Solanco High School

Solanco High School
Address
585 Solanco Road Quarryville, Pennsylvania, Lancaster, 17566 United States
Information
School type	Public, Secondary
School district	Solanco School District
Superintendent	Martin J. Hudacs[1]
Principal	Brian Gallagher[2]
Grades	9th–12th
Enrollment	1,188 pupils in 2012[3]
Color(s)	Black and gold
Mascot	Golden Mules
Information	(717) 786–2151[2]
Website	Solanco High School

Solanco High School is a midsized, rural public secondary school. It is a part of the Solanco School District. The school is located in southern Lancaster County in Pennsylvania. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 1,188 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 320 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school employed 75 teachers yielding a student teacher ratio of 15:1.^[4] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[5]

In 2012, Solanco High School declined to School Improvement I AYP status due to low student achievement in both reading and mathematics, along with a low graduation rate.^[6] In 2011, Solanco High School declined to Warning AYP status.^[7] In 2012, 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 parents the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the District. Additionally, Solanco High School Administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the high school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students. ^[8] The High School is eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants which the school must apply for each year.^[9]

Graduation Rate

In 2012, Solanco High School’s graduation rate was 87%.^[10] In 2011, the graduation rate was 86.8%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Solanco High School's rate was 86.99% for 2010.^[11]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 86.99% ^[12]
• 2009 - 91.78% ^[13]
• 2008 - 94% ^[14]
• 2007 - 94.3% ^[15]

PSSA results history

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 70% on grade level (14(% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[16]
• 2011 - 72% (14% below basic). State - 69.1% ^[17]
• 2010 - 60% (18% below basic). State - 66% ^[18]
• 2009 - 69% (15% below basic). State - 65% ^[19]
• 2008 - 65% (18% below basic). State - 65% ^[20]
• 2007 - 63% (25% below basic). State - 65% ^[21]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 57% on grade level (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[22]
• 2011 - 62% (15% below basic). State - 60.3% ^[23]
• 2010 - 56% (25% below basic). State - 59% ^[24]
• 2009 - 60% (19% below basic). State - 56% ^[25]
• 2008 - 60% (20% below basic). State - 56% ^[26]
• 2007 - 54% (28% below basic). State - 53% ^[27]

11th Grade Science

• 2012 - 40% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[28]
• 2011 - 34% (15% below basic). State - 40% ^[29]
• 2010 - 23% (24% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 35% (23% below basic). State - 40% ^[30]
• 2008 - 35% (15% below basic). State - 39% ^[31]

Science in Motion Solanco High School did not take advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brings 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.^[32] Elizabethtown College offers the program in Lancaster County.

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 37% of the Solanco 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.^[33] 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.^[34] 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 offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.^[35] Solanco partners with Millersville University, Harrisburg Area Community College, Lancaster Bible College, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and Pennsylvania State University. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, state funded Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to or apply to their institutions.^[36] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis. For the 2009-10 funding year, Solanco School District received a state grant of $2,568 for the program.^[37]

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. Solanco School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26 credits to graduate including: math - 3 credits, English - 4 credits, social studies - 3 credits, science - 3 credits, Arts and Humanities - 2 credits Physical Education (Fitness 1.5 credits and Wellness 0.5 credits) and 8 electives. An additional credit in English, math, science or social studies at the student’s choice is required. Students must earn 6.00 credits to advance to 10th grade. They must earn 12.00 credits to advance to 11th grade

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.^[38] At Solanco students may take one of several of courses to meet the requirement. Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.^[39]

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.^[40][41][42] 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. ^[43] 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.^[44] 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.

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 to 2009. The Solanco School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08 Solanco High School received $427,158. The school received $77,938 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $505,096.^[45] In Lancaster County the highest award was given to Lancaster School District - $1,193,377. The highest funding state wide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future grant funding was curtailed by Governor Rendell.

Extracurriculars

Solanco School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania interscholastic Athletics Association (PIAA). Member of the Lancaster-Lebanon 2 Sports League.

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.^[46]

Sports

The District funds:

External links

• Solanco High School Official Site

References

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Schools
Main School Districts Cocalico Cocalico Senior High School Columbia Borough Columbia Junior Senior High School Conestoga Valley Conestoga Valley High School Donegal Donegal High School Eastern Lancaster County Garden Spot High School Garden Spot Middle School Elizabethtown Area Elizabethtown Area High School Ephrata Area Ephrata High School Hempfield Hempfield High School Lampeter-Strasburg Lampeter-Strasburg High School Martin Meylin Middle School Lancaster J. P. McCaskey High School McCaskey East High School Manheim Central Manheim Central High School Manheim Township Manheim Township High School Penn Manor Penn Manor High School Marticville Middle School Manor Middle School Pequea Valley Pequea Valley High School Solanco Solanco High School Warwick Warwick High School
Other Schools Association of Christian Schools International Dayspring Christian Academy Charter schools La Academia Partnership Charter School Lancaster Mennonite School Lancaster Mennonite School#High School Octorara Area (partially located in Chester County) Octorara High School Private schools Faith Mennonite High School Lancaster Country Day School Lancaster County Christian School Linden Hall Mount Calvary Christian School Terre Hill Mennonite High School Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg Lancaster Catholic High School Saint Leo the Great School Vocational Schools Lancaster County Career and Technology Center - Brownstown Campus, Health Services Campus, Mount Joy Campus, Public Safety Training Center, Willow Street Campus

Coordinates: 39°52′01″N 76°09′15″W / 39.8669°N 76.1541°W / 39.8669; -76.1541