Gateway High School (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Gateway High School located at 3000 Gateway Campus Boulevard, serves the residents of Monroeville
and Pitcairn
, Pennsylvania
. Gateway High School provides grades 9 through 12. The school is part of the Gateway School District
. The principal is William Short.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
In 2011, Gateway High School was ranked 33rd out of 122 western Pennsylvania high schools for student academic achievement by the Pittsburgh Business Times.
PSSA Results:
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math
11th Grade Science:
study released in January 2009, 28% of Gateway School District graduates required remediation in mathematics and 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. 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 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.
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $33,833 for the program.
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.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes 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.
.
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.
of the school district is the Gateway Gator, a stylized alligator.
Gateway's Student Councils and Student Governments play a large role in student life. They are in charge of all school dances, fund-raisers, school spirit activities, and also attend and host various leadership workshops and conferences through the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils.
Gateway also competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition
, an annual event for high-school aged participants. Gateway's team, Quasics, is FRC Team #2656. They have competed annually at the Pittsburgh Regional since 2008.
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Monroeville is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located about east of the city of Pittsburgh, Monroeville is a bustling suburb with mixed residential and commercial developments...
and Pitcairn
Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
Pitcairn is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, east of Pittsburgh. Early in the 20th century, it was the site of large railroad yards and shops that employed nearly ten thousand men. The population increased from 2,601 in 1900 to 6,310 in 1940, but has since declined...
, 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...
. Gateway High School provides grades 9 through 12. The school is part of the Gateway School District
Gateway School District
The Gateway School District is a large, suburban, public school district located in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. It also serves residents of Pitcairn. Gateway School District encompasses approximately 19 square miles. Per the 2000 federal census data, the district serves a resident population of...
. The principal is William Short.
Graduation rate
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Gateway School District's rate was 82% for 2010.According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
- 2010 - 92%
- 2009 - 91%
- 2008 - 95%
- 2007 - 95%
Academic achievement
In 2010, the high school is in Making Progress: in School Improvement II due to low student academic achievement. In 2009, the high school was in School Improvement II AYP level.In 2011, Gateway High School was ranked 33rd out of 122 western Pennsylvania high schools for student academic achievement by the Pittsburgh Business Times.
- 2010 - 41st
- 2009 - 38th
PSSA Results:
11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 76% on grade level, Boys 65%/Girls 87% (13% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level.
- 2009 - 71%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 71%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 72%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math
- 2010 - 73% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 59%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 60%, State - 56%
- 2007 - 59%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 49% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 37%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 34%, 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, 28% of Gateway School District graduates required remediation in mathematics and 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 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 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.
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $33,833 for the program.
Graduation Requirements
The Gateway School District School Board has determined that a student must earn 23 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, Science 3 credits, Mathematics 3 credits, Information Technology 0.5 credit, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, Health 0.5 credit, Physical Education 1 credit and Electives 6 credits.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.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes 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.
Voluntary Community Service
The Social Studies Department manages a community service program. Active student volunteers earn extra credit points in their Social Studies class and end of year awards. The program operates throughout the school year and over the summer months. It offers a concentrated leadership-training program during four weeks in the summer and volunteering efforts are conducted year round.Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is set by school board policy and 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....
.
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
The high school athletic director and football team's coach is Mr. Terry Smith. Other athletics activities include basketball, soccer, track, cross country, volleyball, tennis, swimming, wrestling, baseball, softball, and golf. The mascotMascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of the school district is the Gateway Gator, a stylized alligator.
Clubs
Gateway High School offers many clubs for its students to join.Gateway's Student Councils and Student Governments play a large role in student life. They are in charge of all school dances, fund-raisers, school spirit activities, and also attend and host various leadership workshops and conferences through the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils.
Gateway also competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST Robotics Competition
The FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school robotics competition organized by FIRST. Each year, teams of high school students compete to build robots weighing up to , not including battery and bumpers, that can complete a task, which changes every year...
, an annual event for high-school aged participants. Gateway's team, Quasics, is FRC Team #2656. They have competed annually at the Pittsburgh Regional since 2008.
Notable Alumni
- Ken MachaKen MachaKenneth Edward Macha is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During an 8-year managing career, he managed the Oakland Athletics , whom he guided to the American League's Western Division championship in both his first and final seasons with the team, and the Milwaukee Brewers...
- Class of 1968; major league manager and player - Tim ConroyTim ConroyTimothy James Conroy was a pitcher for the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals ....
- Class of 1978; major league pitcher - Justin King - Class of 2005; NFL cornerback for the St. Louis Rams
Notable Faculty
- Mark Wallace (teacher) - 2005 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Finalist; 2008 Pennsylvania Social Studies Teacher of the Year Winner
- Jason Tyska (teacher) - Math teacher, former member of the PGA TourPGA TourThe PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
.