Shikellamy High School
Encyclopedia
Shikellamy High School is a public high school located in Sunbury, Pennsylvania
, USA. it is part of the Shikellamy School District
. It is the senior high school for the communities of Northumberland
, Point Township, Rockefeller Township, Snydertown
Borough, the City of Sunbury
, and Upper Augusta Township. The school serves about 1,100 students in grades 9-12. The new High School principal is Michael Hubicki. The assistant principal is Mary Murphy-Kahn. In 2011, the school board realigned the school to include grades 7 and 8.
Former AYP graduation rate:
The district's policy is that if proficiency is not achieved on mathematics
and reading PSSAs, a retest will be administered during the senior year for deficient subject areas. Failure to achieve proficiency in the retest requires a passing grade on a final examination and a passing course grade for any and all deficient subject areas reported by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. The student must pass both the course and the final examination in order to graduate. If a student fails to show evidence of this proficiency, the student can achieve a Shikellamy diploma by passing a summer school course or by returning for an additional school year to achieve a passing grade.
The curriculum is currently under revision to align it with the 1999 Pennsylvania Academic Standards. These standards are assessed in the third through eighth and eleventh grades under the guise of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. These tests last several days and cover Reading, Writing, Speaking, Mathematics, and Science.
Revision of the Shikellamy School District's mathematics curriculum, to bring it into compliance with Chapter 4 regulations of 2000, is to begin in fall 2007.
In 2007, Shikellamy School District was awarded two state grants to improve the education of their high school students. The administration announced the receipt of a three year Project 720 grant of $270,000. Some of these dollars will be used to revise the graduation project to include a career component. The district was also awarded a $339,000 grant to infuse technology into the core curriculum of the high school. The Classrooms for the Future grant provides laptop computers for English, math, science and social studies classrooms. Additionally, the state will cover the salary of a part time teacher technology coach whose role is to assist the teachers in using the equipment and software effectively to improve their instruction.
In 2009, Shikellamy High School ranked 464th out of 666 Pennsylvania high schools for the reading and mathematics achievement of its students.
The high school was placed under Needs Improvement Level 1 designation in No Child Left Behind for the low mathematics test scores for economically disadvantaged students in 2008. In 2006-2007, the school moved into Improvement Level II due to low math and reading scores and a declining graduation rate. Multiple explanations for the chronically low results were offered by the district's superintendent. In 2009, an inadequate number of Shikellamy High School students were on grade level for the fourth year in a row. Due to poor performance on state standards testing coupled with inadequate improvement over time, the high school was moved to Corrective Action 1 in 2009. The state has provided extensive resources to assist the school in improving its education program through a School Improvement Planning process as dictated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Further interventions will be used to meet the needs of the students. Of Pennsylvania's 3115 public schools, 53 are in Corrective Action 1 and another 169 are in Corrective Action 2. In 2009, 468 of the state's 500 school districts met all Adequate Yearly Progress targets.
In 2008, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the Shikellamy School District 425th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts based on three years of PSSA
scores in: reading, writing, mathematics and one year of science. In 2007, the district was ranked 434th of 500 districts.
In 2006, Shikellamy High School ranked 384th out 607 Pennsylvania high schools based on student academic achievement in mathematics and reading. In 2005, the high school was ranked 384th out of 606 public high schools in Pennsylvania.
PSSAs:
Reading 11th grade
Mathematics 11th grade
In 2008, Pennsylvania conducted the Science PSSA for the second time. The test is based on the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science, Technology, Ecology and the Environment which became law in 2002. The state's: fourth grade, eighth grade and eleventh grade are tested.
Superintendent Alan Locononus acknowledged the district's shortcomings in curriculum and student expectations. He reported taking several actions to improve student academic success, including modifying the curriculum to increase rigor in the middle school and high school.
Science 11th grade - Percent on grade level
SAT Reasoning Test 2005
Average Score 994, National Average - 1001
Verbal - 487, National Average - 497
Math - 508, National Average - 504
Students Tested - 130
In 2005, 29 students participated in two AP courses. For both English AP and History AP 48% scored 3 or better which could lead to college credits depending on the college's policies.
SAT Reasoning Test 2007
Average Score 1367, National Average - 1001
Verbal - 740, National Average - 497
Math - 627, National Average - 504
Students Tested - 237
SAT Reasoning Test 2009 Shikellamy Students tested - 131
Writing Score 462, State Writing 493, National Average - 493
Verbal - 468, State - Verbal 501, National Average - 501
Math - 493, State - Math 515, National Average - 515
program. 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 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 program is offered in association with Susquehanna University and Bloomsburg University. Courses are offered locally.
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $27,922 for the program.
By Pennsylvania law, this program is open to students, residing in the district who are home schooled or attend nonpublic schools.
The High School is equipped with a SmartBoard in every department, and in most cases, in every room. There are also 4 mobile laptop carts of 30 laptops each that can be signed out for student use in the classroom. The library has 20 desktop computers for student use. There are 4 main instructional computer labs with 28 computers each, and many mini-labs for student use in the Art, Science, English, Music, and Social Studies departments. All secondary students have their own network accounts and space to store files.
PowerSchool Parent Portal is available to parents of students in the high school. This provides parents with online information about their child's attendance and grades.
Their drama club is one of the best in the state. Their musicals out perform any school in their area.
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.
. Shikellamy High School is a Class AAA school.
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census...
, USA. it is part of the Shikellamy School District
Shikellamy School District
Shikellamy School District is a suburban, public school district in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It serves Northumberland Borough, Point Township, Rockefeller Township, Snydertown Borough, the City of Sunbury, and Upper Augusta Township with 4 elementary schools, two middle schools, and one...
. It is the senior high school for the communities of Northumberland
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Northumberland is a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,714 at the 2000 census.-History:Northumberland was founded in 1772. The land that became Northumberland was purchased from the Iroquois in the first Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, and the...
, Point Township, Rockefeller Township, Snydertown
Snydertown, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
Snydertown is a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 357.-Geography:Snydertown is located at ....
Borough, the City of Sunbury
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census...
, and Upper Augusta Township. The school serves about 1,100 students in grades 9-12. The new High School principal is Michael Hubicki. The assistant principal is Mary Murphy-Kahn. In 2011, the school board realigned the school to include grades 7 and 8.
Overview
Graduation Rate
In 2011 Shikellamy High School reported an 84% graduation rate. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Shikellamy High School's rate was 79.25% for 2010.Former AYP graduation rate:
- 2010 - 84%
- 2009 - 78%
- 2008 - 84%
- 2007 - 78%
- 2006 - 83%
- 2005 - 81%
The district's policy is that if proficiency is not achieved on mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and reading PSSAs, a retest will be administered during the senior year for deficient subject areas. Failure to achieve proficiency in the retest requires a passing grade on a final examination and a passing course grade for any and all deficient subject areas reported by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. The student must pass both the course and the final examination in order to graduate. If a student fails to show evidence of this proficiency, the student can achieve a Shikellamy diploma by passing a summer school course or by returning for an additional school year to achieve a passing grade.
The curriculum is currently under revision to align it with the 1999 Pennsylvania Academic Standards. These standards are assessed in the third through eighth and eleventh grades under the guise of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. These tests last several days and cover Reading, Writing, Speaking, Mathematics, and Science.
Revision of the Shikellamy School District's mathematics curriculum, to bring it into compliance with Chapter 4 regulations of 2000, is to begin in fall 2007.
In 2007, Shikellamy School District was awarded two state grants to improve the education of their high school students. The administration announced the receipt of a three year Project 720 grant of $270,000. Some of these dollars will be used to revise the graduation project to include a career component. The district was also awarded a $339,000 grant to infuse technology into the core curriculum of the high school. The Classrooms for the Future grant provides laptop computers for English, math, science and social studies classrooms. Additionally, the state will cover the salary of a part time teacher technology coach whose role is to assist the teachers in using the equipment and software effectively to improve their instruction.
Academic achievement
In 2011, Shikellamy High School declined to Corrective Action II first year status due to declining student achievement. In 2010, Shikellamy High School achieved Making Progress: in Corrective Action I status on student achievement. In 2009, the school was in Corrective Action I status due to chronic, low student academic achievement.In 2009, Shikellamy High School ranked 464th out of 666 Pennsylvania high schools for the reading and mathematics achievement of its students.
The high school was placed under Needs Improvement Level 1 designation in No Child Left Behind for the low mathematics test scores for economically disadvantaged students in 2008. In 2006-2007, the school moved into Improvement Level II due to low math and reading scores and a declining graduation rate. Multiple explanations for the chronically low results were offered by the district's superintendent. In 2009, an inadequate number of Shikellamy High School students were on grade level for the fourth year in a row. Due to poor performance on state standards testing coupled with inadequate improvement over time, the high school was moved to Corrective Action 1 in 2009. The state has provided extensive resources to assist the school in improving its education program through a School Improvement Planning process as dictated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Further interventions will be used to meet the needs of the students. Of Pennsylvania's 3115 public schools, 53 are in Corrective Action 1 and another 169 are in Corrective Action 2. In 2009, 468 of the state's 500 school districts met all Adequate Yearly Progress targets.
In 2008, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked the Shikellamy School District 425th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts based on three years of 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...
scores in: reading, writing, mathematics and one year of science. In 2007, the district was ranked 434th of 500 districts.
In 2006, Shikellamy High School ranked 384th out 607 Pennsylvania high schools based on student academic achievement in mathematics and reading. In 2005, the high school was ranked 384th out of 606 public high schools in Pennsylvania.
PSSAs:
Reading 11th grade
- 2011 - 63.5% on grade level. Ranked 13th among CSIU16 region 11th grades. In Pennsylvania 69% of 11th graders were reading on grade level.
- 2010 - 71%, State - 67% Ranks 10th out of 18 CSIU16 region high schools for reading.
- 2009 - 62.3%, State - 65.5% In 2009, Shikellamy High School 11th graders ranked 13th out of 18 local schools for reading.
- 2008 - 62.7%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 57.9%, State - 65.4%
- 2006 - 62.0%, State - 65%
- 2005 - 59.2%, State - 65%
- 2004 - 64.7%, State - 60.8%
- 2003 - 61.0%, State - 59.2%
Mathematics 11th grade
- 2004 - 52.6% on grade level, State - 49%
- 2005 - 44.4%, State - 51%
- 2006 - 49.0%, State - 51%
- 2007 - 47.2%, State - 53%
- 2008 - 51.3%, State - 56%
- 2009 - 45.5%, State - 56% In 2009, Shikellamy 11th graders ranked 16th out of 18 Central Pennsylvania High Schools in the CSIU 16 region for math achievement.
- 2010 - 75%, State - 59%. In 2010, Shikellamy High School 11th graders ranked 4th out of 18 Central Pennsylvania High Schools in the CSIU 16 region for math achievement.
- 2011 - 53% on grade level. Ranks 16th among 18 High Schools in CSIU16 region 11th grades. State - 60% of 11th graders were on grade level in math.
In 2008, Pennsylvania conducted the Science PSSA for the second time. The test is based on the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science, Technology, Ecology and the Environment which became law in 2002. The state's: fourth grade, eighth grade and eleventh grade are tested.
Superintendent Alan Locononus acknowledged the district's shortcomings in curriculum and student expectations. He reported taking several actions to improve student academic success, including modifying the curriculum to increase rigor in the middle school and high school.
Science 11th grade - Percent on grade level
- 2008 - 29.3% on grade level, State Avg. 35.7%
- 2009 - 30.4% on grade level, State Avg. 39.7%
- 2010 - 45%, State - 39%
- 2011 - 32% on grade level. State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. Ranked 15th among High Schools in CSIU16 region.
SAT Reasoning Test 2005
Average Score 994, National Average - 1001
Verbal - 487, National Average - 497
Math - 508, National Average - 504
Students Tested - 130
In 2005, 29 students participated in two AP courses. For both English AP and History AP 48% scored 3 or better which could lead to college credits depending on the college's policies.
SAT Reasoning Test 2007
Average Score 1367, National Average - 1001
Verbal - 740, National Average - 497
Math - 627, National Average - 504
Students Tested - 237
SAT Reasoning Test 2009 Shikellamy Students tested - 131
Writing Score 462, State Writing 493, National Average - 493
Verbal - 468, State - Verbal 501, National Average - 501
Math - 493, State - Math 515, National Average - 515
Students Post Graduation
In the 2006-2007 school year 64% of Shikellamy Students went on to receive Post-Secondary Educational Training. This includes 47% of students that will attend a college with a four-year degree program.Dual enrollment
The 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. 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 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 program is offered in association with Susquehanna University and Bloomsburg University. Courses are offered locally.
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $27,922 for the program.
By Pennsylvania law, this program is open to students, residing in the district who are home schooled or attend nonpublic schools.
Facilities
The school recently added a new addition, extending into the old tennis courts. The addition allowed for a larger gym, cafeteria, and band room. They also made substantial investments in upgrading the school district's football facilities.Technology
The District is connected to the Internet with 4 Mb of bandwidth, burstable to 10 Mb. We are connected from one building to the other with a fiber WAN. All buildings have a wired network. The secondary buildings also have a wireless network.The High School is equipped with a SmartBoard in every department, and in most cases, in every room. There are also 4 mobile laptop carts of 30 laptops each that can be signed out for student use in the classroom. The library has 20 desktop computers for student use. There are 4 main instructional computer labs with 28 computers each, and many mini-labs for student use in the Art, Science, English, Music, and Social Studies departments. All secondary students have their own network accounts and space to store files.
PowerSchool Parent Portal is available to parents of students in the high school. This provides parents with online information about their child's attendance and grades.
Vo-Tech
SUN Area Technical School is a regional vocational school, offering adult education classes, vocational education, and technical career training. SUN Tech serves over 1500 people annually. ISO9001 and Middle States Accredited. SUN Tech was presented with the Significant Achievement Award in Education for raising their Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program criteria score to 648 points, a 345 point increase from 303 points in August, 2000.Extracurriculars
Shikellamy High School offers many extracurricular activities to its students. It has many clubs, including: foreign language clubs, Future Scientists/Business Leaders of America, science clubs, and community service clubs. The school is well known for its band and theatre, and forensics programs. A JROTC program is offered.Their drama club is one of the best in the state. Their musicals out perform any school in their area.
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.
Athletics
Students may participate in baseball, softball, basketball, wrestling, field hockey, football, soccer, track and field, cross-country, and tennis teams. The school board has determined the eligibility to participate in school district policies. The district is a member of the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference for all athletics and participates under the rules and guidelines of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic AssociationPennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
. Shikellamy High School is a Class AAA school.
External links
- Shikellamy High School Web Site
- Shikellamy School District site
- School Matters - Standard and Poors School data regarding Shikellamy School District
- Pennsylvania State Board Academic Standards Standards for many areas of the public education K-12 curriculum.