Academy Park High School is a four-year public high school in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. The school's mascot is the Knight

Knight

A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....

. It is currently the only high school in the Southeast Delco School District

Southeast Delco School District

Southeast Delco School District is a regional public school district located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It serves about 4200 students in Collingdale, Darby Township, Folcroft, Glenolden, and Sharon Hill. The district is adjacent to the City of Philadelphia...

. The current principal, Mr. Alan Johnson started his term during the 2007-08 School year. As of the 2010-2011 school year, Mr. Johnson has stepped down and Dr. Edward Small is now the prinicpal of Academy Park High School.

Academy Park High School was formed in the fall of 1982; however, the current Academy Park building did not open until the fall of 1984. In the interim, the old Collingdale and Sharon Hill high schools were used as an east and west campus for the new school. The former Darby Township High School was converted into Ashland Middle School. Portions of the old Collingdale High School still stand, serving as the town’s borough hall and a municipal court, while the old Sharon Hill High School was demolished. Though the building is gone, the school’s former football field serves as home to the Academy Park Knights.

Academy Park’s first principal, Agnes M. Paterson, was an active supporter of the school’s activities and students. She died unexpectedly in the spring of 1987 after attending a performance of the school district’s annual spring musical. The school’s auditorium has been named in her honor.

Academy Park High School has drawn criticism due to having low PSSA scores and have joined in the benchmark testing to help improve these scores. There has been much criticism of the school board's running of the district.

Academic achievement

In 2009, the high school is in Corrective Action II 3rd Year due to chronically low academic achievement and a low graduation rate.
In 2011, the school made Adequate Yearly progress, placing it's status into "Making Progress", under Dr. Small.

Graduation rate

2009 - 78%, Males - 71%, Females - 85%

2008 - 81%

2007 - 81%

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

2009 - 35% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.

2008 - 36%, State - 65%

2007 - 45%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math

2009 - 34% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.

2008 - 34%, State - 56%

2007 - 30%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science

2009 - 10% on grade level. State: 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.

2008 - 10%

College Remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 87% of Academy Park 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

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a large public university system in the United States. It is the tenth-largest university system in the United States and 43rd largest in the world...

 or community colleges. 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. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pennsylvania Department of Education

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...

, 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.

Graduation project

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.

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. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $2,199 for the program.

External links

• Academy Park High School (from the Southeast Delco School District website)
• Academy Park Alumni (from the classreport.org website)
• Cheney schedules debate practice (this article mentions Dick Cheney's visit to the school in 2000)