Newport High School (Pennsylvania)

Newport High School is a public high school located in Newport, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Newport School District. It is a very small community school that has approximately 100 students to each grade level. Its construction was finished in 2008. The third floor of the school is now the middle school. The other two floors are for the high school including the new gym. The new gym is reserved for the middle school though sometimes the high school may use it to split the boys and girls up in gym class.

In January 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Education identified the district as in the bottom 5% of the state's school districts, for student academic achievement. ^[1] Newport High School is in School Improvement Level 1 status due to chronically low academic achievement through 2011. ^[2]The high school was in School Improvement Level 1 status due to chronically low academic achievement through 2010.

In a November 2010, report by the The 21st Century Partnership for STEM Education, Newport High School was cited as the most regressed district in Pennsylvania on the 11th Grade Math PSSA from 2004 to 2010. The study found the 11th grade math average dropped almost 30 percentage points on the test.^[3]

Graduation Rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 93%. ^[4] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Newport High School's rate was 82% for 2010.^[5]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 88% ^[6]
• 2009 - 91%
• 2006 - 87%

PSSA Results:

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 61% on grade level, (15% below basic). 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[7]
• 2010 - 53% on grade level (30% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 58.7% on grade level, In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.^[8]
• 2008 - 58%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 59%, State - 65%
• 2006 - 52%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math

• 2011 - 45.5%, on grade level (29% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 24% (51% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 41% (48% below basic), State - 56%
• 2008 - 49%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 44%, State - 53%
• 2006 - 49%, State - 52%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 44% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 53% (30% below basic) on grade level. State - 39%
• 2009 - 26% (24% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 34%. State - 39%

College Remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 44% of Newport 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.^[9] 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.^[10]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 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.^[11] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[12]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $5,008 for the program.

Graduation requirements

The Board requires that each candidate for graduation shall have earned twenty-four (24) credits. ^[13]

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. ^[14]

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, for the graduating classes 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.^[15]

Extracurriculars

Newport Schools offer a full-range of extracurricular activities including football, baseball, softball, soccer, field hockey, basketball, wrestling, band and orchestra, chorus, and a wide variety of clubs and organizations. Newport School District has an athletic partnership with the Greenwood High School for football, track, soccer, and wrestling. Eligibility for participation is determined by the school board. ^{[16] [17] [18]}

Newport students have represented the district at all levels of competition in both academic and extracurricular pursuits.

The athletic stadium is named after George Katchmer who coached the school to its only undefeated season in 1953. There is a Buffalo pattern made from rocks displayed proudly behind the field

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. ^{[19] [20] [21]}

References

1. ^ Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee (January 25, 2011). "Pennsylvania Bottom 5% Persistently Low Achieving Schools January 11 2011". http://www.scribd.com/doc/47591639/Pennsylvania-Bottom-5-Persistently-Low-Achieving-Schools-January-11-2011. 
2. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "NEWPORT HS - School AYP Overview". http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c50/115504003/7930. 
3. ^ John Y. Baker and F. Joseph Merlino (November 2010). "PA Districts with the Greatest Gains and Losses on the 11th Grade PSSA Math and Science Test from 2004 to 2010". http://www.21pstem.org/news3.php. 
4. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Newport School District - School AYP Data Table". http://paayp.emetric.net/District/DataTable/c50/115504003. 
5. ^ 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. 
6. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 2011). "Newport High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010". http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S115504003000007930.PDF. 
7. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results". http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442. 
8. ^ Pennsylvania (January 2009). "Newport High School Report Card 2009". http://paayp.emetric.net/School/DataTable/c50/115504003/7930. 
9. ^ Pennsylvania College Remediation Report http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report
10. ^ National Center for Education Statistics
11. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Dual Enrollment Guidelines". http://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011. 
12. ^ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement". http://www.patrac.org/. Retrieved March 2010. 
13. ^ Newport School District Administration (February 10, 2011). "Newport School District Strategic Plan". http://www.newportsd.org/56111093019588993/site/default.asp. 
14. ^ "Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements". http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.24.html. 
15. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 2011). "Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview". http://www.scribd.com/doc/47925315/Pennsylvania-Keystone-Exams-Overview-Sept-2010. 
16. ^ Newport School Board (October 10, 2009). "Newport School District Extracurricular Activity Policy 122". http://www.newportsd.org/5611_123527124338/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=50621. 
17. ^ Newport School Board (December 15, 2005). "Newport School District Interscholastic Athletics Activity Policy 123". http://www.newportsd.org/5611_123527124338/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=50621. 
18. ^ Newport School Board (October 10, 2009). "Newport School District Athletic Eligibility Activity Policy 123.1". http://www.newportsd.org/5611_123527124338/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=50621. 
19. ^ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (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. 
20. ^ Newport School Board (March 20, 2006). "Newport School District Extracurricular Participation by Home Policy 137.1". http://www.newportsd.org/5611_123527124338/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=50621. 
21. ^ Newport School Board (March 20, 2006). "Newport School District Extracurricular Participation by Charter/Cyber Charter Students Policy 140.1". http://www.newportsd.org/5611_123527124338/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=50621. 

External links

• Official site
• Newport School District site
• Newport School District Wikipedia Site

Coordinates: 40°28′49″N 77°08′16″W / 40.4804°N 77.1379°W / 40.4804; -77.1379