Penncrest School District is a midsized 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 primarily in Crawford County, in Northwest 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...

, with a small portion of the district's service area in adjacent Venango County. The school district encompasses several rural township

Township (Pennsylvania)

A township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state of the United States of America, is one of four types of municipalities in the state . Townships were established based on convenient geographical boundaries and vary in size from six to forty square miles...

s and borough

Borough (Pennsylvania)

In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...

s. Its administrative offices are located in Hayfield Township outside Saegertown, PA. Penncrest School District encompasses approximately 400 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data it serves a resident population of 24,780 people. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income

Per capita income

Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 was $16,413, while the median family income was $42,566 a year. Per District officials, in school year 2007-08, the Penncrest School District provided basic educational services to 3,761 pupils through the employment of 300 teachers, 198 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 21 administrators. Penncrest School District received more than $27.2 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.

The school district consists of community centered schools: four K-6 elementary school

Elementary school

An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...

s and three 7-12 high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

s. Its total enrollment is around 3,500 in 2009.

History

The school district was founded in the 1970s through a merger of the Saegertown, Randolph-East Mead, and Cambridge Springs school systems. The name PENNCREST is derived from the words Pennsylvania, Cambridge Springs, Randolph, East Mead, Saegertown, and Townville. Its physical plant at one point in time consisted of a total of four K-4 and two K-6 elementary schools, two 5-8 middle school

Middle school

Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...

s, two 9-12 high schools, and one 7-12 joint high school. Its plant was reduced to its current composition by the decommissioning of several elementary and middle schools during the 1990s and 2000s.

Schools

• Cambridge Springs Elementary School
• Cussewago Elementary School
• Cambridge Springs Junior-Senior High School
• Maplewood Elementary School
• Maplewood Junior-Senior High School
• Saegertown Elementary School
• Saegertown Junior-Senior High School

Municipalities

The following is a list of municipalities served by the PENNCREST School District.

Townships

• Athens Township
  Athens Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania
  Athens Township is a township in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 775 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 of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
  
  
• Cambridge Township
• Cussewago Township
• East Mead Township
• Hayfield Township
• Plum Township
• Randolph Township
• Richmond Township
  Richmond Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania
  Richmond Township is a township in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,379 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.7 square miles , of which, 36.6 square miles of it is land and...
  
  
• Rockdale Township
• Steuben Township
• Troy Township
  Troy Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania
  Troy Township is a township in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,339 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.6 square miles , of which, 31.6 square miles of it is land and...
  
  
• Venango Township
  Venango Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania
  Venango Township is a township in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 956 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 16.9 square miles , of which, 16.9 square miles of it is land and...
  
  
• Woodcock Township

Boroughs and CDPs

• Blooming Valley
  Blooming Valley, Pennsylvania
  Blooming Valley is a borough in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 378 at the 2000 census. Former Pennsylvania Treasurer Budd Dwyer, who committed suicide during a press conference, is buried in the Blooming Valley Cemetery....
  
  
• Cambridge Springs
  Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania
  Cambridge Springs is a borough in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,363 at the 2000 census.- History :The village of Cambridge was settled in 1822 and was named for the town of Cambridge, Massachusetts...
  
  
• Guys Mills
  Guys Mills, Pennsylvania
  Guys Mills is a census-designated place in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 133 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Guys Mills is located at ....
  
   (census-designated place)
• Saegertown
  Saegertown, Pennsylvania
  Saegertown is a borough in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,071 at the 2000 census. It was established in 1824.-Geography:Saegertown is located at ....
  
  
• Townville
  Townville, Pennsylvania
  Townville is a borough in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 306 at the 2000 census. It was established in 1831.-Geography:Townville is located at ....
  
  
• Venango
  Venango, Pennsylvania
  Venango is a borough in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 288 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Venango is located at ....
  
  
• Woodcock
  Woodcock, Pennsylvania
  Woodcock is a borough in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 146 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodcock is located at ....
  
  

Academic achievement

Penncrest School District was ranked 268th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of 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 three years of science.

• 2010 - 226th
• 2009 - 198th
• 2008 - 185th
• 2007 - 172nd out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts.

In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Penncrest School District, was in the 35th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)

District Graduation rate

In 2010, 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...

 issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Penncrest School District's rate was 85% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 95%
• 2009 - 93%
• 2008 - 95%
• 2007 - 95%

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, 14% of Penncrest 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 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.

Dual enrollment

The district 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. 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 2010 the district received a $5,571 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books.

Maplewood High School

In 2010, Maplewood High School declined to Warning status for AYP (adequate yearly progress) due to low student achievement. In 2009, the school achieved AYP status. The school provides grades 7th through 12th.

Graduation rate:

• 2010 - 95%
• 2009 - 90%

PSSA Results:
11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 62% on grade level (20% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 65% (19% below basic), State - 65%
• 2008 - 64% (16% below basic), State - 65%
• 2007 - 68% (18% below basic), State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 46%, on grade level (36% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 46% (21% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 47% (30% below basic), State - 56%
• 2007 - 53% (25% below basic), State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 40% on grade level (23% below basic). State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 33% (11% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 47% (27% below basic), State - 39%

8th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 80% on grade level (12% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 87% (8% below basic), State - 80%
• 2008 - 71% (21% below basic), State - 78%
• 2007 - 64% (22.9% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 87% on grade level (2% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 75% of 8th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 79% (8% below basic), State - 71%
• 2008 - 68% (16% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 64% (16% below basic), State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 64% on grade level (20% below basic). State - 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 64% (17% below basic), State - 55%
• 2008 - 71%, State - 52%

7th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 76% on grade level (13% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 73% of 7th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 63% (12% below basic), State - 71%
• 2008 - 80% (7% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 64% (22% below basic), State - 67%

7th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 85% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 77% of 7th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 81% (8% below basic), State - 75%
• 2008 - 87% (5% below basic), State - 71%
• 2007 - 76% (14% below basic), State - 67%

Maplewood Elementary School

In 2009 and 2010 the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate in 2009 was 94%. It rose to 95% in 2010. 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...

 report 57% of the boys at the school were reading on grade level. Among the girls 71% were reading on grade level in 2010.
6th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 64% on grade level (13% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 68% of 6th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 76% (14% below basic), State - 67%
• 2008 - 60% (18% below basic), State - 67%
• 2007 - 75% (7% below basic), State - 63%

6th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 82% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 78%.
• 2009 - 84% (8% below basic), State - 75%
• 2008 - 73% (13% below basic), State - 72%
• 2007 - 80% (5% below basic), State - 69%

5th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 58% on grade level (24% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 64% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 57% (22% below basic), State - 64%
• 2008 - 64% (19% below basic), State - 62%
• 2007 - 41% (36% below basic), State - 60%

5th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 70% on grade level (5% below basic). State - 74%.
• 2009 - 65% (11% below basic), State - 73%
• 2008 - 79% (9% below basic), State - 73%
• 2007 - 70% (13% below basic), State - 71%

4th Grade Reading;

• 2010 - 65% (20% below basic), State - 73%
• 2009 - 69% (12% below basic), State - 72%
• 2008 - 63% (15% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 71% (17% below basic), State - 60%

4th Grade Math;

• 2010 - 77% (9% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 - 84% (4% below basic), State - 81%
• 2008 - 81% (10% below basic), State - 80%
• 2007 - 77% (14% below basic), State - 78%

4th Grade Science;

• 2010 - 79%, (8% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 88%, (4% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 80%, (1% below basic), State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading;

• 2010 - 66%, (18% below basic), State - 75%
• 2009 - 78%, (16% below basic), State - 77%
• 2008 - 77%, (13% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 75%, (7% below basic), State - 72%

3rd Grade Math;

• 2010 - 82%, (4% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 - 82%, (4% below basic), State - 81%
• 2008 - 84%, (2% below basic), State - 80%
• 2007 - 74%, (8% below basic), State - 78%

Cambridge Springs High School

In 2010 and 2009 the high school achieved AYP status.

Graduation rate

• 2010 - 97%.
• 2009 - 97%

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 69% on grade level (16% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 70% (19% below basic), State - 65%
• 2008 - 74% (9% below basic), State - 65%
• 2007 - 67% (18% below basic), State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 56%, on grade level (26% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 61% (21% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 60% (16% below basic), State - 56%
• 2007 - 64% (22% below basic), State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 37% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 50% (14% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 60%, State - 39%

‘’’PSSA Results:’’’
8th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 75% on grade level (14% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 82% (15% below basic), State - 80%
• 2008 - 80% (8% below basic), State - 78%
• 2007 - 81% (77% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 79% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 - 83% (7% below basic), State - 71%
• 2008 - 83% (4% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 84% (9% below basic), State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 58% on grade level (23% below basic). State - 57%.
• 2009 - 60% (17% below basic), State - 55%
• 2008 - 71%, State - 52%

7th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 77% on grade level (9% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 73% of 7th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 67% (14% below basic), State - 71%
• 2008 - 71% (15% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 67% (18% below basic), State - 67%

7th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 77% on grade level (9% below basic). State - 77%
• 2009 - 70% (12% below basic), State - 75%
• 2008 - 74% (10% below basic), State - 71%
• 2007 - 73% (7% below basic), State - 67%

Cambridge Elementary School

In 2010, the school declined to '"School Improvement Level 1"' status due to chronic, low achievement of the students. In 2009, the school was in Warning Status due to continued low student achievement.
The school administration was required to develop a school improvement plan. The plan had to be presented to the community and submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval. According to No Child Left Behind, Cambridge Springs Elementary School must offer students the choice to transfer to another school in the district not in School Improvement. Transportation to one of these schools will be provided by the school district. Students could transfer to Maplewood Elementary School or
Saegertown Elementary School. The attendance rate was 95% in both 2010 and 2009.
6th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 63% on grade level (18% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 68% of 6th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 67% (16% below basic), State - 67%
• 2008 - 66% (16% below basic), State - 67%
• 2007 - 59% (15% below basic), State - 63%

6th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 72% on grade level (14% below basic). State - 78%
• 2009 - 74% (13% below basic), State - 75%
• 2008 - 73% (16% below basic), State - 72%
• 2007 - 62% (19% below basic), State - 69%

5th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 63% on grade level (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 64% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 62% (23% below basic), State - 64%
• 2008 - 56% (25% below basic), State - 62%
• 2007 - 52% (21% below basic), State - 60%

5th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 67% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 74%
• 2009 - 64% (14% below basic), State - 73%
• 2008 - 66% (14% below basic), State - 73%
• 2007 - 66% (16% below basic), State - 71%

4th Grade Reading;

• 2010 - 59% (22% below basic), State - 73%
• 2009 - 75% (15% below basic), State - 72%
• 2008 - 68% (20% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 64% (19% below basic), State - 60%

4th Grade Math;

• 2010 - 68% (18% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 - 76% (15% below basic), State - 81%
• 2008 - 73% (15% below basic), State - 80%
• 2007 - 71% (10% below basic), State - 78%

4th Grade Science;

• 2010 - 69%, (12% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 80%, (5% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 78%, (7% below basic), State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading;

• 2010 - 81%, (12% below basic), State - 75%
• 2009 - 72%, (18% below basic), State - 77%
• 2008 - 83%, (12% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 68%, (21% below basic), State - 72%

3rd Grade Math;

• 2010 - 83%, (4% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 - 76%, (9% below basic), State - 81%
• 2008 - 73%, (8% below basic), State - 80%
• 2007 - 62%, (15% below basic), State - 78%

Saegertown Junior-Senior High School

In 2009 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status.

Graduation rate:

• 2010 - 93%
• 2009 - 91%

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 75% on grade level (12% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 83% (%10 below basic), State - 65%
• 2008 - 85% (6% below basic), State - 65%
• 2007 - 80% (8% below basic), State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 63%, on grade level (20% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 70% (14% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 68% (15% below basic), State - 56%
• 2007 - 63% (15% below basic), State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 50% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 60% (8% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 57%, State - 39%

8th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 78% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 83% (8% below basic), State - 80%
• 2008 - 87% (6% below basic), State - 78%
• 2007 - 77% (10% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 84% on grade level (2% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 - 65% (12% below basic), State - 71%
• 2008 - 72% (19% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 77% (8% below basic), State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 66% on grade level (19% below basic). State - 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 55% (21% below basic), State - 55%
• 2008 - 64%, State - 52%

7th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 72% on grade level (10% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 73% of 7th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 75% (13% below basic), State - 71%
• 2008 - 73% (10% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 70% (10% below basic), State - 67%

7th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 83% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 77%
• 2009 - 83% (5% below basic), State - 75%
• 2008 - 83% (5% below basic), State - 71%
• 2007 - 72% (17% below basic), State - 67%