Williamsport Area High School

In 2015, the District’s graduation rate was 87.7%.[6]

• 2014 - 85%[7]
• 2013 - 84.9%[8]
• 2012 - 86%[9]
• 2011 - 75%[10]
• 2010 - 71%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.[11]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 80%[12]
• 2009 - 78%[13]
• 2008 - 75%[14]
• 2007 - 75%[15]
• 2005 - 75%[16]

Williamsport Area High School achieved 79.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that 79.5% of the High School’s students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 76% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 61% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[17] Statewide, 53 percent of schools with an eleventh grade achieved an academic score of 70 or better. Five percent of the 2,033 schools with 11th grade were scored at 90 and above; 20 percent were scored between 80 and 89; 28 percent between 70 and 79; 25 percent between 60 and 69 and 22 percent below 60. The Keystone Exam results showed: 73 percent of students statewide scored at grade-level in English, 64 percent in Algebra I and 59 percent in biology.[18][19]

Williamsport Area High School achieved 80.6 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 73% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 75% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 53.5% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[20][21] 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%.[22]

Williamsport Area High School achieved 79.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 79% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 69.5% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 36% showed on grade level science understanding.[23] 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.[24]

In 2012, Williamsport Area HIgh School was in Making Progress: in Corrective Action II AYP status, due to chronic low academic achievement.[25]

• 2011 - declined to Corrective Action II 5th Year due to chronically low student achievement and failure to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and mathematics.[26]
• 2010 - declined to Corrective Action II 4th Year due to chronically low student achievement and failure to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and mathematics, plus a low graduation rate.[27]
• 2009 - declined to Corrective Action II 3rd Year, due to chronically low student achievement and failure to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and mathematics.[28]
• 2008 - declined to Corrective Action II 2nd Year, due to chronically low student achievement and failure to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and mathematics.[29]
• 2007 - declined further to Corrective Action II First Year, due to chronic low student achievement and failure to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and mathematics and a low graduation rate.[30] Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer the parent the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the District.
• 2006 - declined to Corrective Action Level I , due to chronic low student achievement and failure to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and mathematics and a low graduation rate.[31]
• 2005 - declined to School Improvement Level II, due to low student achievement and failure to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and mathematics.[32]
• 2004 - declined to School Improvement Level I, due to chronically low student achievement and failure to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress in reading and mathematics.[33] The High School administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement and low graduation rate. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.[34] The High School is eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants which the school must apply for each year.[35]
• 2003 - Warning AYP status, due to lagging student achievement[36]

The Williamsport Area School Board has determined that students must earn 22 credits to graduate, including: 4 English credits, 4 Social Studies credits, 3 Math Credits (4 math credits beginning with the class of 2016), 3 Science credits, 2 credits Physical Education, 1 credit Health, 2 credits Arts/Humanities (in different areas) and 3 elective credits.[54]

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.[55] 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.[56]

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2018, 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.[57] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.[58]

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.[59][60] 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.[61] 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.[62] 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, 28% of Williamsport Area 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.[63] 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.[64] 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.

Williamsport Area High School 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 offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[65] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[66] Williamsport Area School District has dual enrollment agreements with Bloomsburg University and Lock Haven University. Additionally, the district offers an Introduction to Literature course on the school's campus in cooperation with Bloomsburg University. The course counts as an English credit for high school graduation.[67] 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.[68] In 2010, Williamsport Area School District received a $10,946 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Ed Rendell in 2010.

Penn College NOW

In 2014, Williamsport Area High School offered several dual enrollment courses in conjunction with Pennsylvania College of Technology. Penn College NOW classes are taught by approved local high school teachers, at the high school.[69] Penn College NOW is partially funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-270) through the Pennsylvania Department of Education, by the support of Pennsylvania companies through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and by Pennsylvania College of Technology.

In 2014, 192 Williamsport Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 473. The Math average score was 483. The Writing average score was 443.[70][71] 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.[72] In 2014, 1,672,395 students took the SATs in the United States.

In 2013, 189 Williamsport Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 489. The Math average score was 495. The Writing average score was 459. 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.[73]

In 2012, 245 Williamsport Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 468. The Math average score was 481. The Writing average score was 446. 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, 85 Williamsport Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 481. The Math average score was 488. The Writing average score was 464.[74] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[75] 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.[76]

In 2014, Williamsport Area High School offered 16 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The fee for each AP Exam was $91 (2014).[77] 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. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Williamsport Area High School 20% of the students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[78]

Williamsport Area School District administration reported there were three incidents of bullying in the District in 2013. Additionally, there were four assaults on pupils and 2 sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in 34 incidents at the school, with 27 arrests.[85] [86] Each year the school safety data is reported by the district to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.[87]

Williamsport Area School Board has provided the district's anti-bullying policy online.[88] All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the District must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.[89] The Center for Schools and Communities works in with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.[90][91] According to the Center for Disease Control’s biannual national study of high school students in 2009, five percent of Pennsylvania students did not go to school for at least one day because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to or from school.[92]

Education standards relating to student safety and anti-harassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.[93]

Williamsport Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006.[94] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[95]

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.[96] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Williamsport Area High School offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.[97] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[98]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.[99] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.[100] The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that Districts raise their full pay lunch prices every year until the price of non-subsidized lunches equals the amount the federal government reimburses schools for free meals. That subsidy in 2013-2014 was $2.93.

In 2014, President Barack Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.[101][102]

The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.[103][104]

Williamsport Area High School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. A nurse is available in the building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.[105][106] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.[107]

Williamsport Area High School offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, publicly funded sports program.[108] Eligibility for participation is determined by Williamsport Area School Board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). The sports programs are coordinated through the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference.[109] The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing in the Williamsport Area School District, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, a Pennsylvania public cyber charter school, charter school and those who are homeschooled, are all 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.[110]

According to PA Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Act 126 of 2014, all volunteer coaches and all those who assist in student activities, must have criminal background checks. Like all school district employees, they must also attend an anti child abuse training once every three years.[111][112][113]