Elk Lake School District - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Elk Lake School District is a small, rural, K-12 public school district

School district

School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...

located on State Route 3019 in Dimock

Dimock Township, Pennsylvania

Dimock Township is a township in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census. It is the home of former U.S...

, Susquehanna County

Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,238 people, 16,529 households, and 11,785 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 21,829 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...

, 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...

. It covers the borough of Hop Bottom

Hop Bottom, Pennsylvania

Hop Bottom is a Borough of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 333 as of the 2000 census. The name comes from the hop, a plant providing flowers for brewing.-History:...

along with residents in: Auburn Township, Middletown Township

Middletown Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

Middletown Township is a township in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 340 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 28.7 square miles , of which, 28.7 square miles of it is land and...

, Rush Township

Rush Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

Rush Township is a township in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,290 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 37.9 square miles , of which, 37.8 square miles of it is land and...

, Dimock Township, and Springville Township in Susquehanna County. It also serves the borough of Meshoppen

Meshoppen, Pennsylvania

Meshoppen is a borough in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Meshoppen is located at ....

and Mehoopany Township in Wyoming County

Wyoming County, Pennsylvania

Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was created in 1842 from part of Luzerne County. Its county seat is Tunkhannock.-Geography:According to the U.S...

. The Elk Lake School District encompasses approximately 197 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, the district serves a resident population of 7,735. In 2006, the district students are 97% white, less than 1% asian, less than 1% black and 2% hispanic. According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Elk Lake School District provided basic educational services to 1,388 pupils through the employment of 114 teachers, 62 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 10 administrators.

The district operates two schools: an elementary school and a junior senior high school. They are technically in one building, connected by a natatorium

Natatorium

A natatorium is a term given for a building containing a swimming pool. In Latin, a cella natatoria was a swimming pool in its own building, although it is sometimes also used to refer to any indoor pool even if not housed in a dedicated building...

used by both. The district also offers a Head Start program for preschoolers.

History

The Elk Lake School District was founded in 1957 as a joint school district, replacing the six main districts and "one room schoolhouses" in the district's seven civil subdivisions (six townships and one borough) in Susquehanna

Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

and Wyoming

Wyoming County, Pennsylvania

Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was created in 1842 from part of Luzerne County. Its county seat is Tunkhannock.-Geography:According to the U.S...

County. The schools had been located in Auburn Township, Dimock Township, Middletown Township, Rush Township, Springville Township and Meshoppen (one school served Meshoppen Borough and Meshoppen Township). The school was legally reorganized on July 1, 1966 as a single fourth-class school district.

Academic achievement

Elk Lake School District was ranked 274th 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 - 303rd
2008 - 318th
2007 - 355th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts.

In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Elk Lake School District, was in the 53rd 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. Elk Lake School District's rate was 84% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

2010 - 88%
2009 - 93%
2008 - 90%
2007 - 90%

Junior Senior High School

In 2010 the school achieved AYP status. In 2009, the school was in Warning Status due to chronic low reading achievement.

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading

2010 - 57% on grade level (28% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level.
2009 - 62% (23% below basic), State - 65%
2008 - 50% (18% below basic), State - 65%
2007 - 67% (16% below basic), State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

2010 - 50% on grade level (28% below basic). State - 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2009 - 47% (23% below basic). State - 56%
2008 - 42% (30.9% below basic). State - 56%
2007 - 50% (20% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

2010 - 39% on grade level. (15% below basic), State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 50% (14% below basic). State - 40%
2008 - 30% (8% 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, 15% of Elk Lake Senior 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

, 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 the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment

In education, dual enrollment involved students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. It may also refer to any individual who is participating in two related programs, but such a general form of usage is uncommon....

program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Elk Lake has partnered with Keystone College

Keystone College

Keystone College is a small private college located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Its official mailing address is La Plume, Pennsylvania in Lackawanna County; however, much of the campus is in Factoryville, Pennsylvania in Wyoming County. The school was founded in 1868.-History:Keystone Academy was...

, Lackawanna College

Lackawanna College

Lackawanna College is a college in Scranton, Pennsylvania with satellite centers in the towns of Hazleton, Hawley, Towanda, and New Milford....

and Luzerne County Community College

Luzerne County Community College

Luzerne County Community College, also known as LCCC, is a 2-year community college located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. LCCC offers over 100 academic, technical, and career programs. It has an open admissions policy for most programs and has over 25,000 graduates...

. 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. The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.

In 2008, the district received a $277,000 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books. In 2010, the district received 167,128.00.

Graduation requirements

The Elk Lake School District School Board has established that 26 credits are required for graduation including: English 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Math 4 credits, Health 0.67 credit, Physical Education 1.33 credit, Driver Training 0.33 credit, Graduation Project 1 credit and Elective courses 7.67 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.

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.

8th Grade Reading:

2010 - 80% on grade level. 52% advanced (10% below basic) State - 81%
2009 - 80%, 57% advanced (9% below basic), State - 80%
2008 - 87%, 64% advanced (3% below basic), State - 78%
2007 - 80%, 56% advanced (8% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

2010 - 79% on grade level. 43% advanced (13% below basic) State - 75%
2009 - 69%, 39% advanced (13% below basic), State - 71%
2008 - 74%, 45% advanced (11% below basic), State - 70%
2007 - 67%, 37% advanced (11% below basic), State - 67%

8th Grade Science:

2010 - 64% on grade level. State - 57%.
2009 - 59%, State - 54%
2008 - 60%, State - 52%

7th Grade Reading:

2010 - 70% on grade level. 38% advanced, (13% below basic) State - 73%
2009 - 75%, 43% advanced (6% below basic), State - 71%
2008 - 68%, 36% advanced (11% below basic), State - 70%
2007 - 68%, 47% advanced (11% below basic), State - 66%

7th Grade Math:

2010 - 84% on grade level. 54% advanced (6% below basic) State - 77%
2009 - 82%, 53% advanced (6% below basic), State - 75%
2008 - 70%, 45% advanced (14% below basic), State - 72%
2007 - 74%, 52% advanced (13% below basic), State - 67%

Elementary School

Attendance rate was 94% in 2010 and 2009.

6th Grade Reading:

2010 - 76% on grade level. 48% advanced (12% below basic) State - 68%
2009 - 73%, 37% advanced (8% below basic), State - 67%
2008 - 80%, 37% advanced (5% below basic), State - 67%
2007 - 63%, 35% advanced (13% below basic), State - 63%

6th Grade Math:

2010 - 88% on grade level. 79% advanced (4% below basic) State - 78%
2009 - 91%, 67% advanced (1% below basic), State - 75.9%
2008 - 85%, 56% advanced (6% below basic), State - 72%
2007 - 70%, 41% advanced (12% below basic), State - 69%

5th Grade Reading;

2010 - 67%, 24% advanced (19% below basic), State - 64%
2009 - 73%, 24% advanced (5% below basic), State - 64%
2008 - 59%, 19% advanced (25% below basic), State - 62%
2007 - 57%, 16% advanced (16% below basic), State - 60%

5th Grade Math;

2010 - 82%, 56% advanced, State - 74%
2009 - 85%, 58% advanced, State - 73%
2008 - 77%, 49% advanced, State - 73%
2007 - 81%, 42% advanced, State - 71%

4th Grade Reading;

2010 - 62%, 25% advanced, State - 73%
2009 - 72%, 26% advanced, State - 72%
2008 - 79%, 19% advanced, State - 70%
2007 - 58%, 20% advanced, State - 60%

4th Grade Math;

2010 - 76%, 31% advanced, State - 84%
2009 - 77%, 43% advanced, State - 81%
2008 - 84%, 65% advanced, State - 80%
2007 - 75%, 39% advanced, State - 78%

4th Grade Science;

2010 - 77%, 37% advanced, State - 81%
2009 - 80%, 34% advanced, State - 83%
2008 - 89%, 42% advanced, State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading;

2010 - 81%, 31% advanced, State - 75%
2009 - 90%, 31% advanced, State - 77%
2008 - 80%, 38% advanced, State - 70%
2007 - 79%, 20% advanced, State - 72%

3rd Grade Math;

2010 - 93%, 52% advanced, State - 84%
2009 - 84%, 50% advanced, State - 81%
2008 - 79%, 43% advanced, State - 80%
2007 - 79%, 17% advanced, State - 78%

Special Education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 200 pupils or 14% of the district's pupils received Special Education

Special education

Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...

services.

The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Special Education Department.

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.

Elk Lake School District received a $893,729 supplement for special education services in 2010.

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 15 or 1.09% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.

Bullying policy

The Elk Lake School District administration reported there were 2 incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.

The Elk Lake School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.

Budget

In 2009, the district reports employing over 130 teachers with a starting salary of $35,500 for 180 days for pupil instruction. The average teacher salary was $52,602 while the maximum salary is $96,915. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, Elk Lake School District teachers receive a defined benefit pension

Pension

In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...

, health insurance

Health insurance

Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...

, dismemberment insurance,life insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 sick days, bereavement leave - 3 days, additional emergency leave with pay and other benefits. Teachers are paid extra if they are required to work outside of the regular school day. Sabbatical leaves pay 50% of salary. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.

In 2007, the district employed 100 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $50,132 for 180 school days worked. This was the highest average teacher salary by district in Susquehanna County in 2007.

Elk Lake School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $774.10 per pupil. The district is ranked 230th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.

In 2008, Elk Lak School District reported spending $11,796 per pupil. This ranked 296th in the commonwealth.

Reserves
In 2009, the district reported $1,469,219in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $367,305.

In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.

State basic education funding

For 2010-11 the Elk Lake School District received a 2.82% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $7,009,123 payment. This was the highest increase in BEF in Susquehanna County. Kennett Consolidated School District

Kennett Consolidated School District

The Kennett Consolidated School District,or KCSD for short, is a public school district serving portions of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is centered on the borough of Kennett Square and also incorporates Kennett Township, New Garden Township, and the southern portion of East Marlborough Twp....

in Chester County

Chester County, Pennsylvania

-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...

received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.

In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.63% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $6,817,129. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $6,453,877. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more. This was the highest increase in Susquehanna County for the 2009-10 school year. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District

Muhlenberg School District

The Muhlenberg Area School District is a public school district serving parts of Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. It encompasses the borough of Laureldale and the Muhlenberg Township. The district encompasses approximately 13 square miles. Per the 2000 federal census data it serves a resident...

in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pennsylvania Department of Education

, 534 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.

Accountability Block Grants

Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, All Day Kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students. For 2010-11 the Elk Lake School District applied for and received $281,247 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full day kindergarten for the 5th year.

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. Elk Lake School District did not apply for a grant. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received an extra $455,865 in ARRA

Arra

Arra is a census town in Puruliya district in the state of West Bengal, India.-Demographics: India census, Arra had a population of 19,911. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Arra has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 59% of the...

- Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like Title 1, special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding was for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

Race to the Top grant

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top

Race to the Top

Race to the Top, abbreviated R2T, RTTT or RTT, is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education competition designed to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education...

federal grant which would have brought the district nearly $1 million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.

Common Cents state initiative

The Elk Lake School Board chose to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement any of the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

The Elk Lake School Board set property tax rates in 2010-2011 at 35.8300 mills for property owners in Susquehanna County. Wyoming County property owners - 46.8000 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections (Local Tax Enabling Act), which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.

2009-10 - Susquehanna County - 35.8800 mills. Wyoming County - 48.1500 mills.
2008-09 - Susquehanna County - 35.6720 mills. Wyoming County - 45.8700 mills.

Act 1 Adjusted index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not authorized to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is a governmental statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and...

in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.

The School District Adjusted Index for the Elk Lake School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.

2006-07 - 5.8%, Base 3.9%
2007-08 - 5.0%, Base 3.4%
2008-09 - 6.5%, Base 4.4%
2009-10 - 6.0%, Base 4.1%
2010-11 - 4.3%, Base 2.9%
2011-12 - 2.0%, Base 1.4%

Elk Lake School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2009-10 or in 2010-11. In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.

Property tax relief

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Elk Lake School District was $163 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,086 property owners applied for the tax relief. The tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property on the individual's tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. The Pennsylvania Auditor General found that 48% of property owners applied for tax relief in Susquehanna County. In Susquehanna County, the highest property tax relief in 2009 was awarded to the approved property owners in Blue Ridge School District

Blue Ridge School District

The Blue Ridge School District covers the Boroughs of Great Bend, Hallstead and New Milford and Great Bend Township, Jackson Township and New Milford Township in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses approximately 100 square miles. According to the 2000 federal census data, it...

at $377. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....

at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. This was the second year Chester Upland School District was the top recipient.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently individuals who have income substantially more than $35,000, may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.

Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation

Tax Foundation

The Tax Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank founded in 1937 that collects data and publishes research studies on tax policies at the federal and state levels. The organization is broken into three primary areas of research which are the Center for Federal Fiscal Policy, The and the...

, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).

Natural Gas Well and Evacuation Drill

In 2008, Superintendent Bill Bush signed a gas lease with Cabot Oil

Cabot Oil

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation is an independent petroleum and natural gas exploration and production company based in Houston, Texas ....

. The school district received initial payment of $127,500 for the lease and will receive royalties on a regular basis. With an increase in resources, the school has made some changes. During the summer before the 2010-2011 school year, each classroom was equipped with a SMARTBoard. Also, the school is considering switching its oil-fired heating system to one that uses natural gas. In addition to these changes, there have been changes in safety procedures.

On Friday, October 8, 2010, the Elk Lake School District held a comprehensive evacuation drill. This involved transporting 1400 people, including staff, students, and faculty members, to the neighboring school district, Montrose Area School District

Montrose Area School District

The Montrose Area School District is a rural public school district in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. It serves the following municipalities: Montrose, Bridgewater Township, Franklin Township, Liberty Township, Jessup Township, Forest Lake Township, Silver Lake Township, Little Meadows, Choconut...

. According to school officials, the drill was a great success. Although it is widely speculated that this drill is in response to the presence of a natural gas well that is only several hundred yards away from the school, Superintendent Bush denies any claims that this is true.

Activities

Elk Lake High School offers many activities for students. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies.

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 home schooled, 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.
Among the varsity sports provided are: Soccer, Track and Field

Track and field

Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...

, Cross Country

Cross country running

Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...

, Basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

, Golf

Golf

Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....

, Tennis

Tennis

Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...

, Swimming and Diving

Swimming (sport)

Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...

, Field Hockey

Field hockey

Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...

, Baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

, and Volleyball

Volleyball

Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...

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Elk Lake High School also offers open swim on Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 6:30 P.M. until 8:30 P.M.

The varsity boys' basketball team won two PIAA State Championships, in 1969 and 1977, the latter team going undefeated with a state record of 36 wins.

In 2008, the varsity boys Cross Country team won the PIAA AA State Championship. In 2010, both the boys and girls varsity cross country teams placed second (both to Holy Redeemer) at the PIAA District II meet. This was due to a severe injury sustained by Michael Bedell (2011), who is the leader of the team. Just two weeks after this, both teams placed first in the state meet, a feat which has only been accomplished by one other team.

Other activities at the school include: Ski Club, Key Club

Key Club

Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...

, Future Business Leaders of America, Speech and Debate, Concert Band

Concert band

A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...

, Chorus

Choir

A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...

, Starry Knights, Scholastic Bowl, D.A.R.E., and Theater and Drama.

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