Rochester Area High School (Pennsylvania)

In 2012, Rochester Area High School declined further to School Improvement Level II AYP status due to chronically low student achievement in reading and especially mathematics.[19] Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.[20] The High School is eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants which the school must apply for each year.[21]

• 2011 - declined to School Improvement AYP status due to chronically low student achievement in reading and especially mathematics.[22] Under No Child Left Behind, the school administration was required to notify parents of the schools low achievement and to offer the students an opportunity to transfer to a successful school in the district. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Education required the high school administration to develop and submit for approval, a plan to raise student achievement in reading and math. Due to the low achievement the school was eligible to apply for federal School Improvement Grants.
• 2010 - third year of Warning status due to lagging student achievement.
• 2009 - Warning AYP status[23]
• 2008 - Warning AYP status[24]

PSSA Results

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.[25] 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 applicable course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.[26]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 57% on grade level, (19% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[27]
• 2011 - 57% (29% below basic). State - 69.1%[28]
• 2010 - 60% (22% below basic). State - 66%[29]
• 2009 - 62% on grade level. State - 65%
• 2008 - 47%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 64%, State - 65%[30]
• 2006 - 55% (28% below basic). State - 65%
• 2005 - 61% (29% below basic). State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 43% on grade level (30% below basic). State - 60.3%[31]
• 2011 - 37% (33% below basic). State - 60.3%[32]
• 2010 - 53% (35% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 50% State - 56%[33]
• 2008 - 30%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 45%, State - 53%
• 2006 - 30%, (45% below basic). State - 52%[34]
• 2005 - 24%, (44% below basic). State - 52%

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 27% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 18% (32% below basic). State - 40%[35]
• 2010 - 38% (20% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 34%, State - 40% [36]
• 2008 - 11%, State - 39%[37]
• 2007 - tested - scores not publicly released.

Science in Motion Rochester Area High School did not take 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.[38] Westminster College provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 33% of Rochester Area 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.[39] 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.[40] 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 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.[41] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[42] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $18,529 for the program. Courses are offered in cooperation with Pennsylvania State University Beaver Campus.

The Rochester Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 27.5 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in math 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 3 credits, science 4 credits, Physical Education 1 credit, Health 0.5 credit, Arts and Humanities 2 credits, Computers/Business 3 credits, Senior project 1 credit and electives 5 credits.[43]

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.[44]

Beaver County Career and Technical School students take a modified graduation plan. Students enrolled in a 2-year course must pass 12th Grade – English, Mathematics and Science and in 11th Grade – English, Mathematics, Science and The Holocaust.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the graduating class of 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.[45][46][47] 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.[48] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The school offers several AP courses: AP Chemistry, AP Calculus and AP English. The courses are weighted in regards to GPA and school ranking. The fee for each AP Exam is $91 (2014).[49] The school normally 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.

In 2015, the School offered one Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. None of the pupils who took the course achieved a 3 or better on the associated AP exam.[50] In 2014, no pupils earned a 3 or better on the AP exam.

In 2014, 35 Rochester Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 459. The Math average score was 472. The Writing average score was 448.[51][52] 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.[53] In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SATs in the United States.

In 2013, 39 Rochester Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 432. The Math average score was 463. The Writing average score was 417. 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.[54]

In 2012, 37 Rochester Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 408. The Math average score was 448. The Writing average score was 402. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 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, 50 Rochester Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 432. The Math average score was 465. The Writing average score was 417.[55] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[56] 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.[57]

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.[58]

The school offers many required and elective courses that are not offered by small schools of similar size in the state including German I-IV. Physics, Chemistry, Calculus, Statistics and Probability, English, The Holocaust, Mutimedia and Computer Graphics, Web Page Design, Theatre, Music History, Music Theory, Humanities, Marriage and Family Living, Painting and Printmaking and Drawing and Graphic Design. The school also has a cooperative program with Penn State, Beaver Campus, that enables upperclassmen to take college level classes for credit. In addition, Rochester Area High School is one of the few schools in the region that requires students to earn 30 credits prior to graduation. There are no study halls at Rochester.

Rochester Area High School offers many extracurricular activities to students. The most popular activity is the Cultural Diversity Club, which sponsors an annual Cultural Diversity fair. Other club offerings include "Hometown Hi-Q", Bowling Club, Student Council, Students of Service, Art Club, and National Honor Society.

Rochester Area High School is well known for being the first high school in the United States to show the musical My Fair Lady in 1964. The musical was directed by legendary Chorus and Musical director Mr. Philip Inman. It was reported that the high school auditorium was standing-room only for the musical's opening night.

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.[64]

According to Pennsylvania’s Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.[65][66]

Rochester Area is well known for its success in athletics, particularly football. The high school football team won the WPIAL Class A Championship in 1916, 1991, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004, and went on to win the PIAA Class A Championship in 1998, 2000, and 2001. The 1998 season is best remembered, as the team finished the season undefeated 15-0. Mr. Gene Matsook has served as head coach since 2000, and his brother, Daniel Matsook, served as the head coach from 1985–1999. Matsook is now the superintendent of the Central Valley School District. The Matsooks have established a well known football legacy throughout the state of Pennsylvania.

Rochester Area, whose mascot is the Rams, shares a rivalry with another small Beaver County school - South Side Beaver High School. Since both schools use the ram as a mascot, the annual football game is known as the "Battle of the Rams".

The school is known as the home to Olympic track star Lauryn Williams, who set many school and state records in track.

The school also won the 1983 PIAA Class AA Men's Basketball Championship.

The football team played in one of the most notable rivalries in Western Pennsylvania high school football with rival Monaca High School, located in Monaca just across the Ohio River. The two schools played in the annual Battle of the Bridge, in which the winner had their name listed first on the Rochester-Monaca Bridge for a year. The rivalry was so well known that it was featured at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.

The rivalry also led to the two schools meeting in the playoffs on several occasions. In 1998 and 2000, both schools met at Three Rivers Stadium to determine the WPIAL champion, with Rochester winning both times. When the two teams did meet in the postseason, the Rochester-Monaca Bridge was not on the line, as that year's results were already determined.

On occasion, the football rivalry would spill into other sports. In 2001, the two schools met in Rochester for the first of two men's basketball matchups for the season between the two schools. Near the end of the game, a fight erupted in the stands, with several people arrested. To prevent another incident for the second game at Monaca, only school administrators were allowed at that game, as fans, cheerleaders, and even parents of the athletes were not allowed at the game. Fans were allowed at future games after that season.

With the merger of the Monaca School District and Center Area School Districts into the new Central Valley School District, the year 2009 marked the final season that Monaca High School existed. Consequently, 2009 was the last season in with a "Battle of the Bridge" game. This contest took place on Saturday, October 31, 2009 and the Rams won 28-0. The game was given national attention by the Great American Rivalry Series, with Rochester Stadium reportedly having a standing-room only attendance of 11,000 fans witnessing the final game of a great rivalry. Since the end of the 2009-2010 school year, the permanent name of the bridge is "Rochester-Monaca" on the Rochester side and "Monaca-Rochester" on the Monaca side.