McGuffey High School
Encyclopedia
McGuffey High School is one of four schools that make up the McGuffey School District
in rural Claysville
, Pennsylvania
. The school is approximately 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. The school's official colors are navy blue and gold and "Highlanders" has been adopted as the official school nickname. The McGuffey High School building is jointly used by McGuffey Middle School
. The school and the district are named for William Holmes McGuffey
, author of the McGuffey Reader, who was born within the district boundaries.
issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. McGuffey High School's rate was 85% for 2010.
Under former calculation formula:
Local Region Ranking:
In 2011, McGuffey High School was ranked 98th of 122 high schools, within a seven county region in western Pennsylvania, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, for academic achievement based on five years of PSSA results on: mathematics, reading, writing and three years of science.
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
study released in January 2009, 42% of the McGuffey 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
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.
and Geometry
included), 4 units Science including Biology
, 4 units Social Studies
, 2 units of Physical Education, 1 unit Information Systems Keyboarding, 1 unit Fine Arts/Humanities, 0.5 units Health, 0.5 unit safety and 6 electives.
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 McGuffey HIgh School, students may choose between completing: a Career Explorations Project, an Interdisciplinary Project, a Community Service Project or a Western Area Career and Technology Center Project.
By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the graduating class in 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.
program. The school has an agreement with California University of Pennsylvania
and Community College of Allegheny County
. 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 including the graduation ceremony. 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.
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.
McGuffey School District
McGuffey School District is a midsized, rural, public school system located in Washington County, Pennsylvania. It serves 10 communities including: the boroughs of West Alexander, Claysville, and Green Hills, and the townships of West Finley, East Finley, Morris, Donegal, Buffalo, Blaine, and South...
in rural Claysville
Claysville, Pennsylvania
Claysville is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 724 at the 2000 census. Claysville Elementary School, part of the McGuffey School District is located in Claysville....
, 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 is approximately 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. The school's official colors are navy blue and gold and "Highlanders" has been adopted as the official school nickname. The McGuffey High School building is jointly used by McGuffey Middle School
McGuffey Middle School
McGuffey Middle School is one of four schools that make up the McGuffey School District in rural Claysville, Pennsylvania.The school is approximately 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Like the high school their official colors are navy blue and gold and "Highlanders" has been adopted...
. The school and the district are named for William Holmes McGuffey
William Holmes McGuffey
William Holmes McGuffey was an American professor and college president who is best known for writing the McGuffey Readers, one of the nation's first and most widely used series of textbooks...
, author of the McGuffey Reader, who was born within the district boundaries.
Graduation Rate:
In 2011, the graduation rate was 90%. 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. McGuffey High School's rate was 85% for 2010.
Under former calculation formula:
- 2010 – 95%
- 2009 – 91%
- 2008 – 91%
- 2007 – 98%
Academic Achievement
In 2011, McGuffey High School achieved AYP status. In 2010, the school was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.Local Region Ranking:
In 2011, McGuffey High School was ranked 98th of 122 high schools, within a seven county region in western Pennsylvania, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, for academic achievement based on five years of PSSA results on: mathematics, reading, writing and three years of science.
- 2010 - 94th of 124 high schools in seven county region of western Pennsylvania.
- 2009 - 102nd of 123 high schools in western Pennsylvania
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading:- 2011 - 66% on grade level, (14% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 63%, State - 66%
- 2009 - 63%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 61%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 59%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 61%, on grade level (23% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 56%, State - 59%
- 2009 - 56%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 49%, State - 56%
- 2007 - 47%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 38% on grade level (19% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. .
- 2010 - 42%. State - 39%
- 2009 - 43%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 41%
College remediation
According to a 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...
study released in January 2009, 42% of the McGuffey 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 McGuffey School Board has determined that students must earn 27 units to graduate (28 units for students who attend Western Area Career and Technical Center). students must earn: 4 units of English, 4 units of math (AlgebraAlgebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
and Geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
included), 4 units Science including Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, 4 units Social Studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
, 2 units of Physical Education, 1 unit Information Systems Keyboarding, 1 unit Fine Arts/Humanities, 0.5 units Health, 0.5 unit safety and 6 electives.
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 McGuffey HIgh School, students may choose between completing: a Career Explorations Project, an Interdisciplinary Project, a Community Service Project or a Western Area Career and Technology Center Project.
By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the graduating class in 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, 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.
Dual enrollment
Effective with the 2010-11 school year, McGuffey High School offers a Dual EnrollmentDual 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. The school has an agreement with California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in California, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1852, it is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cal U's enrollment is approximately 9,400.The main campus consists of about 38 buildings situated on 92 acres...
and Community College of Allegheny County
Community College of Allegheny County
Community College of Allegheny County, or CCAC as it is officially abbreviated, is a community college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With four campuses and six centers, the college offers associate's degrees, certificate and diploma programs....
. 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 including the graduation ceremony. 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.
Extracurriculars
The McGuffey School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy. The district permits students, who are failing core academic classes, to continue to participate in extracurriculars.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.