733,265 in ARRA - Federal stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[175] The funding was limited to the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 school years.[176]

The 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.[177] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Property tax rates in 2015–2016 were set by the school board at 48.9500 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.[178] 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.[179] When a Pennsylvania public school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties.[180] In 2010, miscalculations by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.[181]

The average yearly property tax paid by Cambria County residents amounts to about 2.4% of their yearly income. Cambria County ranked 1048th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[192] 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 1999–1900 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008–2009 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[193] 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%).[194] Pennsylvania's 2011 tax burden of 10.35% ranked 10th highest out of 50 states. The tax burden was above the national average of 9.8%. Pennsylvania's taxpayers paid $4,374 per capita in state and local taxes, including school taxes.[195]

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.[196] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Index.[197] 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 taking into account on the PSERS contribution rate.[198]

The Richland School District Adjusted Index for 2006–2007 through 2011–2012.[199]

For the 2017–2018 budget year, Richland School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit and has not applied for the Act 1 Index or raised real estate taxes since the 2007–2008 school year. This increase was only done to support the construction of the new Richland High School that consolidated the former Richland High School and Richland Middle School due to an emergency closing of the former Richland Middle School due to a roof collapse when the building was not occupied.

 In 2014–2015, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 21.4% of payroll payment to the teacher's pension fund (PSERS).[204] For the school budget 2014–2015, 316 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above its Act 1 Index limit. Another 181 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeding the Index limit. Districts may apply for multiple exceptions each year. For the pension costs exception, 163 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full, while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 104 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. Seven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for the grandfathered construction debts exception.[205]

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Richland School District was $62 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,730 property owners applied for the tax relief.[206] 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 Cambria County, 54.33% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[207] In Cambria County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2010, went to approved property owners in Ferndale Area School District who got a $214 property tax cut. 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.[208] 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.[209]

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%).[210]

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.[232]

Varsity

Junior High School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2015[233]