Penn Hills School District
history,|contact number = 412-793-7000 ,|teachers = 396 ,|staff = 822 ,| enrollment = 4740 ,| gradeK = 255 ,| grade1 = 332 ,| grade2 = 343 ,| grade3 = 347 ,| grade4 = 346 ,| grade5 = 389 ,| grade6 = 381 ,| grade7 = 359 ,| grade8 = 357 ,| grade9 = 390 ,| grade10 = 432 ,| grade11 = 393 ,| grade12 = 416 ,|conference = ,|colors = Red & Gold
,|mascot = Indian ,| streetaddress = 309 Collins Drive ,|location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ,|country = United States ,|schedule = ,|information = ,|mapimage1 = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Allegheny County.svg ,|mapimage1size = 150px ,|mapimage2 = Map of Penn Hills Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Highlighted.png ,|mapimage2size = 200px ,|website = »http://www.phsd.k12.pa.us/ }}
The Penn Hills School District (PHSD) is a public school district located in suburban Pittsburgh, serving the community of Penn Hills, which is about 10 miles east of Downtown Pittsburgh. The District encourages a culture that values academic performance, diversity, extensive parental involvement, personalized education for all students, and demonstrated school board commitment, as well as a strong commitment to family and community. Serving 4740 students in six buildings, the district is one of the largest suburban school districts around Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania Department of Education projects a 500 student decline in enrollment by school year 2014 to an enrollment of 4200 students.Pennsylvania Department of Education Enrollment and enrollment projections for School Districts P-Y 2009
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit provides the district with a variety of services supporting schools, families, and communities.
Among the programs offered in Penn Hills are Schools of Focus, which includes a specific theme interwoven into the curriculum of each elementary school and allows parents to choose the school their child will attend; 21st Century Community Learning Centers; on-site, comprehensive vocational education; and strong professional development.
- Penn Hills Senior High School (grades 10-12)
- John H. Linton Middle School (grades 6-9)
- Penn Hebron Elementary (grades 4-5)
- Dible Elementary (grades K-3)
- Washington Elementary (grades K-3)
- Forbes Elementary (grades K-3)
- Shenandoah Elementary (temporarily closed for reconfiguration)
Academic Achievement
In 2009, the high school is in Corrective Action II 3rd year due to the persistent poor academic achievement of students as demonstrated by PSSA results and the graduation rate. Linton Middle School is in Corrective Action II 3rd year for continuing poor academic achievement especially in reading. Both Forbes Elementary School and Penn Hebron Elementary Academy are in warning status for lagging student reading scores.
Graduation Rate:
2009 - 88%Penn Hills School District Report Card 2009 »http://paayp.emetric.net/School/DataTable/c2/103027352/309
2008 - 93%
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 - 55% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.
2008 - 59%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
2009 - 41% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results »http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442
2008 - 43%, State - 56%
11th Grade Science:
2009 - 24% on grade level. State: 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 27%
Penn Hills School District was ranked 464th out of the 498 ranked Pennsylvania School Districts in 2008 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance as demonstrated in 3 years of PSSA results.»Pennsylvania Public School Rankings, Pittsburgh Business Times. May 23, 2007.
College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 44% of Penn Hills 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 or community colleges. Pennsylvania College Remediation Report »http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report
8th Grade Reading:
2009 - 72% on grade level. State: 80.9% of 8th graders were on grade level.Pennsylvania Reading, Math, Science and Writing PSSA Results 2009 as reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, August 2009.
2008 - 65%, State - 78% on grade level
8th Grade Math:
2009 - 54% on grade level. State: 71% of 8th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 54%, State -70% on grade level
8th Grade Science:
2009 - 33% on grade level. State: 55% of 8th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 27%, State - 50% on grade level
Budget
In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $50,105 for 180 days worked.Fenton, Jacob, Average classroom teacher salary in Allegheny County, 2006-07. The Morning Call. accessed March 2009.
The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $769.82 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. Fenton, Jacob. Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?, The Morning Call, Feb 2009.
School district officials applied for the Race to the Top federal grant. The district is identified as a turnaround district due to chronically poor academic achievement of its students. When approved for the grant, the district will receive millions of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Turnaround status also brings an extra $700 per student, in supplemental funding above the basic grant amount.Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support »http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7201&PageID=510952&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/global/news_releases/governor_s_office/news_releases/pennsylvania_s__race_to_the_top__fueled_by_effective_reforms__strong_local_support.html
The district received an extra $3,966,699 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.»Allegheny County ARRA FUNDING
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, grants, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports.
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. Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, November 10, 2005
- PHSD Roberts Administration Building
- PHSD Transportation Dept./Bus Garage
- Fralic Sports/Athletic Center
Students enjoy easy access to Downtown Pittsburgh, with the city's business, cultural, shopping, sports, and entertainment facilities only minutes away.
- »The official website of the Penn Hills School District
- »Parents of Penn Hills School District website