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Trinity High School (Washington, Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Trinity High School is a public high school located on a hilltop overlooking the city of Washington, Pennsylvania
, in the United States
. Its bell tower has been a landmark in Washington County
for years.
It is designated as a historic public landmark by the Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation
.
frequented by former president Ulysses S. Grant
. Today, Trinity is a modern public school housing approximately 1,279 students in grades 9-12 on a campus style setting.
Trinity Hall, the historic core of the campus, dates back to 1857, when it was built as a private home. The building was purchased in 1879, and turned into the Trinity Hall Military Academy, with dormitories added for 35 students. The building was sold in 1925 to establish a public high school. The building has been expanded and renamed, but the core of the 150-year-old original structure remains.
issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Trinity School District's graduation rate was calculated to be 85% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
In 2011, the 11th grade ranked 40th among 122 western Pennsylvania school district 11th grades, for academic achievement as measured by five years of the PSSAs.
11th grade math:
11th grade science:
study released in January 2009, 18% of Trinity Senior 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.
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 Trinity High School the graduation project includes: community service, school visitation, job shadowing and a written paper.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 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.
Eligibility to participate in all extracurriculars and athletics is set by Trinity 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 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.
In 2010, an investigation was conducted into the uncontrolled spending of the Trinity High School athletics coaches. The report called for various changes to assure appropriate, student focused, spending.
A number of clubs and societies are sponsored by the high school. Notable extracurricular activities include:
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its bell tower has been a landmark in Washington County
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
for years.
It is designated as a historic public landmark by the Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation
Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation
Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation is a non-profit educational institution in Washington, Pennsylvania. Its purpose is to encourage and assist the preservation of historic structures in Washington County, Pennsylvania...
.
History
The school was once an all-boys military academyMilitary academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
frequented by former president Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
. Today, Trinity is a modern public school housing approximately 1,279 students in grades 9-12 on a campus style setting.
Trinity Hall, the historic core of the campus, dates back to 1857, when it was built as a private home. The building was purchased in 1879, and turned into the Trinity Hall Military Academy, with dormitories added for 35 students. The building was sold in 1925 to establish a public high school. The building has been expanded and renamed, but the core of the 150-year-old original structure remains.
Academics program
Trinity High School offers 13 Advanced Placement classes and three languages. Spanish, French, and German. These language courses include classes from level one to level five honors. There are elective and core subjects in the areas of arts, music, business, English, science, history, mathematics, social studies, and journalism.Graduation rate
In 2011, 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. Trinity School District's graduation rate was calculated to be 85% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
- 2010 - 96%
- 2009 - 96%
- 2008 - 94%
- 2007 - 94%
Academic achievement
In 2011, Trinity Senior High School declined to 'Warning' AYP status due to lagging mathematics achievement. The math achievement fell below the State AYP goal of 67% for Math and below the statewide 11th grade achievement level of 60% on grade level. In 2010, the school achieved AYP status.In 2011, the 11th grade ranked 40th among 122 western Pennsylvania school district 11th grades, for academic achievement as measured by five years of the PSSAs.
PSSA results
11th Grade Reading:- 2011 - 70% on grade level, (13% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 75% (11% below basic). State - 66%
- 2009 - 74% (16% below basic), State - 65%
- 2008 - 75% (9% below basic), State - 65%
- 2007 - 82% (10% below basic), State - 65%
11th grade math:
- 2011 - 58% on grade level (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 64% (19% below basic). State - 59%
- 2009 - 54% (28% below basic). State - 56%
- 2008 - 57% (29% below basic). State - 56%
- 2007 - 67% (11% below basic). State - 53%
11th grade science:
- 2011 - 40% on grade level (14% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. .
- 2010 - 44% (12% below basic). State - 39%
- 2009 - 43% (13% below basic). State - 40%
- 2008 - 48% (7% below basic). 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, 18% of Trinity Senior 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.
Dual enrollment
The high school offers the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment 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 $17,753.00 in a state grant to be used assist students with tuition, fees and books.Graduation requirements
The Trinity Area School District School Board has determined that students must earn 22 credits to graduate.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 Trinity High School the graduation project includes: community service, school visitation, job shadowing and a written paper.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 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.
Activities and athletics
Trinity High School offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities and sports. Football, baseball, basketball, soccer, cross-country, track, wrestling, volleyball, golf, rifle, lacrosse, ice hockey, swimming, softball, tennis, and cheerleading are available at Trinity. They are in the WPIAL AAA and AAAA divisions for their sports. The ice hockey teams compete in the PIHL Open Division.Eligibility to participate in all extracurriculars and athletics is set by Trinity 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 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.
In 2010, an investigation was conducted into the uncontrolled spending of the Trinity High School athletics coaches. The report called for various changes to assure appropriate, student focused, spending.
A number of clubs and societies are sponsored by the high school. Notable extracurricular activities include:
- The Marching Band has a proud history. Beginning in 1984, it was 250 members strong and was nationally ranked with the MBA (Marching Bands of America), not to mention the Pennsylvania Federation of Bands. This marching force was continuously ranked in the Top 25 marching bands in the country and from that date until they stopped competing in the national arena in 1989. The band has attended many Bands of America(MBA) Regional festivals and placed in the Top 10 bands 14 times. Trinity's marching band has also won 9 consecutive PIMBA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association) championships.
- The American Music Conference has named Trinity one of the Top 100 Communities for Music Education .
- The Forensics Team, a member of the National Forensic LeagueNational Forensic LeagueThe National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
, has the 2001 National Champion in ExpositoryExpository writingExpository writing is a type of writing where the purpose is to inform, explain, describe, or define the author's subject to the reader. Expository text is meant to deposit information and is the most frequently used type of writing by students in colleges and universities. A well-written...
, Justin C. Welch, to its record, two state champions, Elizabeth C. Dye and Justin C. Welch, and has had numerous individuals qualify to the National Tournament and PHSSLPennsylvania High School Speech LeagueThe Pennsylvania High School Speech League is a high school forensics league. The PHSSL state championship takes place yearly in March at Susquehanna University...
State Tournament every year. Two of the last three Policy Debate Teams have advanced to either the Top 32 or Sweet 16 Rounds of the National Public Policy Forum sponsored by the Bickel and Brewer Law Firm in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. The team also has members who compete in the American LegionAmerican LegionThe American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
Oratory Contest annually with one state champion who placed 4th nationally in 2008. - The Mock Trial Team has competed in numerous local tournaments and has placed regionally and nationally. It remains one of the largest programs in the state, fielding three teams in the state competition, which only four other teams in the state were able to do. In 2009, the two teams placed 2nd and 3rd respectively at the annual University of PittsburghUniversity of PittsburghThe University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
Tournament and won the 2008 National Mock Trial Competition in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. A number of outstanding attorneys and witnesses awards have been earned by the team over the years too. - The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Team has several individuals go to the state tournament every year.
- The Odyssey of the MindOdyssey of the MindOdyssey of the Mind, often called OM , is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem ; and present their solution to the problem at a competition...
program is one of the best in the state. It has had three teams qualify to the World Tournament and many teams have reached to the state championship. The 2009 team placed 3rd in the World Finals. - National History Day has competitors involved have gone to the state and national championships .
- The Academic WorldQuest Team is consistently a top competitor at the Western Pennsylvania Regional Tournament, ranking in the top 15 among 50 teams every year. In 2003, the team won 1st place and competed in the National Tournament in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. - The Hiller, the school's monthly newspaper, has earned numerous accolades for many years.
- The Academic League program is strong in Western Pennsylvania. The varsity team has gone undefeated a number of times and has competed in regional and statewide competitions.
- The Model United Nations and Model European Union programs have achieved recognition and awards at the University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, University of PittsburghUniversity of PittsburghThe University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, Duquesne UniversityDuquesne UniversityDuquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
, and Westminster College over the years. - Mayday used to be a Trinity Tradition since its founding, up until 1995, MayDay was celebrated in May with the crowning of a May Queen.
- The football team has made the WPIAL playoffs for 6 years in a row. The current Head Coach is Ed Dalton.
Notable alumni
- Paul JacobsPaul JacobsPaul Jacobs can refer to:*Paul Jacobs , American activist**Paul Jacobs and the Nuclear Gang, documentary film about the above*Paul Jacobs , Flemish author*Paul Jacobs , professional hockey player...
, noted concert organist - John KanziusJohn KanziusJohn S. Kanzius was an American inventor, radio and TV engineer, one-time station owner and ham radio operator from Erie, Pennsylvania. He invented a method that has the potential to treat virtually all forms of cancer, with no side effects, and without the need for surgery or medication...
, inventor - Jay MariottiJay MariottiJay Mariotti is a former national columnist for Fanhouse.com and has done work as a panelist on the ESPN show Around the Horn.-Life and career:...
, sportswriter and broadcaster - Joseph Albert Walker, American astronaut and test pilot
- Steve WheatcroftSteve WheatcroftSteve Wheatcroft is an American professional golfer.Wheatcroft was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania and attended Indiana University earning a degree in Sports Marketing and Management. He turned professional in 2001 and has played in several tours over the years. His first victory came at the...
, PGA golfer