Quaker Valley High School
Encyclopedia
Quaker Valley High School is a high school
located in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania
. Quaker Valley High School is one of the four National Blue Ribbon Schools that comprise the Quaker Valley School District.
The high school serves an average of 640 students in grades 9 through 12 and has a 99% graduation rate. Ninety percent of graduates go on to post secondary education at a two or four-year college or university.
Quaker Valley High School offers a college-preparatory core curriculum with elective courses.
In grade nine, students develop Pre-AP skills to prepare for the rigor of Honors and Advanced Placement courses. The AP program encompasses courses (17-20) in all subject areas, including the arts and world languages.
To enhance the Program of Studies, the school contracts with an online provider of curriculum. Students select from several additional Advanced Placement courses as part of or in addition to their six-period day.
Quaker Valley High School offers three College-in-High-School courses through the University of Pittsburgh, and has an active dual enrollment partnership with Community College of Allegheny College, Robert Morris University, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and Penn State Beaver. The Dual Enrollment program is facilitated by the Office of Collegiate Affairs.
As a highlight of the academic program, the Personal Project/Honors Personal Project, completed during the sophomore year, fulfills a graduation requirement and provides students with the opportunity to work over several months in an area of personal interest with an adult mentor. Students pursue topics as diverse as their personalities and talents. This credited research experience results in a product, a presentation to a faculty panel, and a reflective paper emphasizing the learning process.
, Bell Acres Borough
, Edgeworth Borough
, Glenfield Borough
, Haysville Borough
, Leet Township
, Leetsdale Borough
, Osborne Borough
, Sewickley Borough
, Sewickley Heights Borough
, and Sewickley Hills Borough
.http://www.msasportsnetwork.com/images/logos/schools/school_logo78.gif
Boys: Baseball: Varsity, JV; Basketball: Varsity, JV, 9th, 7/8; Cross Country: Varsity; Football: Varsity, JV, 7/8; Golf: Varsity; Ice Hockey: Club; Lacrosse: Varsity, JV; Soccer: Varsity, JV, 7/8; Swimming: Varsity; Tennis: Varsity; Track: Varsity, 7/8
In addition, the Office of Collegiate Affairs also oversees visits from college admission counselors and military personnel, letters of recommendation from faculty, and the dual enrollment program with four partners: Penn State Beaver, Robert Morris University, The Art Institute, and Community College of Allegheny County.
Quaker Valley High School’s performing ensembles consistently receive Excellent and Superior ratings at Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Adjudication festivals and win awards for competitions in Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and Toronto. In addition, these groups regularly offer their talents to a variety of civic events. On average, 40% of the high school student body participates in one or more of the performing ensembles.
Each spring the high school Music and Drama Departments produce a full-scale Broadway musical. Over 50 students participate on stage or behind the scenes building sets, assembling costumes, or hanging lights. Quaker Valley has presented a wide range of shows, from Oklahoma and Grease to The Pirates of Penzance and A Chorus Line, and has won numerous Gene Kelly Awards along the way (the Tony Awards of area high schools).
Students who excel in the Music Department qualify for membership in the Quaker Valley Chapter of the Tri-M National Music Honor Society. The Society recognizes students’ academic and musical achievements and provides a venue for community service in the arts. One of the membership requirements is participation in a student solo recital.
In 2010, Newsweek Magazine designated Quaker Valley High School as one of "America's Top Public High Schools" for the sixth consecutive year. Quaker Valley ranks 994 with an index of 1.598, placing it among the top six percent of high schools nationwide.
Most classrooms are equipped with multi-media projectors, electronic whiteboards, VCR/DVD players, and cable television. Our high-speed wireless and wired computer network allows students access to web-based communication tools and streaming video sites.
The high school library is the wireless resources hub of the school providing students and teachers access to digital media and research tools, as well as electronic books and databases for use in the classroom and at home. The library has over 13,000 print, digital and electronic resources, including Access PA and POWER Library as well as a collection of current magazines, newspapers and multi-media resources for students and teachers.
The visual arts allow students to learn varied techniques such as drawing, page layout, oil painting, screenprinting, Photoshop, metals and jewelry, and also promote such twenty-first century skills such as making good judgments about qualitative relationships, seeing multiple perspectives and multiple answers, and addressing complex forms of problem solving.
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....
located in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania
Leetsdale, Pennsylvania
Leetsdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 1,218 at the 2010 census....
. Quaker Valley High School is one of the four National Blue Ribbon Schools that comprise the Quaker Valley School District.
The high school serves an average of 640 students in grades 9 through 12 and has a 99% graduation rate. Ninety percent of graduates go on to post secondary education at a two or four-year college or university.
Quaker Valley High School offers a college-preparatory core curriculum with elective courses.
In grade nine, students develop Pre-AP skills to prepare for the rigor of Honors and Advanced Placement courses. The AP program encompasses courses (17-20) in all subject areas, including the arts and world languages.
To enhance the Program of Studies, the school contracts with an online provider of curriculum. Students select from several additional Advanced Placement courses as part of or in addition to their six-period day.
Quaker Valley High School offers three College-in-High-School courses through the University of Pittsburgh, and has an active dual enrollment partnership with Community College of Allegheny College, Robert Morris University, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and Penn State Beaver. The Dual Enrollment program is facilitated by the Office of Collegiate Affairs.
As a highlight of the academic program, the Personal Project/Honors Personal Project, completed during the sophomore year, fulfills a graduation requirement and provides students with the opportunity to work over several months in an area of personal interest with an adult mentor. Students pursue topics as diverse as their personalities and talents. This credited research experience results in a product, a presentation to a faculty panel, and a reflective paper emphasizing the learning process.
Location
Quaker Valley High School is located twelve miles (19 km) northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania along the Ohio River. The school district is close to the Pittsburgh International Airport as well. The school district covers 21 square miles (54.4 km²), an area encompassing 13,225 people (2004 Census Bureau Estimate). The school district altogether serves about 2,000 students from 11 municipalities: Aleppo TownshipAleppo Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Aleppo Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,916 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land...
, Bell Acres Borough
Bell Acres, Pennsylvania
Bell Acres is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 1,388 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bell Acres is located at ....
, Edgeworth Borough
Edgeworth, Pennsylvania
Edgeworth is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,680 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Edgeworth is located at ....
, Glenfield Borough
Glenfield, Pennsylvania
Glenfield is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 205 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Glenfield is located at ....
, Haysville Borough
Haysville, Pennsylvania
Haysville is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S., along the Ohio River. The population was 70 according to the 2010 census, making it the least-populated municipality in Allegheny County.-Geography:...
, Leet Township
Leet Township, Pennsylvania
Leet Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,634 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of and none of the area is covered with water....
, Leetsdale Borough
Leetsdale, Pennsylvania
Leetsdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 1,218 at the 2010 census....
, Osborne Borough
Osborne, Pennsylvania
Glen Osborne is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 547 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Glen Osborne is located at ....
, Sewickley Borough
Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Sewickley is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, west northwest of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. It is a residential suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 3,827 at the 2010 census...
, Sewickley Heights Borough
Sewickley Heights, Pennsylvania
Sewickley Heights is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 810 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sewickley Heights is located at ....
, and Sewickley Hills Borough
Sewickley Hills, Pennsylvania
Sewickley Hills is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 639 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sewickley Hills is located at ....
.http://www.msasportsnetwork.com/images/logos/schools/school_logo78.gif
Athletics
Quaker Valley's athletic program is an integral part of the total educational experience. More than 60 percent of our high school students participate in at least one of our 14 different interscholastic programs.Athletic Training/Physical Therapy Services
Quaker Valley School District contracts athletic training and physical therapy services to Greater Pittsburgh Rehab and Sports Medicine Associates. Athletes are under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer. Athletes who must have extended rehabilitative services provided to them are referred through the athletic trainer to the GPOA network of physicians.Interscholastic Athletic Program
Girls: Basketball: Varsity, JV, 7/8; Crew: Club; Cross Country: Varsity, 7/8; Golf: Varsity; Lacrosse: Varsity, JV; Soccer: Varsity, JV, 7/8; Softball: Varsity, JV; Swimming: Varsity; Tennis: Varsity; Track: Varsity, 7/8; Volleyball: Varsity, JV, 7/8Boys: Baseball: Varsity, JV; Basketball: Varsity, JV, 9th, 7/8; Cross Country: Varsity; Football: Varsity, JV, 7/8; Golf: Varsity; Ice Hockey: Club; Lacrosse: Varsity, JV; Soccer: Varsity, JV, 7/8; Swimming: Varsity; Tennis: Varsity; Track: Varsity, 7/8
Collegiate Affairs
The Office of Collegiate Affairs at Quaker Valley High School is responsible for assisting students with their college search, application and selection process, their SAT and ACT preparation, scholarship search and financial aid process. Since 90% of Quaker Valley students attend a two or four year college, most students utilize the resources this office has to offer. Working in conjunction with the guidance counselors and academic specialist, the Director of Collegiate Affairs begins working with students in the fall of the junior year.In addition, the Office of Collegiate Affairs also oversees visits from college admission counselors and military personnel, letters of recommendation from faculty, and the dual enrollment program with four partners: Penn State Beaver, Robert Morris University, The Art Institute, and Community College of Allegheny County.
Global Scholars Initiative
The Global Scholars Initiative stems from a collaborative partnership with the University of Pittsburgh University Center for International Studies (UCIS). The goal of the initiative is to provide students with a relevant 21st Century education steeped in real-world application. Coursework places special emphasis on the skills needed for future success such as information and media literacy, multi-faceted communications, collaborative problem solving, technology integration, and the ability to apply creativity, innovation, and higher-level thinking across multiple disciplines.Guidance Services
The QVHS Guidance department has been recognized as a model program (RAMP) by the American School Counseling Association (ASCA). The department is made up of two school counselors who pride themselves in focusing on the individual needs of every student and family. Counselors work with students individually and in small and large groups for academic planning, goal setting, personal/social development, and career exploration.Music and Performing Arts
The Quaker Valley Music Department claims to be a recipient of the “Top 100 Communities for Music Education” award. The music program offers the following performance ensembles: Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and male and female Barbershop Quartets. Classes include Keyboard, Music Theory I, Music Theory II, AP Music Theory, Instrumental Lessons, and History of Popular Music.Quaker Valley High School’s performing ensembles consistently receive Excellent and Superior ratings at Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Adjudication festivals and win awards for competitions in Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and Toronto. In addition, these groups regularly offer their talents to a variety of civic events. On average, 40% of the high school student body participates in one or more of the performing ensembles.
Each spring the high school Music and Drama Departments produce a full-scale Broadway musical. Over 50 students participate on stage or behind the scenes building sets, assembling costumes, or hanging lights. Quaker Valley has presented a wide range of shows, from Oklahoma and Grease to The Pirates of Penzance and A Chorus Line, and has won numerous Gene Kelly Awards along the way (the Tony Awards of area high schools).
Students who excel in the Music Department qualify for membership in the Quaker Valley Chapter of the Tri-M National Music Honor Society. The Society recognizes students’ academic and musical achievements and provides a venue for community service in the arts. One of the membership requirements is participation in a student solo recital.
Recognition
The 2010 Pittsburgh Business Times Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools ranked Quaker Valley School District 8th out of 105 public school districts in western Pennsylvania and 19th out of 497 school districts in Pennsylvania. The ranking is based on a formula developed by the Business Times using three years of math and reading test scores.In 2010, Newsweek Magazine designated Quaker Valley High School as one of "America's Top Public High Schools" for the sixth consecutive year. Quaker Valley ranks 994 with an index of 1.598, placing it among the top six percent of high schools nationwide.
Technology & Library Resources
Quaker Valley High School offers students a broad technology literacy program. The curriculum includes a one-to-one computing environment; students receive a laptop computer. QVHS offers courses in computer science, networking, digital art, technology education, and web design. Technology Education courses feature Computer Assisted Drafting and Design (CADD) and hands-on construction and transportation courses that incorporate a variety of 21st century workforce tools.Most classrooms are equipped with multi-media projectors, electronic whiteboards, VCR/DVD players, and cable television. Our high-speed wireless and wired computer network allows students access to web-based communication tools and streaming video sites.
The high school library is the wireless resources hub of the school providing students and teachers access to digital media and research tools, as well as electronic books and databases for use in the classroom and at home. The library has over 13,000 print, digital and electronic resources, including Access PA and POWER Library as well as a collection of current magazines, newspapers and multi-media resources for students and teachers.
Visual Arts
The visual arts department at Quaker Valley High School offers a curriculum of both traditional fine arts course and digital offerings. The visual arts are offered as elective courses ranging from beginning levels for 9th graders to AP Studio art in 12th grade.The visual arts allow students to learn varied techniques such as drawing, page layout, oil painting, screenprinting, Photoshop, metals and jewelry, and also promote such twenty-first century skills such as making good judgments about qualitative relationships, seeing multiple perspectives and multiple answers, and addressing complex forms of problem solving.
Notable Alumni
- Dan CorteseDan CorteseDaniel James "Dan" Cortese ; born September 14, 1967) is an American actor, director and spokesperson. He is known for his roles as Perry Rollins on Veronica's Closet and as Vic Meladeo on What I Like About You.-Early life:...
- actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity... - Wentworth MillerWentworth MillerWentworth Earl Miller III is an English-born American actor; model and screenwriter who rose to stardom following his role as Michael Scofield in the Fox Network television series Prison Break.-Early life:...
- (Senior year only) Star of Prison BreakPrison BreakPrison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring, that was broadcast on the Fox Broadcasting Company for four seasons, from 2005 until 2009. The series revolves around two brothers; one has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an... - Keith Starr - Former NBA Player for the Chicago Bulls
- Lou Valenzi - actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
- Matthew Hydzik - Theatre
- Chuck KnoxChuck KnoxCharles Robert "Chuck" Knox is a former American football coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He is best remembered as head coach of three National Football League teams, the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Rams, serving two separate stints with...
, Former NFL Head Coach
External links
- Quaker Valley High School - School website
- Quaker Valley School District - School district website
- Quaker Valley Class of 1997 - Official website of the graduating class of 1997.
- Quaker Valley Class of 1976 - Official website of the graduating class of 1976.
- Quaker Valley Class of 1978 - Official website of the Class of 1978
- Quaker Valley Class of 1979 - Official website of the Class of 1979
- Quaker Valley Class of 1958 - Official website of the Class of 1958