North Hills School District
Encyclopedia
The North Hills School District, located in Northern Allegheny County, is a suburb of the city of Pittsburgh. The district comprises Ross Township and West View Borough ~ a 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) area with a population of nearly 40,000.
Ross Township boasts strong retail corridors on McKnight Road and West View Plaza. Shopping malls, restaurants, specialty shops and other commercial establishments serve a large portion of Allegheny County. In addition, numerous recreational facilities and parks are located in and adjacent to the two communities.
The North Hills School District operates four elementary schools, which serve students from kindergarten through sixth grade. With the renovation of Ross Elementary School underway, the district is nearing the conclusion of its long-term facilities plan that results in four 21st century elementary schools with enrollments of 500-550 students. The average elementary class-size in the North Hills School District is 20 students.
The North Hills Junior and Senior high schools share a hilltop campus. The district offers 25 Advanced Placement courses, college in high school, an honors program as well as opportunities at the A.W. Career Center. Nearly 90 percent of North Hills graduates continue their formal education. In June 2010, North Hills Senior High School was one of 29 schools in Pennsylvania and only nine in Allegheny County to be named one of America’s BEST Public High Schools by Newsweek magazine. This is the school's second consecutive year making the list. According to Newsweek, North Hills is among the top six percent of public high schools in the nation.
The 2010-11 student enrollment is 4,275. The district employs approximately 350 teachers and more than 700 total employees.
The millage rate for the 2010-11 fiscal year is 19.91 mills.
and the Pennsylvania General Assembly
. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
and the No Child Left Behind Act
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 "-" 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.
2009 - 72nd
2008 - 55th
2007 - 48th out of 500 Pennsylvania school districts for student academic achievement by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2007.
In 2010, the district was ranked 21st for student academic achievement among western Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking is based on three years of student scores on the PSSA
s for: reading, mathematics, writing and two years of science for 105 districts in the region.
2009 - 19th
2008 - 17th out of 105 school districts in the Allegheny region.
Each of the district's schools exceeded the national standards as set by the No Child Left Behind Act
. The district's schools average between 40% and 98% success rates in the reading, writing, science and mathematics PSSA tests.
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 – 80% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.
2008 – 82%, State – 65%
11th Grade Math:
2009 – 70% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2008 – 76%, State – 56%
11th Grade Science:
2009 – 47% on grade level. State: 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2008 – 62%, State Avg. – 39%
College Remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
study released in January 2009, 26% of North 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. 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.
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $18,843 for the program.
The board requires a minimum of 24 credits for a student to graduation.
, iPod Touch
, iPad
Application Development course is $499 with a local district in 2010.
As of the 2008–09 academic year, 100% of the teachers in the North Hills School District met or exceeded the national standards for highly qualified teachers, and 62% of the teachers in the district possessed advanced degrees. In 2008, three North Hills School District teachers were among 101 honorees in the annual Teachers of Excellence awards, sponsored by the Teacher Excellence Center. The Teacher Excellence Center received 65 nominations for 40 North Hills School District teachers. The Teacher Excellence Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to professional development of teachers and recognizing teacher excellence in southwestern Pennsylvania North People News, Pittsburgh Post–Gazette.
The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $778. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398. In January 2007 the school board awarded a five year contract to Joseph Goodnack as superintendent with an initial salary of $130,000 plus a raise of 4% each year and a potential annual bonus. Additionally, he received an extensive benefits package including: a defined benefits pension, health insurance, life insurance 3 times his salary and much more. In May 2010, the school board promoted High School principal Patrick Mannarino to Assistant Superintendnet with a five year contract. The position had been unfilled since 2007. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association, the average salary for a superintendent for the 2007-08 school year was $122,165.
Reserves In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $7,882,759.00 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $2,226,142.00.
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. In Pennsylvania, pension income and social security income are exempt from Pennsylvania personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of income.
in Berks County which received a 22.31% increase in 2009-10. The state Basic Education Funding to North Hills School District in 2008-09 was $5,483,939.19. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 742 students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.
– Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs such as special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. These dollars were in addition to all regular state and federal funding to the district. This funding is for the 2009-2011 school years.
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 in the first round of the grant. The districts' decisions not to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state RTTT application judging will occur in June 2010.
set at $348. The property tax 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 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Allegheny County, 60% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. The highest property tax relief in the state was given to the residents of Chester Upland School District
who received $622 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, individuals with income substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
(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 and physical education that 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 approval.
By Pennsylvania law, all K–12 students in the district, including those who attend a private schools, cyber charter schools and charter schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible to participate in all extracurricular programs, including athletics. They must meet the same eligibility requirements as students enrolled in the district's schools.
North Hills boasts successful programs in the arts. The drama club has produced both fall plays and spring musicals annually since 1989, and has one of the oldest theater programs of any Allegheny County public school. In 2007 Nicole Dohoda won the Gene Kelly Award for best actress as "Millie" in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Spencer Whale won the 2010 Gene Kelly Award for best supporting actor as "Lumiere" in the high school's production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". In 2011, Kirsten Hoover won the Gene Kelly Award for best actress for her role as "Nanette" in the high school's production of "No, No, Nanette". Matt Augustyniak won the Gene Kelly Award for best supporting actor for his role as "Billy" in the musical, and Stephanie Higgins won the Gene Kelly Award for best supporting actress for her role as "Lucille". The district's annual "Arts Alive" program is a favorite community-based activity in May, when student art is displayed and various musical groups perform. The North Hills High School Marching Band has been featured in several parades, including the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Parade, and has performed at several Pittsburgh Steelers
football games. The marching band traveled to Disney World in February 2010 for participation in Disney's musician mentoring program.
In April 2007, the North Hills High School Marching Band was featured in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival and parade in Washington D.C. In the fall of 2007, the annual marching band festival featured the performance of an alumni band, and the alumnae band appeared again in 2010 for the 50th Annual Band Festival. In April 2008, members of the North Hills Senior High School Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and Orchestra performed in Chicago and earned multiple honors. Competing against eight instrumental groups from Ontario, Illinois, West Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania, each of the ensembles received awards in the AAA division.
North Hills prides itself on its football
program. The North Hills Indians' successes include:
The district has had success in other sports as well, including cross country, softball, track and field, soccer, and many others. The results for the latest sports seasons are:
North Hills has an intense rivalry with North Allegheny. Their annual football game is scheduled last for each team, and despite season records, it the biggest game of each team's seasons. In 2009, North Hills lost in the regular season matchup, but NH traveled to NA to win in the WPIAL play-offs.
The end result of the facilities plan will be four comparable elementary schools (Ross, McIntyre, Highcliff and West View) with estimated enrollments of 500–550 students. The plan includes the closing of three small schools: Northway, Perrysville and Seville.
The Northway Elementary School attendance area merged with McIntyre Elementary in August 2009. Perrysville and Seville will close at the end of the 2009–10 school year.
North Hills Senior High School recently underwent a $26.5 million renovation that concluded in 2007. Built in 1972, this is the first major renovation of the facility.
Ross Township boasts strong retail corridors on McKnight Road and West View Plaza. Shopping malls, restaurants, specialty shops and other commercial establishments serve a large portion of Allegheny County. In addition, numerous recreational facilities and parks are located in and adjacent to the two communities.
The North Hills School District operates four elementary schools, which serve students from kindergarten through sixth grade. With the renovation of Ross Elementary School underway, the district is nearing the conclusion of its long-term facilities plan that results in four 21st century elementary schools with enrollments of 500-550 students. The average elementary class-size in the North Hills School District is 20 students.
The North Hills Junior and Senior high schools share a hilltop campus. The district offers 25 Advanced Placement courses, college in high school, an honors program as well as opportunities at the A.W. Career Center. Nearly 90 percent of North Hills graduates continue their formal education. In June 2010, North Hills Senior High School was one of 29 schools in Pennsylvania and only nine in Allegheny County to be named one of America’s BEST Public High Schools by Newsweek magazine. This is the school's second consecutive year making the list. According to Newsweek, North Hills is among the top six percent of public high schools in the nation.
The 2010-11 student enrollment is 4,275. The district employs approximately 350 teachers and more than 700 total employees.
The millage rate for the 2010-11 fiscal year is 19.91 mills.
Schools and Facilities
The District has six schools: 4 elementary schools (k-grade 6; a junior high (grade 7-9); and a high school (grades 10-12):- Highcliff Elementary SchoolHighcliff Elementary SchoolHighcliff Elementary School is a suburban elementary school located in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. The school's mascot is the Indians and its official colors are red and white.The original Highcliff Elementary was built in 1956...
- Principal: Elaine Obidowski
- Enrollment: 528 Students
- McIntyre Elementary School
- Principal: Amy Mathieu
- Enrollment: 537
- Ross Elementary School
- Principal: David Lieberman
- Enrollment: 541
- West View Elementary School
- Principal: Marc Thorton
- Enrollment: 519
- North Hills Junior High School
- Grades: 7–9
- Principal: Beth E. Williams
- A–K Principal: Christian Lesnett
- L–Z Principal: Julie Franczyk
- Enrollment: 1,035
- North Hills Senior High SchoolNorth Hills Senior High SchoolNorth Hills Senior High School is a suburban high school located in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. The school's mascot is the Indians and its official colors are red and white....
- Grades: 10–12
- Principal: John W. Kreider
- A–K Principal: Bill R. McGahee
- L–Z Principal: Johannah M. Vanatta
- Enrollment: 1,125
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 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...
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 "-" 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.
Academic achievement
In 2010, North Hills School District was ranked 80th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts for student academic achievement by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking is based on three years of student scores on the PSSAs for: reading, mathematics, writing and two years of science.2009 - 72nd
2008 - 55th
2007 - 48th out of 500 Pennsylvania school districts for student academic achievement by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2007.
In 2010, the district was ranked 21st for student academic achievement among western Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking is based on three years of student scores 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...
s for: reading, mathematics, writing and two years of science for 105 districts in the region.
2009 - 19th
2008 - 17th out of 105 school districts in the Allegheny region.
Each of the district's schools exceeded the national standards as set by 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...
. The district's schools average between 40% and 98% success rates in the reading, writing, science and mathematics PSSA tests.
High school
In 2010, North Hills Senior High School was ranked 18th out of 123 high schools in the western Pennsylvania seven county region, for student academic achievement by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking is based on three years of 11th graders scores on the PSSAs for: reading, mathematics, writing and two years of science. In 2009 the high school's eleventh grade ranked 15th.PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 – 80% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.
2008 – 82%, State – 65%
11th Grade Math:
2009 – 70% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2008 – 76%, State – 56%
11th Grade Science:
2009 – 47% on grade level. State: 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2008 – 62%, State Avg. – 39%
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, 26% of North 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
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 Enrollment 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 . 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 $18,843 for the program.
Graduation project
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.The board requires a minimum of 24 credits for a student to graduation.
Online Academy
North Hills School District provides an extensive summer educational program. More than 25 online courses are offered for students in grades 7 – 12 through the Online Academy @ North Hills, which is open to students throughout southwest Pennsylvania. The Online Academy offers 23 online summer classes for credit recovery in math, English, science, social studies, and health. Credit recovery courses are intended for students who were not able to achieve a passing grade during the school year. The Online Academy also provides full-credit courses in art history, health, language arts, mathematics and iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad application development. Tuition for credit recovery courses is $115 for a three-week, half-credit course and $225 for a six-week, one-credit course. Tuition for the nine-week, for-credit courses is $339. The iPhoneIPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
, iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
Application Development course is $499 with a local district in 2010.
Budget
Teacher QualificationsAs of the 2008–09 academic year, 100% of the teachers in the North Hills School District met or exceeded the national standards for highly qualified teachers, and 62% of the teachers in the district possessed advanced degrees. In 2008, three North Hills School District teachers were among 101 honorees in the annual Teachers of Excellence awards, sponsored by the Teacher Excellence Center. The Teacher Excellence Center received 65 nominations for 40 North Hills School District teachers. The Teacher Excellence Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to professional development of teachers and recognizing teacher excellence in southwestern Pennsylvania North People News, Pittsburgh Post–Gazette.
The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $778. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398. In January 2007 the school board awarded a five year contract to Joseph Goodnack as superintendent with an initial salary of $130,000 plus a raise of 4% each year and a potential annual bonus. Additionally, he received an extensive benefits package including: a defined benefits pension, health insurance, life insurance 3 times his salary and much more. In May 2010, the school board promoted High School principal Patrick Mannarino to Assistant Superintendnet with a five year contract. The position had been unfilled since 2007. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association, the average salary for a superintendent for the 2007-08 school year was $122,165.
Reserves In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $7,882,759.00 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $2,226,142.00.
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. In Pennsylvania, pension income and social security income are exempt from Pennsylvania personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of income.
State basic education funding
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.27% increase in Basic Education Funding to North Hills School District, for a total of $5,608,427. This was the lowest percentage point increase, in Basic Education Funding, for the school districts in Allegheny County and the state. Ninety school districts in Pennsylvania received the minimum 2% increase in 2009. Four county school districts received increases of over 6% in Basic Education Funding. Additionally, Governor Edward Rendell gave 15 Pennsylvania school districts education funding increases of over 10% in 2009. The highest funding increase went to Muhlenberg School DistrictMuhlenberg 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...
in Berks County which received a 22.31% increase in 2009-10. The state Basic Education Funding to North Hills School District in 2008-09 was $5,483,939.19. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 742 students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.
Federal Stimulus Grant
The school district received $1,771,771 in 2009 in ARRAArra
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 such as special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. These dollars were in addition to all regular state and federal funding to the district. This funding is for the 2009-2011 school years.
Race to the Top grant
School district officials did not apply for the Race to the TopRace 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 in the first round of the grant. The districts' decisions not to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state RTTT application judging will occur in June 2010.
Real estate taxes
In 2010, the North Hills School Board voted 7-2 to increase real estate taxes to 19.91 mills. In 2009, the school board set the real estate tax rate at 19.3500 mills. Property tax rates in 2008 were set at 19.6000 mills. In 2007, the millage rate was set at 19.1000 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value.Property tax relief
In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the North Hills School District was $125 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 11,463 property owners applied for the tax relief. In 2009 the tax relief was set at $127 for 11,286 approved homesteads. The highest tax relief in Allegheny County school districts went to Duquesne City School DistrictDuquesne City School District
The is a tiny, suburban public school district in the state of Pennsylvania. It is located in the east hills of Allegheny County, and serves the City of Duquesne , a former mill town on the banks of the Monongahela River. Duquesne City School District encompasses approximately 2 square miles...
set at $348. The property tax 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 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Allegheny County, 60% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. The highest property tax relief in the state was given to the residents of 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...
who received $622 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, individuals with income substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
Libraries
The North Hills School District program emphasizes information literacy and collaboration between teachers and librarians. Each library is staffed with a librarian; and each library actively participates in the AccessPa Power Library Program, which allows students and staff to access quality resources 24 hours a day from home or school. Librarians also provide staff and faculty with in-service training on new information technologies and literacy skills.Wellness policy
North Hills School Board adopted a district wide Student Wellness Policy 240 in June 2006. The policy deals with nutritious 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 . Russell National School Lunch ActNational 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 and physical education that 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 approval.
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is determined by school board policy.By Pennsylvania law, all K–12 students in the district, including those who attend a private schools, cyber charter schools and charter schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible to participate in all extracurricular programs, including athletics. They must meet the same eligibility requirements as students enrolled in the district's schools.
Arts
Extracurricular activities are an integral part of the educational program at the North Hills School District. As a provider of learning opportunities that complement the classroom, extracurricular activities are supported by the members of the North Hills School Board of Education. The district offers 43 activities at the senior high, 17 at the junior high and six at each of the seven elementary schools, as well as a district-wide elementary chorus.North Hills boasts successful programs in the arts. The drama club has produced both fall plays and spring musicals annually since 1989, and has one of the oldest theater programs of any Allegheny County public school. In 2007 Nicole Dohoda won the Gene Kelly Award for best actress as "Millie" in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Spencer Whale won the 2010 Gene Kelly Award for best supporting actor as "Lumiere" in the high school's production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". In 2011, Kirsten Hoover won the Gene Kelly Award for best actress for her role as "Nanette" in the high school's production of "No, No, Nanette". Matt Augustyniak won the Gene Kelly Award for best supporting actor for his role as "Billy" in the musical, and Stephanie Higgins won the Gene Kelly Award for best supporting actress for her role as "Lucille". The district's annual "Arts Alive" program is a favorite community-based activity in May, when student art is displayed and various musical groups perform. The North Hills High School Marching Band has been featured in several parades, including the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Parade, and has performed at several Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
football games. The marching band traveled to Disney World in February 2010 for participation in Disney's musician mentoring program.
In April 2007, the North Hills High School Marching Band was featured in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival and parade in Washington D.C. In the fall of 2007, the annual marching band festival featured the performance of an alumni band, and the alumnae band appeared again in 2010 for the 50th Annual Band Festival. In April 2008, members of the North Hills Senior High School Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and Orchestra performed in Chicago and earned multiple honors. Competing against eight instrumental groups from Ontario, Illinois, West Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania, each of the ensembles received awards in the AAA division.
Athletics
Students may choose from among 20 sports at the senior high and 21 at the junior high.North Hills prides itself on its football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
program. The North Hills Indians' successes include:
- 13 Conference Championships: 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010
- 4 WPIAL Championships: 1982, 1985, 1987, 1993
- 2 PIAA State Championship: 1993, 2011
- 1 USA Today National High School Football championship: 1987
The district has had success in other sports as well, including cross country, softball, track and field, soccer, and many others. The results for the latest sports seasons are:
- 2009 Football Season: 4–5 regular season. Advanced to WPIAL Semifinals with underdog victories over #4 Mckeesport and #5 North Allegheny. North Hills was defeated by #1 seed Gateway in the Semifinals.
- 2008–2009 North Hills Inline Hockey won the championship in tier 2AA
- 2008 Football Season: 8–1 regular season. Made WPIAL quarterfinals. Beat North Allegheny 28–14. Only regular season loss was to future WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up Bethel Park as a result of controversial penalty. Quad North Section champions. 5–0 in section.
- 2008 Golf Season: 5th in WPIAL. Section champions.
- 2008 Boys Soccer Season: 6–11 overall. 1–9 in section. Did not qualify for playoffs.
- 2008 Girls Soccer Season: 7–10–1. 3–10–1 in section. Did not qualify for playoffs.
- 2008 Boys Cross Country Season: 8–1 overall. 6–1 in section. 2nd in WPIAL. 14th in PIAA.
- 2008 Girls Cross Country Season: 6–2 overall. 5–2 in section. 9th in WPIAL.
- 2008 Girls Tennis Season: 14–4 regular season record. Made first round of WPIAL team championships.
- 2008 Girls Volleyball Season: 4–12 overall. 2–12 in section. Did not qualify for playoffs.
- 2007–2008 Boys Basketball Season: 15–9 overall record. 5–7 in section. 2008–2009 Boys Basketball season (in progress): 4–4 overall. 1–2 in section. Did not qualify for playoffs.
- 2008–2009 Girls Basketball season (in progress): 3–4 overall. 2–1 in section. Did not qualify for playoffs.
- 2009–2010 Girls Basketball season (in progress): overall. in section. Qualified for WPIAL playoffs.
- 2007–2008 Wrestling Season: 23–4 overall regular season record. 7–2 in section. Made first round of WPIAL playoffs.
- 2008–2009 Wrestling Season (In Progress): 1–1 overall.
- 2007–2008 Ice Hockey Season: 3–13–4 record. Did not qualify for playoffs.
- 2008–2009 Ice Hockey Season (in progress): 0–11 record.
- 2007–2008 Boys Swimming and Diving Season: 11–2 overall.
- 2008–2009 Boys Swimming and Diving Season (in progress): 3–0 overall.
- 2007–2008 Girls Swimming and Diving Season: 6–9 overall.
- 2008–2009 Girls Swimming and Diving Season (in progress): 2–1 overall.
- 2008 Baseball Season: 5–13 overall. 2–10 in section. Did not qualify for playoffs.
- 2008 Softball Season: 10–5 regular season. 8–4 in section. Made WPIAL quarterfinals.
- 2008 Boys Track: WPIAL medalists were Joe Kush for 5th in 1600, Juris Silenieks for 7th in 3200, and Mike Vlah for 8th in 3200. Team did not qualify for team playoffs.
- 2008 Girls Track: WPIAL medalist was Chelsea Grindle for 6th in long jump. Team did not qualify for team playoffs.
- 2008 Boys Volleyball Season: 0–10 in section. Did not qualify for playoffs.
- 2010 Girls Lacrosse Season: 11–2 regular season record. Qualified for playoffs. Achieved WPIAL Section Championship.
North Hills has an intense rivalry with North Allegheny. Their annual football game is scheduled last for each team, and despite season records, it the biggest game of each team's seasons. In 2009, North Hills lost in the regular season matchup, but NH traveled to NA to win in the WPIAL play-offs.
School Renovations
The North Hills School District is in the midst of a long-term elementary facilities plan that calls for the renovation and expansion of McIntyre and Highcliff elementary schools as well as the renovation of Ross Elementary.The end result of the facilities plan will be four comparable elementary schools (Ross, McIntyre, Highcliff and West View) with estimated enrollments of 500–550 students. The plan includes the closing of three small schools: Northway, Perrysville and Seville.
The Northway Elementary School attendance area merged with McIntyre Elementary in August 2009. Perrysville and Seville will close at the end of the 2009–10 school year.
North Hills Senior High School recently underwent a $26.5 million renovation that concluded in 2007. Built in 1972, this is the first major renovation of the facility.