Carson Middle School
Encyclopedia
Carson Middle School is a middle school in the North Allegheny School District
. The school is located in McCandless Township, Pennsylvania
. Carson Middle School has high standards in education and athletics, having one of the highest PSSA
testing scores in Pennsylvania, along with many of the other schools in the North Allegheny School District. Carson Middle School was founded in 1974, but North Allegheny had used the building as an intermediate high school until 1969.
's then-principal John T. Carson and served grades 9 and 10. In 1974, grades 9 and 10 moved to the current building of North Allegheny Intermediate High School
. CIHS's name changed to Carson Middle School, for grades 6 to 8.
In 1994, Carson was named a Blue Ribbon school
. To display this, a blue ribbon is shown above one of the entrances to the school.
There is also another middle school named Carson Middle School http://tusdstats.tusd.k12.az.us/paweb/aggd/schoolinfo/SchoolDetail.aspx?loc_code=503 located in Tucson, AZ that is owned by the Tucson Unified School District
and was built in 1967. It could be planned to close the school and the future of this school is in jeopardy.
, also known as DEAR
each day.
The bell schedule is based on a system revolving around the lunch periods. Since each grade eats lunch at different times, periods 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are either 30 minutes or 18 minutes long. Two pairs of these period names are attached every day to make a single period, such as "Period 4/5", "Period 5/6", or "Period 7/8". This changes for different grades, i.e. in 6th grade, a period might be called 5/6, and in 7th grade, a period might be called 4/5.
Each school day is either an "A Day" or a "B Day". If one school day is an A Day, the next school day will be a B Day, and so on. The purpose of these names are to switch special classes, like a musical class, which are Band, Orchestra, Chorus, and General Music, and a Physical Education class. On A Days, a student will either have a music class or a P.E. class, and the next day, he/she will have the other one.
Usually, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of every week have what are called "Activity Periods." This is a 41-minute long study hall at the end of the day. Students can do their homework, study, visit the school library or a computer lab, make up tests, etc.
Schedules change on 2-hour Delay days due to weather or technical problems. On these days, classes are shortened and if there is an Activity Period scheduled, it is canceled.
s in: reading, math writing and one year of science. (Includes schools in: Allegheny County
, Beaver County
, Butler County
, Fayette County
, Westmoreland County
, and Washington County
8th Grade Reading
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading
7th Grade Math:
6th Grade Reading:
6th Grade Math:
. The band performs in the auditorium on a Friday night.
, or Technology Student Association. The goal of the program is make available to students competitions including Graphic Design, Woodwork, Speeches, or Art, in which the student and his/her team takes part in. The organization aimed at students who enjoy Technology Education. Examples of what can be entered are CO2 cars, websites, artwork, and speeches. Many students in Carson who enter this championship win first in regional, and state conferences. Few, however, win at nationals.
, or NAL for short, is an academic sport throughout the United States in which many school districts participate in. In the 2007-2008 school year, Carson Middle School was the national champion after defeating Stapley Junior High School of Mesa, Arizona in the Final, and Millcreek Junior High of Bountiful, Utah, in the Semifinals. However, Marshall Middle School replaced CMS as the regional champions in subsequent years.
Coaches of the NAL team of Carson are Rita Martin, the librarian, and Susan Bentz, a 7th grade mathematics teacher.
or IOWA testing, take a specialized test to get into the GOAL program. The gifted program adds extra curriculum to a regular class, when one or two days per week are reserved for GOAL teachers to come into the class and teach the students alternative skills than the ones that other students take regularly.
The Carson GOAL teacher is Ann Hilty.
Mrs. Anne Funk was honored in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette for being 2009 Pennsylvania Orchestra Teacher of the Year.
In April 2008, Mr. Doug Johnson, a Spanish teacher at Carson Middle School, died after having a stroke.
John Yastion, a custodian at Carson Middle School since 2003, was recognized for saving a man's life after he had a seizure, on November 13, 2008. He was commended by the North Allegheny Board of Directors for his actions.
North Allegheny School District
North Allegheny School DistrictDistrict typePublicReligious affiliationNoneLocationNorth of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USAEnrollment 2010-2011Approx. 7844 studentsProjected Enrollment 2019-2020Approx...
. The school is located in McCandless Township, 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...
. Carson Middle School has high standards in education and athletics, having one of the highest PSSA
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
testing scores in Pennsylvania, along with many of the other schools in the North Allegheny School District. Carson Middle School was founded in 1974, but North Allegheny had used the building as an intermediate high school until 1969.
History
Carson Middle School began as Carson Intermediate High School (CIHS), built in 1969. It was named for North Allegheny Senior High SchoolNorth Allegheny Senior High School
North Allegheny Senior High School is a suburban high school in the North Allegheny School District and is located in Wexford, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The current building was built in 1974, the school has won numerous awards and was ranked in the top 1300 US high...
's then-principal John T. Carson and served grades 9 and 10. In 1974, grades 9 and 10 moved to the current building of North Allegheny Intermediate High School
North Allegheny Intermediate High School
North Allegheny Intermediate High School is a suburban high school in the North Allegheny School District located in McCandless, Pennsylvania, a community north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is one of two high schools in the district and serves grades 9 and 10. The current principal is Mr....
. CIHS's name changed to Carson Middle School, for grades 6 to 8.
In 1994, Carson was named a Blue Ribbon school
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
. To display this, a blue ribbon is shown above one of the entrances to the school.
There is also another middle school named Carson Middle School http://tusdstats.tusd.k12.az.us/paweb/aggd/schoolinfo/SchoolDetail.aspx?loc_code=503 located in Tucson, AZ that is owned by the Tucson Unified School District
Tucson Unified School District
Tucson Unified School District is the largest school district of Tucson, Arizona in terms of enrollment. As of 2006 TUSD has more than 60,000 students and approximately 3,700 faculty members....
and was built in 1967. It could be planned to close the school and the future of this school is in jeopardy.
Schedule
The school starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:08 PM. There are 8 classes in a day, including the lunch period. Each period lasts 48 minutes, with the exception of the lunch periods, which last 30 minutes. There are 15 minutes allocated for reading, called SSRSustained silent reading
Sustained silent reading is a form of school-based recreational reading, or free voluntary reading, where students read silently in a designated time period every day in school. An underlying assumption of SSR is that students learn to read by reading constantly...
, also known as DEAR
Sustained silent reading
Sustained silent reading is a form of school-based recreational reading, or free voluntary reading, where students read silently in a designated time period every day in school. An underlying assumption of SSR is that students learn to read by reading constantly...
each day.
The bell schedule is based on a system revolving around the lunch periods. Since each grade eats lunch at different times, periods 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are either 30 minutes or 18 minutes long. Two pairs of these period names are attached every day to make a single period, such as "Period 4/5", "Period 5/6", or "Period 7/8". This changes for different grades, i.e. in 6th grade, a period might be called 5/6, and in 7th grade, a period might be called 4/5.
Each school day is either an "A Day" or a "B Day". If one school day is an A Day, the next school day will be a B Day, and so on. The purpose of these names are to switch special classes, like a musical class, which are Band, Orchestra, Chorus, and General Music, and a Physical Education class. On A Days, a student will either have a music class or a P.E. class, and the next day, he/she will have the other one.
Usually, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of every week have what are called "Activity Periods." This is a 41-minute long study hall at the end of the day. Students can do their homework, study, visit the school library or a computer lab, make up tests, etc.
Schedules change on 2-hour Delay days due to weather or technical problems. On these days, classes are shortened and if there is an Activity Period scheduled, it is canceled.
Academic achievement
In 2009, the 8th grade was ranked 7th out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on three years of student academic achievement in PSSAPennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
s in: reading, math writing and one year of science. (Includes schools in: Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
, Beaver County
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile . There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile...
, Butler County
Butler County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile . There were 69,868 housing units at an average density of 89 per square mile...
, Fayette County
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
, and Washington County
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
8th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 98% on grade level, 85% advanced (1% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81% of 8th graders on grade level.
- 2009 - 97%, 84% advanced (2% below basic), State - 80%
8th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 95% on grade level, 75% advanced (1% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 75% of 8th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 92%, 76% advanced (2% below basic), State - 71%
8th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 84% on grade level, 38% advanced (5% below basic). State - 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 86%, 48% advanced (6% below basic), State - 55%
7th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 88% on grade level, 68% advanced (2% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 73% of 7th graders on grade level.
- 2009 - 92%, 69% advanced (2% below basic), State - 71%
7th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 92% on grade level, 78% advanced (2% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 77% of 7th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 94%, 73% advanced (1% below basic), State - 75%
6th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 83% on grade level, 54% advanced (6% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 68% of 6th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 81%, 54% advanced (7% below basic), State - 67%
6th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 92% on grade level, 70% advanced (2% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 78% of 6th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 91%, 68% advanced (3% below basic), State - 75%
River City Brass Band
Once a month, Carson Middle School hosts the River City Brass BandRiver City Brass Band
The River City Brass Band is a modified British-style brass band based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band performed its first concert on November 21, 1981, with its founder Robert Bernat as conductor. In addition to its accessible performance style, RCBB is renowned for its recordings and...
. The band performs in the auditorium on a Friday night.
TSA
An activity available to students is TSATechnology Student Association
The Technology Student Association is an international Career and Technical Student Organization made up of over 150,000 Middle School and High School Technology Education Students. TSA is the premier CTSO dedicated to STEM Standards: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics...
, or Technology Student Association. The goal of the program is make available to students competitions including Graphic Design, Woodwork, Speeches, or Art, in which the student and his/her team takes part in. The organization aimed at students who enjoy Technology Education. Examples of what can be entered are CO2 cars, websites, artwork, and speeches. Many students in Carson who enter this championship win first in regional, and state conferences. Few, however, win at nationals.
National Academic League
The National Academic LeagueNational Academic League
The National Academic League is a popular sport in junior high schools around the United States. In participating schools, two coaches and anywhere from at least fifteen to approximately forty students compete with other schools in the same district. Students study math, science, geography,...
, or NAL for short, is an academic sport throughout the United States in which many school districts participate in. In the 2007-2008 school year, Carson Middle School was the national champion after defeating Stapley Junior High School of Mesa, Arizona in the Final, and Millcreek Junior High of Bountiful, Utah, in the Semifinals. However, Marshall Middle School replaced CMS as the regional champions in subsequent years.
Coaches of the NAL team of Carson are Rita Martin, the librarian, and Susan Bentz, a 7th grade mathematics teacher.
Talent Show
The annual talent show at Carson is a show where students can audition to perform their talents for their families and peers. The show is usually held in March, and auditions are often held between November and January. Students practice at least once a week, unless practice is canceled. This time is spent preparing for the show held for families and community members in the evening and the one show performed for the school during a regular school day.GOAL
GOAL (Gifted Opportunities for Advanced Learning) is a gifted student program in North Allegheny, where students scoring high on assessment tests, like PSSAPennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
or IOWA testing, take a specialized test to get into the GOAL program. The gifted program adds extra curriculum to a regular class, when one or two days per week are reserved for GOAL teachers to come into the class and teach the students alternative skills than the ones that other students take regularly.
The Carson GOAL teacher is Ann Hilty.
Teacher of the Year
Carson is also home to the 2008 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, David Woten, Jr. He is the choral teacher for grades 6 and 7, and also one of the general music teachers to grade 8.Mrs. Anne Funk was honored in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette for being 2009 Pennsylvania Orchestra Teacher of the Year.
Events
On March 7, 2008, Dr. Marcia Martin died from cancer. She was the 15-year principal of Carson Middle School from 1989 to 2004, and was a teacher in Carson earlier for another 16 years.In April 2008, Mr. Doug Johnson, a Spanish teacher at Carson Middle School, died after having a stroke.
John Yastion, a custodian at Carson Middle School since 2003, was recognized for saving a man's life after he had a seizure, on November 13, 2008. He was commended by the North Allegheny Board of Directors for his actions.