The Keystone Central School District (KCSD) is a school district

School district

School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...

 based in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

The city of Lock Haven is the county seat of Clinton County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Located near the confluence of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Creek, it is the principal city of the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, micropolitan statistical area, itself part of the...

 that includes public schools in Clinton County

Clinton County, Pennsylvania

As of the census of 2000, there were 37,914 people, 14,773 households, and 9,927 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile . There were 18,166 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...

, and that serves students in Clinton County, Centre County

Centre County, Pennsylvania

Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....

, and Potter County

Potter County, Pennsylvania

Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Plateau region. As of 2010, the population was 17,457. Its county seat is Coudersport. Potter County was named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the...

. This district operates 8 elementary schools

Primary education

A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...

, three secondary schools (one middle school

Middle school

Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...

, one high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

), and one combined middle and high school), and one alternative education program. Geographically, the Keystone Central School District is the biggest school district in Pennsylvania. It encompasses approximately 1,048 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 36,950. According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the KCSD provided basic educational services to 4,447 pupils through the employment of 408 teachers, 198 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 43 administrators.

Elementary Schools

• Dickey Elementary School
• 102 S. Fairview St.
  Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 17745
  
• Lamar Township Elementary School
• 34 East End Mountain Rd.
  Mill Hall, Pennsylvania 17751
  
• Liberty-Curtin Elementary School
• 11125 North Eagle Valley Rd.
  Blanchard, Pennsylvania 16826
• Mill Hall Elementary School
• 210 Kyler Ave.
  Mill Hall, Pennsylvania 17751
  
• Renovo Elementary School
• 1301 Bucktail Av.
  Renovo, Pennsylvania 17764
  
• Robb Elementary School
• 400 E. Church St.
  Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 17745
  
• Sugar Valley Elementary School
• 98 E. South St.
  Loganton, Pennsylvania 17747
• Woodward Elementary School
• 35 King St.
  Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 17745
  

Secondary schools

• Central Mountain Middle School
• 200 Ben Ave.
  Mill Hall, Pennsylvania 17751
  
• Central Mountain High School
  Central Mountain High School
  Central Mountain High School is a public high school located in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, USA.-School history:Central Mountain High School is one of two high schools in the Keystone Central School District. Keystone Central is the geographically largest school district in Pennsylvania. Central...
  
   and the HEART Academy
• 64 Keystone Central Drive
  Mill Hall, Pennsylvania 17751
• Bucktail Middle/High School
• 1300 Bucktail Ave.
  Renovo, Pennsylvania 17764
  

Academic Achievement

Keystone Central School District was ranked 407th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance on the 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...

 results on: reading, writing, math and three years of science.

• 2010 - 408th
• 2009 - 407th
• 2008 - 395th
• 2007 - 430th of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania.

In 2009 the academic achievement of the students of the Keystone Central School District fell in the 23rd percentile in the state's 500 school districts. (0-99; 100 is state best)

District Graduation Rate
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Keystone Central School District's rate was 93% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 92%
• 2009 - 89%
• 2008 - 93%
• 2007 - 93%

Central Mountain High School

In 2010 the school is in School Improvement I status due to chronically low student achievement.

Graduation Rate

• 2010 - 91%
• 2009 - 88%

PSSA Results:
11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 63% on grade level, In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 59%, State - 65%
• 2008 - 63%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 66%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math

• 2010 - 54%, In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 53%, State - 56%
• 2008 - 57%, State - 55%
• 2007 - 48%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 33% on grade level. State: 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 33%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 25%, State - 39%

Eighth Grade

8th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 75% on grade level. State: 81% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 82%, State: 80.9%
• 2008 - 79%, State - 78%

8th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 78% on grade level. State - 75% of 8th graders were on grade level
• 2009 - 69%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 68%, State -70%

8th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 55% on grade level. State: 55% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 59%, State - 57%
• 2008 - 51%, State - 50%

Seventh Grade

7th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 76% on grade level. State: 73% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 67%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 69%, State - 70%

7th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 77% on grade level. State - 77% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 72%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 67%, State - 70%

Sixth Grade

6th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 71% on grade level. State: 67% of 6th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 68%, State - 67%
• 2008 - 63%, State - 67%

6th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 81% on grade level. State - 78% of 6th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 76%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 69%, State - 72%

Bucktail Area Middle/High School

Serves students grades 7 through 12.

For 2010 the school is in Warning Status due to chronic low student achievement.

Graduation rate

• 2010 - 97%
• 2009 - 93%

PSSA Results:
11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 51 % on grade level, In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 66%, State - 65%
• 2008 - 63%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 51%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math

• 2010 - 31%, In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 48%, State - 56%
• 2008 - 52%, State - 55%
• 2007 - 27%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 10% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 18%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 26%, State - 39%

Eighth Grade

8th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 81% on grade level. State - 81% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 75%, State - 80.9%
• 2008 - 56%, State - 78%

8th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 74% on grade level. State - 75% of 8th graders were on grade level
• 2009 - 46%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 40%, State -70%

8th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 34% on grade level. State - 55% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 30%, State - 57%
• 2008 - 29%, State - 50%

Seventh Grade

7th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 61% on grade level. State: 73% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 67%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 68%, State - 70%

7th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 73% on grade level. State - 77% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 72%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 43%, State - 70%

Sixth Grade

6th Grade Reading:

• 2010 - 56% on grade level. State: 67% of 6th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 71%, State - 67%
• 2008 - 75%, State - 67%

6th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 81% on grade level. State - 78% of 6th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 87%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 66%, State - 72%

Graduation requirements

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 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.

College Remediation

According to a 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...

 study released in January 2009, 7% of Keystone Central 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

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.

Special Education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 764 pupils or 20.8% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.

The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education.

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.

Keystone Central School District received a $3,102,551 supplement for special education services in 2010.

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 41 or 3.62% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.

Wellness policy

Keystone Central School Board established a district wellness policy in June 2006 - Student Wellness Policy 246. The policy deals with nutrition of meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act

National School Lunch Act

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is a United States federal law signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. The act created the National School Lunch Program , a program to provide low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools...

 (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity hat are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for its approval.

Bullying Policy

The Keystone Central school administration reported no incidents of bullying occurring in the schools in 2009.

The Keystone Central School Board prohibits bullying by district students. A policy approved in July of 2009 defines bullying and cyberbullying. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. The board expects staff members to be responsible to maintain an educational environment free from all forms of bullying. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.

Governance

The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, 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...

 and the Pennsylvania General Assembly

Pennsylvania General Assembly

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...

. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Elementary and Secondary Education Act

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act , is a United States federal statute enacted April 11, 1965. It was passed as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" and has been the most far-reaching federal legislation affecting education ever passed by Congress...

  and the No Child Left Behind Act

No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...

  which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "C-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.

Budget

In 2009 salaries of KCSD teachers range from $40,038 to $123,500.

In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $54,535 for 182 school days worked. This was the highest average teacher salary in Clinton County in 2007. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.

Keystone Central School District had administrative costs per pupil in 2008 of $788 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.

In 2008 Keystone Central reported per pupil spending was $12,411.

In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the school district. Findings were reported to the school board.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In Pennsylvania, both pension income and social security income are exempted from local earned income tax and state personal income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.

State basic education funding

For the 2010-11 school year the Commonwealth provided the Keystone Central School District with a 3.42% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $20,492,086. One hundred fifty school districts in Pennsylvania received a base 2% increase in funding. Kennett Consolidated School District

Kennett Consolidated School District

The Kennett Consolidated School District,or KCSD for short, is a public school district serving portions of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is centered on the borough of Kennett Square and also incorporates Kennett Township, New Garden Township, and the southern portion of East Marlborough Twp....

 of Chester County

Chester County, Pennsylvania

-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...

 received the largest a 23.65% increase for 2010-11. Fifteen school district received an increase greater than 10%. The amount of funding each district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education in the annual budget proposal.

In 2009-10 the state provided a 4.02% increase in state basic education funding. Ninety school district received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District

Muhlenberg School District

The Muhlenberg Area School District is a public school district serving parts of Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. It encompasses the borough of Laureldale and the Muhlenberg Township. The district encompasses approximately 13 square miles. Per the 2000 federal census data it serves a resident...

 of Berks County received the highest increase a 22.31% increase in basic education funding.

The Department of Education reported that, in the 2007-08 school year, 1,890 students received a free or reduced price lunch due to low family income.

Federal Stimulus Funding

The district received $3,190,972 in ARRA

Arra

Arra is a census town in Puruliya district in the state of West Bengal, India.-Demographics: India census, Arra had a population of 19,911. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Arra has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 59% of the...

 - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 through 2009. Keystone Central School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $444,264 and in 2008-09 $90,826 for a total of $535,090. In 2009 the district received $48,973.

Race to the Top grant

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top

Race to the Top

Race to the Top, abbreviated R2T, RTTT or RTT, is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education competition designed to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education...

 federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.

Common Cents state initiative

The school board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

For the 2010-11 school year, the Keystone Central School Board set property taxes at 40.2400 mills for Centre County residents, for residents in Clinton County 11.23 mills, and residents of Potter County at 36.2800 mills. The school district crosses three counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region.

• 2009-10 - Centre County - 37.3700 mills, Clinton County 10.8300 mills, Potter County - 37.9500 mills.
• 2008-09 - Centre County - 36.1200 mills, Clinton County 53.3500 mills, Potter County - 38.0400 mills.

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but it can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increasing rising health care costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is a governmental statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and...

 in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.

The School District Adjusted Index for the Keystone Central School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.

2006-07 - 5.4%, Base 3.9%

2007-08 - 4.7%, Base 3.4%

2008-09 - 6.0%, Base 4.4%

2009-10 - 5.7%, Base 4.1%

2010-11 - 4.0%, Base 2.9%

2011-12 - 1.9%, Base 1.4%

For the 2010-2011 school budget the school board did not apply for an exception to exceed the index. In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases. In 2007, the Keystone School Board adopted a resolution to stay within the Act 1 Index limit for the 2007-08 school budget.

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Keystone Central School District property tax relief was set at $224 for approved 9638 homesteads. In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Keystone Central School District was $228 per approved homestead, for the 9460 property owners who applied for the tax relief in 2009. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Clinton County

Clinton County, Pennsylvania

As of the census of 2000, there were 37,914 people, 14,773 households, and 9,927 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile . There were 18,166 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...

, 54% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. In Center County, 72% property owners applied. Potter County had a 79% participate. The highest property tax relief was given to Chester Upland School District

Chester Upland School District

The Chester Upland School District is a public school district serving the City of Chester, the Borough of Upland and Chester Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania...

at $632 in 2010 and in 2009.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently, people with income substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate.

Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. The school board determines eligibility policies to participate in these programs.

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.