Saucon Valley High School
Encyclopedia
Saucon Valley High School is a four-year public high school in Hellertown
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States
. It is located at 2100 Polk Valley Road, Hellertown, PA, 18055, within Northampton County
.
It is the only high school in the Saucon Valley School District
, which is consolidated in a single complex, the SVSD Campus, as of September 1999. The campus, spread across 106 acre (0.42896716 km²), combines the High School, Middle School, Elementary School, and administrative offices all under one roof, and also includes ball fields, playgrounds, stadium and track facilities.
Its colors are black
and red
and its mascot is the Panther
.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
By law, all Pennsylvania high 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.
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
study released in January 2009, 17% of Suacon Valley 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.
program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Under the program, students have full access to all activities and programs at the 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.
tournaments, and is part of the Colonial League and PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association). 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.
Hellertown, Pennsylvania
Hellertown is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Hellertown is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state, and geographically in the Saucon Valley.The population of Hellertown was 5,606 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, 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...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located at 2100 Polk Valley Road, Hellertown, PA, 18055, within Northampton County
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
.
It is the only high school in the Saucon Valley School District
Saucon Valley School District
Saucon Valley School District is a midsized susburban public school district located in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It serves the borough of Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township. Saucon Valley School District encompasses approximately 20 square miles. According to 2000...
, which is consolidated in a single complex, the SVSD Campus, as of September 1999. The campus, spread across 106 acre (0.42896716 km²), combines the High School, Middle School, Elementary School, and administrative offices all under one roof, and also includes ball fields, playgrounds, stadium and track facilities.
Its colors are black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
and red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
and its mascot is the Panther
Black panther
A black panther is typically a melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat. Wild black panthers in Latin America are black jaguars , in Asia and Africa they are black leopards , and in North America they may be black jaguars or possibly black cougars A black panther is...
.
Academics
Saucon Valley High School has high expectations for academic excellence. The graduation rate for 2006-2007 was 98%, with average SAT scores of 524 for reading, 537 for mathematics, and 510 for writing. 83% of students plan to attend a four-year college after graduation, and 24% plan to attend two-year college or technical school.Graduation rate
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Saucon Valley School District's rate was 83% for 2010.According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
- 2010 - 97%
- 2009 - 95%
- 2008 - 95%
- 2007 - 95%
Graduation Requirements
Saucon Valley School District School Board has determined that a student must earn 28 credits in order to graduate including: English 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 4 credits, Health/Physical Education 2 credits, Fine or Practical Arts & Humanities 3 credits, Computer Literacy 0.5 credit, Career Exploration 0.5 credit, Writing Course 1 credit and Elective Courses 5 credits. Beginning with the class of 2012 all students are required to take and pass four science credits which must include: Physics First, Chemistry, Environmental/Earth Space Science and Biology.By law, all Pennsylvania high 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.
Eleventh grade
In 2010 and 2009 the school's 11th grade achieved AYP status under the federal government's No Child Left Behind law.11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 74% on grade level (11% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 62% (21% below basic), State - 65%
- 2008 - 74% (14% below basic), State - 65%
- 2007 - 77% (12% below basic), State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 65%, on grade level (15% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 56% (17% below basic). State - 56%.
- 2008 - 68% (17% below basic), State - 56%
- 2007 - 58% (15% below basic), State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 42% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 42% (17% below basic). State - 40%
- 2008 - 38%, State - 39%
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, 17% of Suacon Valley 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.
Summer school
Students who fail an English, Social Studies, Science, or Mathematics course may make up the credit during the district's Summer Learning Academy. A student must have earned a 55% to be eligible for Summer Learning Academy. Students are expected to pass the end of course final exam. A fee is charged for each course taken during the Summer Learning Academy session.Dual enrollment
The Saucon Valley High School does not offer the Pennsylvania 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. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Under the program, students have full access to all activities and programs at the 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.
Athletics
Saucon Valley High School students participate in a range of sports, including football, baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, cross country, swimming, wrestling, field hockey, volleyball, lacrosse and more. The school competes in District XIPIAA District 11
District 11 of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is an interscholastic athletic association in Northeastern Pennsylvania. District 11 is one of the PIAA's 12 athletic conferences and comprises mostly high schools within the Lehigh Valley and a few surrounding counties. Member...
tournaments, and is part of the Colonial League and PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association). 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.