Sto-Rox High School

The current building of the Sto-Rox High School was erected in 1926. At that time, it was only the Stowe Township High School, until it merged with the McKees Rocks School District in 1966, thus forming Sto-Rox.

It is a three-story, yellow brick building, housing grades 9-12. Formerly, it was the Sto-Rox Junior/Senior High School, until, in 2002, the Sto-Rox Middle School was erected in Kennedy Township. Since it was built, numerous additions have been added to the building, though none in recent years. A few years ago, the high school underwent a partial renovation.

In 2011, Sto-Rox High School declined to "School Improvement I" level due to continuing low student achievement.[4] The high school is in "Warning" status due to chronic poor student achievement in 2010.[5] The school met 1 of 8 academic performance goals in 2010. Under No Child Left Behind, the school administration was required to notify parents of their right to transfer their child to a successful school in the District.[6] Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) required the administration to write a School Improvement Plan to raise student achievement in reading and math, as well as improve the graduation rate. The administration submitted the plan to the PDE for approval.

Sto-Rox High School's 11th grade was ranked 111th out of 123 Western Pennsylvania high schools in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for: math, reading, writing and 1 year of science.[7] In 2008, the school ranked 490th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts.

In 2011, the graduation rate at Sto-Rox High School was 79%.[8] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Sto-Rox High School's rate was 66% for 2010.[9]

Under former calculation formula

• 2010 - 90%[10]
• 2009 - 79%[11]
• 2008 - 80%
• 2007 - 80%[12]
• 2006 - 91% [13]

PSSA Results:

11th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 43% on grade level, (33% below basic). 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.[14]
• 2010 - 37% (44% below basic). State - 67% [15]
• 2009 - 46% (37% below basic). State - 65% [16]
• 2008 - 44% (38% below basic). State - 65%
• 2007 - 44%, State - 65%
• 2006 - 33%, State - 65% [17]
• 2005 - 39%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 34%, on grade level (44% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 39% (45% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 41% (38% below basic). State - 56% [18]
• 2008 - 30%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 34%, State - 53%
• 2006 - 21%, State - 52%
• 2005 - 15%, State - 51%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 11% on grade level (53% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 12% (40% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 24% (33% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 22% [19]

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, "53% of the Sto-Rox 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.[20] 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.[21] 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 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.[22] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[23] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $1,898 for the program.

From January to June 2011, 54 Sto-Rox School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 380. The Math average score was 395. The Writing average score was 349.[24] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[25] 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.[26]

• David Cercone (1970) U.S. District Court Judge
• Chuck Fusina (1975) - NFL quarterback
• John Kasich (1970) - politician.[27]
• Billy Mays (1976) - Television pitchman, best known for OxiClean
• Bob Ligashesky (1981) - College and NFL football coach
• Adam DiMichele (2003) - Philadelphia Soul quarterback
• Myron Brown (1987) - professional basketball player

• Official website of the Sto-Rox School District