Crestwood High School (Pennsylvania)

Crestwood High School
Location
Mountaintop, PA
Information
Type	Public
School district	Crestwood School District
Principal	Mr. Christopher Gegaris
Head of school	Mr. Dave McLaughlin-Smith
Grades	9-12
Color(s)	Red, White, and black
Athletics	Soccer, Field Hockey, Football,Tennis, Golf, Swimming, Cross Country, Track and Field, Basketball, Wrestling, Soft Ball, Baseball, Lacrosse
Athletics conference	Wyoming Valley Conference
Mascot	The Comet
Website	http://www.csdcomets.org

Crestwood High School is a ninth through twelfth grade high school located on Route 309 in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the only high school in the Crestwood School District (Pennsylvania), which encompasses an area of 110 square miles (280 km²) with a combined population of 19,383. Students at Crestwood are given the opportunity to choose from numerous academic, athletic, and co-curricular programs but mainly focusing on humanities, mathematics and science, business, fine arts, and vocational-technical programs. This allows students not only to be prepared for 2 year or 4 year colleges, but also the workforce or military service. Added on to the High School, in 2000, was the seventh through eighth grade Middle School.

In December 2006, an F2 tornado tore through the back area of the high school. There was no serious or irreparable damage done to the section. The roof of the high school gym collapsed while the girls' basketball team was inside but no one was hurt. Crestwood School District website is Crestwood School District

Graduation Rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Crestwood High School's rate was 93% for 2010. ^[1]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 97% ^[2]
• 2009 - 97%
• 2008 - 94% ^[3]
• 2007 - 94% ^[4]

Graduation requirements

The Crestwood School Board has determined that a student must successfully complete 23 credits which include: 4 credits of English, 4 credits of Social Studies, 4 credits of Mathematics, 4 credits of Science, 2 credits of Arts & Humanities, 2 credits of World Language, 2 credits of electives and 1 credit Health/Physical Education.^[5]

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a graduation 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.^[6] At Crestwood High School the project consists of: a research paper and an oral presentation. ^[7]

Beginning with the class of 2016, by Pennsylvania school regulations, students must take the Keystone Exams in Literature, Biology 1 and Algebra 1. ^[8]

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 67% on grade level (17% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[9]
• 2009 - 71% (14% below basic), State - 65%^[10]
• 2008 - 72% (12% below basic), State - 65%
• 2007 - 66% (15% below basic), State - 65%^[11]

11th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 55%, on grade level (24% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[12]
• 2009 - 53% (22% below basic), State - 56%.
• 2008 - 61% (24% below basic), State - 56%
• 2007 - 49% (26% below basic), State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 40% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 45%, State - 40%^[13]
• 2008 - 40%, State - 39%

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 19% of Crestwood 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.^[14] 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.^[15] 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.

Dual enrollment

The high school offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state funded 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.^[16] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[17] 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. ^[18]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $32,644 for its dual enrollment program.^[19]

Online grade book and technology

The high school provides parents and students with online access to the student's grades and assignments. The school received several state Classroom For the Future Grants. These grants paid for the high school to acquire laptop computers and white boards for use in the core curriculum classrooms (English, History, Science, Math). ^[20] The CFF grant program was funded from 2006-2009. Crestwood School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08, it was denied funding. The high school received $187,656 in 2008-09.^[21]

Extracurriculars

The district offer a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports teams. Eligibility to participate in all extracurriculars is set by school board policy.^[22][23][24]

Some of the sports programs make it to Regional and Districts Championships, and some make it to States. The field hockey team has won four state titles, the most in Pennsylvania, and makes it to states almost every year, the basketball team has won five District Championships in the past six years, and the tennis, track and field and wrestling teams have also placed at Districts. In 2004, a turf stadium was added for the football, soccer, field hockey teams, and Marching Band performances. The school's mascot is the Comet. Its colors are red and white with a touch of black.

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. ^[25]

"Cash for Kids"

Crestwood High School was one of the schools in Luzerne County impacted by the Kids for cash scandal, which was exposed in 2008.^[26] Former judge Mark Ciavarella, who was the epicenter of the scandal, gave talks to the student assembly every year.

Communities Served by Crestwood High School

• Dorrance Township
• Fairview Township
• Nuangola
• White Haven
• Wright Township
• Slocum Township
• Dennison Township
• Rice Township
• Penn Lake

Notable graduates

Martin Bibla, class of 1997, college football for the University of Miami, professional football for the Atlanta Falcons.

Coordinates: 41°08′23″N 75°54′13″W / 41.1397°N 75.9037°W / 41.1397; -75.9037

Diane Madl Olympic Field Hockey Member.

References

1. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented". http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_education/7237/info/757639. 
2. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Crestwood School District Report Card Academic Achievement Report Card 2010". http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10D118401403.PDF. 
3. ^ The Times Tribune (June 2009). "Crestwood School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2008". http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools/2008-graduation-rates-1.85916?appSession=093216008707392#axzz1LaHnMnvz. 
4. ^ The Pennsylvania Partnership for Children, (2008). "Pennsylvania High School Graduation Rates report,". http://www.scribd.com/doc/23571629/PA-High-School-Graduation-Info-by-School-District-2007. 
5. ^ Crestwood School District Administration (2010-11). "Crestwood High School Student Handbook". http://www.csdcomets.org/files/731520/STUDENT%20HANDBOOK%2010-11%20(2).pdf. 
6. ^ Pennsylvania State Board of Education. "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements". http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.24.html. 
7. ^ Crestwood School District Administration (2008). "Crestwood School District Strategic Plan". http://www.csdcomets.org/files/1239010/strategic%20plan.pdf. 
8. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Pennsylvania’s New Graduation Requirements". http://www.pdesas.org/Assessment/Graduation. 
9. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442. 
10. ^ The Times-Tribune. (2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 PSSA results,". http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools#axzz1AEtaWzpF. 
11. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA Math and Reading results". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2006-2007_pssa_and_ayp_results/507511. 
12. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 2011). "Crestwood High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010". http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S118401403000002860.PDF. 
13. ^ The Times-Tribune. (2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 Science PSSA results,". http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools#axzz1AEtaWzpF. 
14. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report". http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report. 
15. ^ National Center for Education Statistics
16. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "Dual Enrollment Guidelines". http://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011. 
17. ^ Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement. site accessed March 2010.
18. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. (April 29, 2010). "Report: PA College Credit Transfer System Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Accessible,". http://www.pahouse.com/PR/153042910.asp. 
19. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "PA Dual Enrollment School District Grants 2010-11 Fall Appendix 2". http://www.scribd.com/doc/46390037/PA-Dual-Enrollment-School-District-Grants-2010-11-Fall-Appendix-2. 
20. ^ Crestwood High School Administration. "Crestwood Classrooms for the Future". http://www.csdcomets.org/news.cfm?story=25159. 
21. ^ Pennsylvania Auditor General (December 2008). "Classrooms For the Futuire grants audit". http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/performance/special/specff122208.pdf. 
22. ^ Crestwood School Board. "Crestwood School District Interscholastic Athletic Policy 123". http://www.csdcomets.org/board_education.cfm?subpage=719170. 
23. ^ Crestwood school District Administration. "Crestwood School District Sports". http://www.csdcomets.org/sports.cfm. 
24. ^ Crestwood School Board. "Crestwood School District Extracurricular Activity Policy 122". http://www.csdcomets.org/board_education.cfm?subpage=719170. 
25. ^ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities,". http://www.scribd.com/doc/35742869/Governor-Rendell-Says-Home-Schooled-Children-Can-Participate-in-School-District-Extracurricular-Activities. 
26. ^ "Lack of Education at Juvenile Camp". Citizen's Voice. April 2, 2010. http://citizensvoice.com/news/lack-of-education-at-juvenile-camp-1.711969. 

External links

• Crestwood School District
• [1]