The Conrad Weiser Area School District is located in western Berks County

Berks County, Pennsylvania

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...

 in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of 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...

. This district serves South Heidelberg Township

South Heidelberg Township, Pennsylvania

South Heidelberg Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,271 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...

, Heidelberg Township

Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Heidelberg Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,636 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.07% is water.Adjacent townships*Marion Township...

, North Heidelberg Township

North Heidelberg Township, Pennsylvania

North Heidelberg Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,325 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...

 and Marion Township

Marion Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Marion Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,573 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.3 square miles , of which, 15.3 square miles of it is land and 0.07%...

 and the Boroughs of Wernersville

Wernersville, Pennsylvania

Wernersville is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,494 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Wernersville is located at .-History:...

, Robesonia

Robesonia, Pennsylvania

Robesonia is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,061 at the 2010 census. The majority of the area's population resides out of the borough boundaries. Once famous for its iron furnaces , the town was founded in 1855 by Henry P...

 and Womelsdorf

Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania

Womelsdorf, named after John Womelsdorff, is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,599 at the 2000 census. The main thoroughfares through Womelsdorf are High Street, which runs east-west, and Route 419, which runs north-south. Route 422 runs along the...

. The district encompasses approximately 110 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 23,777. According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Conrad Weiser Area School District provided basic educational services to 3,026 pupils through the employment of 237 teachers, 176 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 18 administrators.

The district operates Conrad Weiser High School

Conrad Weiser High School

Conrad Weiser High School is located in Robesonia, Berks County, Pennsylvania and is part of the Conrad Weiser Area School District.-Graduation rate:In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate...

 (9th–12th), Conrad Weiser Middle School (5th–8th), Conrad Weiser East Elementary School (K-4th) and Conrad Weiser West Elementary School (K-4th).

The district is named for Conrad Weiser

Conrad Weiser

Weiser's colonial service began in 1731. The Iroquois sent Shikellamy, an Oneida chief, as an emissary to other tribes and the British. Shikellamy lived on the Susquehanna River at Shamokin village, near present-day Sunbury, Pennsylvania. An oral tradition holds that Weiser met Shikellamy while...

, an important Pennsylvanian in colonial days, especially known as an interpreter and emissary in councils between Native Americans and the colonies, especially Pennsylvania.

Agriculture Sciences

The Agriculture Science Department at Conrad Weiser High School is recognized nationally as both a progressive agriculture program and a model for science instruction. The department has a modern laboratory, a tissue culture area complete with grow room, an animal science room, a small greenhouse, a vineyard, a landscape laboratory, a barn that houses chickens and other hardware supplies, and its own library.

The curriculum includes microbiology

Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...

, environmental science

Environmental science

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...

, tissue culture

Tissue culture

Tissue culture is the growth of tissues or cells separate from the organism. This is typically facilitated via use of a liquid, semi-solid, or solid growth medium, such as broth or agar...

, food science

Food science

Food science is a study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork"...

, animal science

Animal science

Animal Science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of mankind". Historically, the animals studied were farm animals, including livestock and horses, but courses available now look at a far broader area to include companion animals, for example dogs, cats and...

 and entomology

Entomology

Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...

, with a focus on performance in the laboratory, independent reading and technical writing, professional communication, and self-directed study.

The department is organized in layers of support. Crews are small, semi-autonomous groups that study one particular problem or conduct one particular task. For example, the tissue culture crew meets daily after school and organizes and maintains the area. The second layer of organization are the Teaching Lab Assistants. These are upperclassmen who interview for the position, serve for one year, and are each assigned an area of responsibility. The Teaching Lab Assistants teach lessons, mentor underclassmen, oversee crews, maintain inventories and order materials and host tours.

Academic achievement

Conrad Weiser Area School District was ranked 294th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2010 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance based on the 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...

s for: reading, writing, math and two years of science.

• 2009 - 288th
• 2008 - 273rd
• 2007 - 277th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts.

In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Conrad Weiser Area School District, was in the 36th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)

Graduation rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Conrad Weiser High School's rate was 88% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 94%
• 2009 - 89%
• 2008 - 92%
• 2007 - 92%

High School

The high school is in "School Improvement Level II" due to chronic, low student achievement. Students may transfer to another high school where available.

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 69% on grade level (19% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 68% (17% below basic), State - 65%
• 2008 - 70% (14% below basic), State - 65%
• 2007 - 73% (13% below basic), State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 60% on grade level (24% below basic). State - 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 53% (27% below basic). State - 56%
• 2008 - 55% (22% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 62% (18% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 41% on grade level. (18% below basic), State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 41% (18% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 40% (12% below basic). State - 39%

College remediation:
According to a 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...

 study released in January 2009, 38% of Conrad Weiser 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 Requirements

The Conrad Weiser Area School Board has determined that students must earn 27 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Math and Science a total of 3 per subject and 1 additional credit is either one, Gym 2 credits, Health 1 credit, Arts and Humanities 2 credits and 7 elective credits.

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. Conrad Weiser High School requires students to complete a research paper, an oral presentation and a Portfolio/Product. Additionally, students are required to have a minimum of twenty hours of community service to receive a diploma, and awards are given to students who complete over 100 hours of community service.

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.

Middle School

In 2010, the attendance rate was reported as 96%. Five of the teachers are by the district as being not highly qualified in 2010.

8th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 81% on grade level. 54% advanced (9% below basic) State - 81%
• 2009 - 80%, 56% advanced (11% below basic), State - 80%
• 2008 - 83%, 55% advanced (5% below basic), State - 78%
• 2007 - 82%, 50% advanced (20% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 84% on grade level. 67% advanced (10% below basic) State - 75%
• 2009 - 79%, 65% advanced (13% below basic), State - 71%
• 2008 - 81%, 53% advanced (9% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 73%, 42% advanced (11% below basic), State - 67%

8th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 61% on grade level. State - 57%.
• 2009 - 61%, State: - 54%
• 2008 - 58%, State - 52%

7th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 65% on grade level. 35% advanced, (15% below basic) State - 73%
• 2009 - 71%, 45% advanced (12% below basic), State - 71.7%
• 2008 - 71%, 33% advanced (13% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 64%, 29% advanced (11% below basic), State - 66%

7th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 76% on grade level. 54% advanced (13% below basic) State - 77%
• 2009 - 83%, 61% advanced (9% below basic), State - 75%
• 2008 - 80%, 56% advanced (11% below basic), State - 72%
• 2007 - 77%, 50% advanced (11% below basic), State - 67%

6th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 66% on grade level. 24% advanced (12% below basic) State - 68%
• 2009 - 58%, 29% advanced (15% below basic), State - 67%
• 2008 - 64%, 24% advanced (17% below basic), State - 67%
• 2007 - 62%, 22% advanced (11% below basic), State - 63%

6th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 81% on grade level. 55% advanced (10% below basic) State - 78%
• 2009 - 77%, 42% advanced (11% below basic), State - 75.9%
• 2008 - 77%, 42% advanced (11% below basic), State - 72%
• 2007 - 80%, 41% advanced (8% below basic), State - 69%

5th Grade Reading;

• 2010 - 57%, 13% advanced (23% below basic), State - 64%
• 2009 - 58%, 14% advanced (19% below basic), State - 64%
• 2008 - 50%, 14% advanced, State - 62%
• 2007 - 57%, 13% advanced, State - 60%

5th Grade Math;

• 2010 - 61%, 28% advanced (15% below basic), State - 74%
• 2009 - 70%, 35% advanced (11% below basic), State - 73%
• 2008 - 67%, 32% advanced, State - 73%
• 2007 - 75%, 32% advanced, State - 71%

Conrad Weiser East Elementary

In 2010 the attendance rate was 95%. All of the teachers are highly qualified.

4th Grade Reading;

• 2010 - 75%, 37% advanced, State - 73%
• 2009 - 75%, 34% advanced, State - 72%
• 2008 - 71%, 32% advanced, State - 70%
• 2007 - 66%, 25% advanced, State - 60%

4th Grade Math;

• 2010 - 87%, 47% advanced, State - 84%
• 2009 - 90%, 53% advanced, State - 81%
• 2008 - 83%, 35% advanced, State - 80%
• 2007 - 79%, 39% advanced, State - 78%

4th Grade Science;

• 2010 - 80%, 33% advanced, State - 81%
• 2009 - 88%, 30% advanced, State - 83%
• 2008 - 88%, 31% advanced, State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading;

• 2010 - 80%, 25% advanced, State - 75%
• 2009 - 82%, 25% advanced, State - 77%
• 2008 - 77%, 12% advanced, State - 70%
• 2007 - 66%, 21% advanced, State - 72%

3rd Grade Math;

• 2010 - 91%, 62% advanced, State - 84%
• 2009 - 88%, 48% advanced, State - 81%
• 2008 - 87%, 46% advanced, State - 80%
• 2007 - 83%, 39% advanced, State - 78%

Conrad Weiser West Elementary

In 2010 the attendance rate was 96%. All of the teachers are highly qualified.

4th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 69%, 31% advanced, State - 73%
• 2009 - 65%, 18% advanced, State - 72%
• 2008 - 62%, 25% advanced, State - 70%
• 2007 - 73%, 30% advanced, State - 60%

4th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 78%, 47% advanced, State - 84%
• 2009 - 77%, 31% advanced, State - 81%
• 2008 - 78%, 35% advanced, State - 80%
• 2007 - 78%, 41% advanced, State - 78%

4th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 85%, 44% advanced, State - 81%
• 2009 - 79%, 24% advanced, State - 83%
• 2008 - 77%, 31% advanced, State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 70%, 14% advanced, State - 75%
• 2009 - 69%, 19% advanced, State - 77%
• 2008 - 69%, 11% advanced, State - 70%
• 2007 - 71%, 18% advanced, State - 72%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2010 - 84%, 38% advanced, State - 84%
• 2009 - 76%, 37% advanced, State - 81%
• 2008 - 73%, 22% advanced, State - 80%
• 2007 - 71%, 13% advanced, State - 78%