Ephrata High School
Encyclopedia
Ephrata High School is a rural, public secondary school in the Ephrata Area School District
located in Ephrata
, Lancaster County
, Pennsylvania.
issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Ephrata Area School District's rate was 86% for 2010.
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
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
, 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.
- Berks Campus, Millersville University and Harrisburg Area Community College - Lancaster Campus. 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 $6,484 for the program. For the 2010-11 school year, $5,608.00 was received from the PDE. For 2011-12, there are no state grants available, however the program continues. Parents and students are responsible for paying all costs associated with the course.
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. At Ephrata Area School District the graduation project must be completed, in order to attend prom, participate in senior activity day and the graduation ceremony.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class 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.
In January 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Education identified the Washington Education Center as being in the bottom 5% of the state's public schools, for student academic achievement. According to the report, just 7.69% of the pupils were on grade level in both math and reading. For a time, this alternative school
permitted students from other school districts to attend, but it terminated that policy in 2010. Washington Education Center graduated 70 students in 2009. It serves as an alternative education, senior high school. The school was required, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to revise its programming to comply with the state-mandated 990 hours of attendance for students at public schools in 2010. In 2010, twenty four of the school's teachers had emergency teacher certification.
2010 PSSA results:
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 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.
Ephrata Area School District
The Ephrata Area School District is a midsized, suburban, public school district located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Ephrata Area School District encompasses approximately 44 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 30,458...
located in Ephrata
Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Ephrata is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States, south east of Harrisburg and about west by north of Philadelphia. It is named after Ephrath, a biblical town in what is now Israel. Ephrata's sister city is Eberbach, Germany, the city where its founders originated. In its...
, Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
, Pennsylvania.
Graduation Rate
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania 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...
issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Ephrata Area School District's rate was 86% for 2010.
- 2010 - 95%
- 2009 - 94%
- 2008 - 94%
- 2007 - 94%
- 2006 - 98%
Academic achievement
In 2010, the senior high school is in Making Progress: in School Improvement I status due to lagging student achievement. In 2009, the school was in School Improvement I AYP status due to chronic, low student achievement.11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 74% on grade level (9% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 66% (19% below basic), State - 65%
- 2008 - 66% (14% below basic), State - 65%
- 2007 - 71% (12% below basic), State - 65%
- 2006 - 65% (19% below basic), State - 65%
- 2007 - 62% (25% below basic), State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 77%, on grade level (11% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 66% (18% below basic). State - 56%.
- 2008 - 70% (17% below basic), State - 56%
- 2007 - 64% (17% below basic), State - 53%
- 2006 - 62% (22% below basic), State - 52%
- 2005 - 55% (25% below basic), State - 51%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 55% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 54% (11% below basic). State - 40%
- 2008 - 36%, State - 39%
College remediation rate
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 31% of Ephrata Area School District graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher EducationPennsylvania 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.
Dual enrollment
The high school has offered a Dual Enrollment program since 2007. The program is open to seniors at Ephrata Senior HIgh School. Up to six credits a semester may be taken. 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. Ephrata Area School District has concurrent agreements for Dual Enrollment with: Franklin and Marshall College, Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
- Berks Campus, Millersville University and Harrisburg Area Community College - Lancaster Campus. 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 $6,484 for the program. For the 2010-11 school year, $5,608.00 was received from the PDE. For 2011-12, there are no state grants available, however the program continues. Parents and students are responsible for paying all costs associated with the course.
Graduation requirements
The Ephrata Area school Board has determined that students must earn 23 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, Mathematics 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Physical Education and health 2 credits, Computer 0.5 crdits Arts or Humanities 2 credits, Consumer skills 0.5 credits, Safety Education 0.5 credits and Electives 3.5 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. At Ephrata Area School District the graduation project must be completed, in order to attend prom, participate in senior activity day and the graduation ceremony.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class 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.
Washington Education Center
Washington Educational Center is on Marshall Street in Ephrata Borough. It opened in October 1999, in the vacant former Washington Elementary School, as an alternative for students that could not complete the requirements of a traditional brick-and-mortar education. In 2011, the school board changed the classification of the school to a second high school in the school district. The new status means that, upon successful completion or requirements, students will receive an Ephrata High School diploma.In January 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Education identified the Washington Education Center as being in the bottom 5% of the state's public schools, for student academic achievement. According to the report, just 7.69% of the pupils were on grade level in both math and reading. For a time, this alternative school
Alternative school
Alternative school is the name used in some parts of the world to describe an institution which provides part of alternative education. It is an educational establishment with a curriculum and methods that are nontraditional...
permitted students from other school districts to attend, but it terminated that policy in 2010. Washington Education Center graduated 70 students in 2009. It serves as an alternative education, senior high school. The school was required, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to revise its programming to comply with the state-mandated 990 hours of attendance for students at public schools in 2010. In 2010, twenty four of the school's teachers had emergency teacher certification.
2010 PSSA results:
- 11th grade Reading - 14% on grade level, 50% below basic. State - 66% 11th graders in PA on grade level.
- 11th grade Mathematics - 0 students on grade level, 100% below basic. State - 59%
- 11th grade Science - 0 students on grade level, 45% below basic. State - 39%
Extracurriculars
The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by the school board.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 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.
Notable alumni
- Kevin CarvellKevin CarvellKevin Lee Carvell is an American actor, writer, television, film, and music producer, and consultant. After years as an on again/off again actor, Carvell became the founder and CEO of Flashpoint Studios, a television and film production company and promotional firm.-Family and early life:Carvell...
– television and film actor, producer, consultant, and founder of Flashpoint StudiosFlashpoint StudiosFlashpoint Studios is an independent American television, film, and music production company and promotional firm founded by actor Kevin Carvell in 1996.-History:... - Jackson DavisJackson DavisJackson Davis is an American actor. He is best known for portraying the character "Jonas" from the lonelygirl15 videos series, its spinoff KateModern, and its sequel series, LG15: The Resistance. He was born in Gloversville, New York but was raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he attended...
– actor best known for his role in lonelygirl15Lonelygirl15lonelygirl15 was an interactive web-based video series which began in June 2006 and ran through to August 1, 2008. Developed under the working title The Children of Anchor Cove, the show gained worldwide media attention when it was outed as fictional in September 2006.-Overview:lonelygirl15... - Joanne Parrott – former member of Maryland House of DelegatesMaryland House of DelegatesThe Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
- Mike MentzerMike MentzerMike Mentzer was an American IFBB professional bodybuilder, businessman, and author.-Bodybuilding career:...
– 1978 IFBB Mr. Universe, now the World Amateur Bodybuilding ChampionshipsWorld Amateur Bodybuilding ChampionshipsThe World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships is a male bodybuilding contest organised by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness and first held in 1959. The name was changed in 1976 to avoid confusion with the NABBA Mr... - Ray MentzerRay MentzerRay Mentzer was the brother of Mike Mentzer and winner of the 1979 AAU Mr. America competition. Mike won the rival IFBB Mr America in 1976. Ray also won the 1976 Junior Mr. America and the 1978 IFBB Mr...
– 1979 AAU Mr. AmericaAAU Mr. AmericaAAU Mr. America was a bodybuilding competition started by the Amateur Athletic Union . It was first held on 4 July 1939 and the winner was named "America's Best Built Man". In 1940 this was changed to what is now known as the Mr. America contest.... - Evelyn Ay Sempier – 1954 Miss AmericaMiss AmericaThe Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
- Texas in JulyTexas In JulyTexas in July is an American metalcore band from Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2007, the group currently consists of members ranging in ages from 18 to 21. Being previously signed to CI Records, Texas in July released one EP, Salt of the Earth and their debut full-length album, I Am both through...
- a band of five individuals