Blacklick Valley Junior Senior High School

In 2014, Blacklick Valley School District's graduation rate was 92.8%.[9]

• 2013 - 88.89%[10]
• 2012 - 94.12%[11]
• 2011 - 91.30%
• 2010 - 94%[12]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2009 - 94%[13]
• 2008 - 98%[14]
• 2007 - 98% [15]

2014 School Performance Profile

Blacklick Valley Junior Senior High School achieved 71.8 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 58.06% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 62% showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology, 46.99% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[16][17] 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%.[18]

2013 School Performance Profile

Blacklick Valley Junior Senior High School achieved 68.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 60% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 64.49% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 52% showed on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.[19] 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.[20]

Blacklick Valley Junior Senior 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. Courses are available through IU8[40] and from Mount Aloysius College.[41] 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.[42] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[43] Under state rules, other students that reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school or are home schooled are eligible to participate in this program.[44] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis. In 2013, funding was available through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. For the 2009-10 funding year, the Blacklick Valley School District received a state grant of $2,354 for the program.[45]

AP Courses

As of 2014, Blacklick Valley Junior Senior High School does not offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses.[46]

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements vary widely. The Blacklick Valley School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 23 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in Language Arts and social studies, Math 3 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education 1credit each school year and electives 8 electives.[47]

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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.[48] 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.[49]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.[50] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.[51]

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.[52][53] 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.[54] In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Literature exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level.[55] 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.

In 2014, 35 Blacklick Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 435. The Math average score was 446. The Writing average score was 416.[56][57] 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.[58]

In 2013, 25 Blacklick Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 426 The Math average score was 476. The Writing average score was 436. 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.[59]

In 2012, 45 Blacklick Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 444. The Math average score was 466. The Writing average score was 438. 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, 29 Blacklick Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 482. The Math average score was 485. The Writing average score was 439.[60] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[61] 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.[62]

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.[63]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that 71 percent of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania chose to continue their education after high school in 2003, whereas 79 percent of urban high school graduates opted to continue their education.

The seventh grade is tested in reading and mathematics every school year. Eight grade is tested in reading, math, science, and writing each year. Students who take Algebra I take the Keystone Exam at the end of the course. Beginning in 2013, the results are combined with the high school results in the School Performance Profile for public reporting although the administration continues to receive results by grade. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999, as a state initiative.[64] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[65] In 2014, the Commonwealth adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.[66]

PSSA results

8th Grade Science

• 2012 - 57% on grade level (20% below basic). State - 59%[72]
• 2011 - 74% (6% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 45% (21% below basic). State – 57% [73]
• 2009 - 47%, State - 54%
• 2008 - 42%, State - 52%[74]
• 2007 - tested, but results not made public.

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. The Blacklick Valley School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the District received $72,372. The District received $41,414 in 2008-09.[75] The funds were used to purchase 91 student laptops, 13 teacher laptops. Also purchased and installed were 13 interactive whiteboards and ceiling mounted LCD projectors.[76] Among the public school districts in Cambria County, the highest award was given to Greater Johnstown School District which received $463,166. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.

Blacklick Valley School Board has an established district wellness policy.[77] 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.[78]

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.[79] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required each school district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Blacklick Valley School District 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.[80] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[81]

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.[82] 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.[83] 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 Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.[84] 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.[85][86]

Blacklick Valley School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are 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.[87] 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.[88][89] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.[90]

The Blacklick Valley School District administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in Blacklick Valley Junior Senior High School in 2014. There was: an assault on a student, 2 incidents of harassment and no sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in seven incidents at the school, with five arrests.[91][92] Each year the school safety data is reported by the District's administration to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.[93]

The Blacklick Valley School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online.[94] 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.[95] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership 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.[96][97]

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.[98]

Blacklick Valley School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, publicly funded sports program.[99] Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA).

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.[100]

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.[101][102][103]