Middletown Area High School

Middletown Area High School is a small, suburban, public high school in Middletown, Pennsylvania. It is the only high school operated by Middletown Area School District. Middletown Area High School serves: the boroughs of Middletown and Royalton and Lower Swatara Township in Dauphin County. In 2015, enrollment had declined to 647 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 40.9% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 15% of pupils received special education services, while 6.4% of pupils were identified as gifted.^[9] The school employed 49 teachers.^[10] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

In 2013, enrollment was reported as 686 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 34.8% of pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. Additionally, 16% of pupils received special education services, while 6.7% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 52 teachers.^[11] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The School is not a federally designated Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the Middletown Area High School had 721 pupils enrolled in grades 9th through 12th, with 164 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 59 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 12:1.^[12]

Graduation rate

In 2015, Middletown Area School District's graduation rate increased to 89.35%.^[13]

• 2014 - 86%.^[14]
• 2013 - 92.72%.^[15]
• 2012 - 89%.^[16]
• 2011 - 91%.^[17]
• 2010 - 85%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.^[18]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 91% ^[19]
• 2009 - 86% ^[20]
• 2008 - 89% ^[21]
• 2007 - 89% ^[22]

2015 School Performance Profile

Middletown Area High School achieved 61.5 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement.The PDE reported that 56% of the High School’s students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 45% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 51% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[23] 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.^[24][25]

2014 School Performance Profile

Middletown Area High School achieved 65.3 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 70% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, just 55% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, only 48% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.^[26][27] 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%.^[28]

2013 School Performance Profile

In 2013, Middletown Area High School achieved 61.2 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 80% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 58% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 47% showed on grade level science understanding.^[29] 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.^[30]

AYP History

In 2012, Middletown Area High School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to missing all 6 reading and mathematics academic metrics.^[31]

• 2011 - achieved AYP status.
• 2010 - declined to Warning AYP status.^[32]
• 2003 - 2009 - achieved AYP status each school year^[33]

PSSA Results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.^[34] 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.^[35]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 61% on grade level. (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level.^[36]
• 2011 - 68% (22% below basic). State - 69%^[37]
• 2010 - 58%, (23% below basic). State - 67%^[38]
• 2009 - 66%, State - 65% ^[39]
• 2008 - 65%, State - 65%^[40]
• 2007 - 54%, State - 65%^[41]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 50% (29% below basic). State - 59% ^[42]
• 2011 - 49%, (30% below basic). State - 60%
• 2010 - 45%, (31% below basic). State - 59% ^[43]
• 2009 - 53%, State - 56%^[44]
• 2008 - 49%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 42%, State - 53% ^[45]

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 30% on grade level. (15% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 35% (23% below basic). State - 40% ^[46]
• 2010 - 41% (17% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 41%, State: 40% ^[47]
• 2008 - 38%, State: 39% ^[48]

Science in Motion Middletown Area High School did not take advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate.^[49] Gettysburg College provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College Remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 45% of 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.^[50] 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.^[51] 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

Middletown Area 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 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.^[52] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[53] For the 2009-10 funding year, Middletown Area School District received a state grant of $8,354 for the program.

SAT scores

In 2014, 100 Middletown School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 481. The Math average score was 495. The Writing average score was 468.^[54][55] 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.^[56]

In 2013, 70 Middletown Area High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 490. The Math average score was 498. The Writing average score was 481. 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.^[57]

In 2012, 94 Middletown Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 489. The Math average score was 500. The Writing average score was 467. 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, 96 Middletown Area students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 472. The Math average score was 486. The Writing average score was 449.^[58] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[59] 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.^[60]

AP Courses

In 2013, Middletown Area High School offered 7 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. The student pays a fee for the exam which was $89 per test per pupil in 2012. 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 Middletown Area High School less than 10 students, who took an AP course, earned a 3 or better on the exam.^[61]

In 2014, Middletown Area High School continued to offer 7 AP courses. Seventeen percent (17%) of pupils who took the courses achieved a score of 3 or better.^[62]

Classrooms for the Future grant

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 2006-2009. Middletown Area High School did not apply in 2006-2007 school year nor in 2007-2008. The District applied and received $110,962 in 2008-09.^[63] Among the public school districts in Dauphin County the highest award was given to Harrisburg City School District which received $692,809. 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 his 2009-2010 state budget.

Project 720 grant

Project 720 was a high school reform program implemented for three years under the Rendell administration. The intent was to increase academic rigor and improve the instruction of teachers in the Commonwealth’s high schools. Teachers were expected to use data driven instructional practices and to meet the needs of diverse learners.^[64] The 720 in the name referred to the number of days a student was in high school in ninth through 12th grades. High school’s applied for funding and were required to agree to report to the PDE their plans, their actions and the outcomes. In 2007-08 budget year, the Commonwealth provided $11 million in funding. Middletown Area School District was one of 161 PA public school districts to apply, receiving $50,000 funding over three years.^[65][66] For 2010-11, Project 720 funding was decreased to $1.7 million by Governor Rendell. The grant program was discontinued effective with the 2011-12 state budget.^[67]

Tuition

Students who live in the Middletown Area School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Middletown Area School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each public school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter school and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the District's schools. The 2014 tuition rate at Middletown Area High School was set at $10,954.10.^[68]

School safety and bullying

The Middletown Area High School administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the District in 2012. Additionally, there was an assault on a student, several weapon incidents including a gun at school. There were no sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in 24 incidents at the school with 24 arrests.^{[69] [70]} 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.^[71]

The District did not apply for School Resource Office or School Safety grant in 2012 or 2013.

Wellness policy

Middletown Area School Board established a district-wide wellness policy in 2006 - Student Wellness Policy 246.^[72][73] 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." 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.^[74] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

The 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.^[75] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.^[76] In the summer of 2014 it is participating in the Summer Food Service Program which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A free lunch is available to all pupils.^[77]

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.^[78] 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.^[79] In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.^[80] 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.^[81]

Middletown Area School District 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.^[82][83] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.^[84]

Extracurriculars

Middletown Area High School offers students a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program.^[85] The District is a member of the Mid Penn Conference. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy. Students must be passing five major subjects (full-credit subjects or the equivalent) to be eligible for interscholastic participation or co-curriculars.^[86] and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). The District complied with state law, by posting its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website, in the athletics section.^[87]

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.^[88][89]

The district mascot is a Blue Raider and the colors are blue and gold. The school's marching band is the Blue Wave Marching Band.

Sports

According to Pennsylvania’s Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.^[90][91] The District has a Concussion Management policy in compliance with state law.^[92]

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.^[93]

In 2001, the boys soccer team won the Class "AA" State title.

The District funds 17 varsity sports:

According to PIAA directory July 2013 ^[94]

References

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Schools
Main School Districts Central Dauphin Central Dauphin High School Central Dauphin East High School Derry Township Hershey High School Halifax Area Halifax Area High School Halifax Area Middle School Harrisburg Harrisburg High School Harrisburg University of Science and Technology High School Lower Dauphin Lower Dauphin High School Middletown Area Middletown Area High School Millersburg Millersburg Area High School Steelton-Highspire Steelton-Highspire High School Susquehanna Township Susquehanna Township High School Upper Dauphin Upper Dauphin Area High School
Other Schools Charter schools Capital Area School for the Arts Infinity Charter School Premier Arts and Science Charter School Sylvan Heights Science Charter School Private schools Berrysburg Christian Academy Covenant Christian Academy Emmanuel Wesleyan Academy Harrisburg Christian School Middletown Christian School Milton Hershey School Wordsworth Academy Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt High School Susquenita School District (partially located in Perry County) Susquenita High School Williams Valley School District (partially located in Schuylkill County) Williams Valley Junior/Senior High School