Penn Manor High School
Encyclopedia
Penn Manor High School is a large secondary school
located in Millersville
, Pennsylvania
. It is home to approximately 1900 students. It is part of the Penn Manor School District
.
. In 1932 Millersville became a borough
, and the high school was operated jointly by the school directors of Manor Township
and Millersville Borough. The school was renamed Manor-Millersville High School. Pupils from Conestoga, Martic and Pequea Townships as well as Washington Boro
attended the school on a tuition basis. On July 13, 1953, an agreement was signed by six school boards – Conestoga Township, Manor Township, Martic Township, Millersville Borough, Pequea Township, and Washington Boro – to construct and operate a new junior–senior high school, to be named Penn Manor High School.
Ground was broken on May 24, 1956, and the building was finished on September 4, 1958. The new auditorium
, with a seating capacity of 1100, was dedicated on November 9, 1958, to A. Norman Ranck, supervising principal, and the library was dedicated to Sanders P. McComsey, former president of the Joint School Board. The capacity of the building was 1500 students and cost of construction and equipment was $3,325,000. As described in a 1959 architectural journal, “The ultra-modern Penn Manor High School in traditionally conservative Lancaster County
represents an abrupt break with many local building traditions. It also serves as an ingenious solution to a knotty architectural problem. Designing a large building to fit a relatively small site, with a fall of 55 feet in 700 feet, was further complicated by solid ledges of sub-surface rock. The result was a three level plan, molding the building to the contours of the site. Another unusual and interesting example of adapting the building to the site is the flat S-shape of the 600 foot long main corridor – interrupting what would have been an overly long, monotonous, and confining hallway.” Delays were caused by a steel strike and a concrete strike, but the building was completed in September 1958, and the new school opened to 1425 students in grades 7-12.
In March 1961, the old high school building on High School Avenue was razed and the ground graded and seeded to provide additional outdoor physical education
facilities. By 1961 the enrollment, 7-12, at Penn Manor High School had reached 1730 with an estimated enrollment of 2000 by 1964. The School Board arranged to construct a new junior high school on the hill east of the high school for 600 pupils at an estimated cost of $1.2 million. By 1966, increasing enrollment required another junior high school building in Marticville. This $2.5 million building was dedicated in 1968 and designated as a middle school, housing grades 6-8. The Millersville Junior High was also reorganized as a middle school
. The ninth grade
remained in the High School where a four classroom portable building was added. Millersville Middle School became a ninth grade building, and the high school housed grades 10-12. Students routinely crossed the parking tiers to change classes between buildings. As the district population continued to grow, the Penn Manor School Board found it necessary to add a second middle school in the northern end of the district. After acquiring 50 acres of land from the John G. Herr farm at the intersection of Charlestown Road and Ironstone Ridge Road, Manor Middle School was completed in 1994.
As student enrollment continued to grow, another renovation project was planned to increase the capacity of the high school while updating the facilities to better meet the needs of our students. The two-year project began in 1995 and required the ninth grade students to remain in their respective middle schools another year. Students in grades 10-12 occupied half of the high school while the other half was being renovated. Staff and students then picked up and moved all books, furniture and equipment into the renovated half of the building in 1996, and construction began on the other half. The $30 million renovation project connected the former ninth grade building and the high school. New construction took place over the former parking tiers with a new cafeteria (seating capacity of 600), gymnasium (capacity of 2000), library/media center, and enclosed walkway. All classrooms were reconfigured with additional classrooms located in the former library and cafeteria. The familiar curving hallways remained but new terrazzo
floors, ceiling tiles, and freshly painted lockers were added. Along with updated lab facilities, technology was a huge part of the project, adding over 500 computers throughout the building.
Penn Manor’s switch to a 4 x 4 block schedule coincided with the renovation project. Where a traditional schedule has students moving to eight classes a day, the block schedule has four 90-minute classes in the fall and four different classes in the spring
. Considering the size of the building, eight minutes were needed between classes get from one end of the building to the other. The block schedule decreased the amount of time students spent in the hallways. Study hall
s were eliminated and graduation requirements were gradually increased from 21 to 28 credits required for graduation. All students are required to take four credits each in English
, math, science
and social studies
. An Honors program
was developed and Advanced Placement offerings were increased.
AYP status declined to Corrective Action I due to chronic low achievement of its 11th grade students. In 2009, the school was in School Improvement II. Under No Child Left Behind, the school must allow students to transfer to a higher performing high school with in the district.
issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Penn Manor High School's rate was 94% for 2010.
Traditionally calculated graduation rate:
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education
, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district. At Penn Manor School District the project focuses on career development.
Students must complete 30 hours of community service as a part of the graduation project.
Penn Manor High School also offers many honors courses in a variety of subjects. Honors courses have an additional weighting of 0.5 extra quality points while AP courses have an additional 1.0 extra quality point. Most of these AP courses run for a full academic year. The only AP course that runs in 1-semester is AP Microeconomics, available in the spring only.
.
Penn Manor High School received a major technology renovation during the summer of 2009. The "Smart Classroom" renovation provided ceiling mounted data projectors, sound systems, and integrated multimedia
switching boxes for most building classrooms. A new Meru wireless N network
was also installed as part of the facility renovation.
Since June 2000, the high school has been one of the few Pennsylvania schools to provide a webcast
of senior graduation ceremonies. The live commencement webcast has been viewed by hundreds of viewers around the country and around the world.
Penn Points, the student news magazine of Penn Manor High School launched a new online version of the student newspaper in October 2009. With the launch of the online version of Penn Points, Penn Manor High School ceased all paper publications.
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.
's academic trivia show, BrainBusters. In 2010, the team of Grant Elledge, Brendan Stoeckl, Lars Andersen, Henry Stewart, and Christine Sharp returned to the Brainbusters championship
and earned a second place finish (out of 38 teams). In 2011, the team's lineup of Lars Andersen, Helen Hutchens, Morgan Flood, Garrett Young, and Anthony Cazillo made it to BrainBusters' Final Four, losing to rival Manheim Township.
team was the state champion in 2005. The girls field hockey
team won the state championship in 2008. The class of 2004 baseball team was the first to achieve a sectional championship since 1973. In addition, the wrestling
team achieved section champions in 2006.
The Girls Track and Field
teams of 1977 and 1978 were Lancaster County Champions and sent several girls on to compete and win at the District Track and Field Meet where several girls went on to compete and place at the Pennsylvania State High School Track and Field Meet.
In 2006-2007 The Boys Basketball
team made it all the way to the District Three Championship. They eventually lost to powerhouse Harrisburg High. They won their first round in states against Liberty, then eventually bowed out in the second round to Philadelphia Public League champion Simon Gratz
. In 2009-2010, Cody Erb anchored the student section known to many as the "Comet Crazies". Rules and regulations were put in place after that year outlining how to behave at basketball games after many students that year were repramanded for their actions at basketball games. Erb has since been regarded as a legend at the school.
In 2008-2009 the football
team had a revival season under new head coach Todd Mealy, going from a 1-9 record in 2007-2008 to an 9-3 overall record the following year, eventually bowing out in the second round of playoffs to powerhouse Cumberland Valley
. The week four game against section one rival Hempfield
saw Comets defeat the Black Knights, who were led by previous PM coach Bob Forgrave.
The Penn Manor field hockey team made two consecutive state championship appearances in 2007 and 2008 under head coach Matthew Soto and were able to bring the title home to Millersville in 2008. In 2009, the Comets had an undefeated regular season in the Lancaster Lebanon League and proceeded to win the Section 1, Lancaster Lebanon League, and District III championship titles.
program, responsible for the fall play
and spring musical
, is called Penn Manor Productions. Penn Manor Productions teaches students how to build sets, hang lights
, paint, design sound, apply realistic stage makeup, find scenic props, and assist with costumes
. Recently the "techie" program has taken the next step. Students are now trained on all matters of theatre, so that the students can run the auditorium for any production (play, musical, or assembly) without assistance. Being one of the largest programs at the school, Penn Manor Theatre offers hundreds of students an opportunity to learn about all aspects of the art of theatre.
Penn Manor's theatre club is International Thespian Society (ITS)
Troupe #274. ITS meets once a week during homeroom
club period. ITS members earn theatre points for hours spent on theatre work. Upon earning enough points for induction into ITS, students may wear ITS insignia
at graduation; however, induction is not required for club participation. ITS activities include an apple dumpling
fundraiser
, aiding charities such as TOTS-EAT food drive and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, attending state conference, and assisting Penn Manor Productions by serving as ushers for performances. Participation in both ITS and PMP is not required, but most ITS members are active in shows, and most PMP cast/crew are ITS members. ITS Troupe #274 is run by a group of elected student officers supervised by faculty director and advisers.
During the 2010 International Thespian Society Conference held in December at Connellsville High School
, Penn Manor students Katie Irwin and Charles Blymier were inducted into the 2010 PA Thespian Performance Hall of Fame and Technical Hall of Fame, respectively. In addition, Charles Blymier won a Technical Cash Award, and Katie Irwin was elected to the state board.
since 2003. TARC is a national rocketry contest for grades 7-12. The school has reached the national finals every year and won the national championship in 2004 with a team composed of Cam Aumet, Bob O'Connor, and Benjamin Raush. The Penn Manor Rocket teams have been recognized as one of the best TARC programs in the country. In 2010, Penn Manor's TARC team won first place in the nation. The team members were Brendan Stoeckl, Jordan Franssen, Nate Bernhardt, and Tyler Funk. In addition to winning impressive awards, the team traveled to London to compete against the national champions from the U.K.
and France
in an international rocketry competition at the Farnborough air show
. On July 23, 2010 the team defeated the U.K. and France to bring the international title to the United States to the first time in the competition's history.
In addition to the TARC, Penn Manor High School's Technology Student Association (TSA)
Chapter has placed 1st in the nation in events. In June 2006, Josh Dyer, William Killian, and Mark Peifer placed 2nd in the System Control Technology event.
Penn Manor's website initiatives and technology programs were selected by Macromedia
/Adobe Software for a case study in 2005.
The Middle Schools, Marticville and Manor, are both schools containing 7th and 8th grades. Manor Middle School also has the district offices. The 7 elementary schools are: Central Manor, Ann LeTort, Eshleman, Hambright, Conestoga, Pequea, and Martic. Elementary schools operate for the Kindergarten
classes up to the sixth grade. The high school, Penn Manor High School, goes from grade nine to grade twelve
Virtual High School is available to students 7-12th grades. Students, who meet graduation requirements, receive a Penn Manor diploma. Penn Manor has partnered with Lancaster-‐Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, as well as, EdisonLearning to provide this alternative to its students. All these students have full access to participate in Penn Manor School District's extracurricular activities.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in Millersville
Millersville, Pennsylvania
Millersville is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 7,774.-Geography:Millersville is located at ....
, 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...
. It is home to approximately 1900 students. It is part of the Penn Manor School District
Penn Manor School District
The Penn Manor School District is a large, rural, public school district located in southern in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Penn Manor School District encompasses approximately 110 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 37,942. In 2009, the...
.
History
During the existence of this public high school, it has been known successively as the Manor Township High School, Manor-Millersville High School, and Penn Manor High School. Manor Township High School held its first graduation in 1922 at the Model School on George Street across from Old Main in Millersville, PennsylvaniaMillersville, Pennsylvania
Millersville is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 7,774.-Geography:Millersville is located at ....
. In 1932 Millersville became a borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
, and the high school was operated jointly by the school directors of Manor Township
Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Manor Township is a township in west central Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. Manor Township takes its name from the Manor of Conestoga, which was originally surveyed and reserved for William Penn in 1719. It was changed to its present form in 1759...
and Millersville Borough. The school was renamed Manor-Millersville High School. Pupils from Conestoga, Martic and Pequea Townships as well as Washington Boro
Washington Boro, Pennsylvania
Washington Boro is an unincorporated community in Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Susquehanna River. The zip code here is 17582...
attended the school on a tuition basis. On July 13, 1953, an agreement was signed by six school boards – Conestoga Township, Manor Township, Martic Township, Millersville Borough, Pequea Township, and Washington Boro – to construct and operate a new junior–senior high school, to be named Penn Manor High School.
Ground was broken on May 24, 1956, and the building was finished on September 4, 1958. The new auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
, with a seating capacity of 1100, was dedicated on November 9, 1958, to A. Norman Ranck, supervising principal, and the library was dedicated to Sanders P. McComsey, former president of the Joint School Board. The capacity of the building was 1500 students and cost of construction and equipment was $3,325,000. As described in a 1959 architectural journal, “The ultra-modern Penn Manor High School in traditionally conservative Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
represents an abrupt break with many local building traditions. It also serves as an ingenious solution to a knotty architectural problem. Designing a large building to fit a relatively small site, with a fall of 55 feet in 700 feet, was further complicated by solid ledges of sub-surface rock. The result was a three level plan, molding the building to the contours of the site. Another unusual and interesting example of adapting the building to the site is the flat S-shape of the 600 foot long main corridor – interrupting what would have been an overly long, monotonous, and confining hallway.” Delays were caused by a steel strike and a concrete strike, but the building was completed in September 1958, and the new school opened to 1425 students in grades 7-12.
In March 1961, the old high school building on High School Avenue was razed and the ground graded and seeded to provide additional outdoor physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
facilities. By 1961 the enrollment, 7-12, at Penn Manor High School had reached 1730 with an estimated enrollment of 2000 by 1964. The School Board arranged to construct a new junior high school on the hill east of the high school for 600 pupils at an estimated cost of $1.2 million. By 1966, increasing enrollment required another junior high school building in Marticville. This $2.5 million building was dedicated in 1968 and designated as a middle school, housing grades 6-8. The Millersville Junior High was also reorganized as a 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...
. The ninth grade
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
remained in the High School where a four classroom portable building was added. Millersville Middle School became a ninth grade building, and the high school housed grades 10-12. Students routinely crossed the parking tiers to change classes between buildings. As the district population continued to grow, the Penn Manor School Board found it necessary to add a second middle school in the northern end of the district. After acquiring 50 acres of land from the John G. Herr farm at the intersection of Charlestown Road and Ironstone Ridge Road, Manor Middle School was completed in 1994.
As student enrollment continued to grow, another renovation project was planned to increase the capacity of the high school while updating the facilities to better meet the needs of our students. The two-year project began in 1995 and required the ninth grade students to remain in their respective middle schools another year. Students in grades 10-12 occupied half of the high school while the other half was being renovated. Staff and students then picked up and moved all books, furniture and equipment into the renovated half of the building in 1996, and construction began on the other half. The $30 million renovation project connected the former ninth grade building and the high school. New construction took place over the former parking tiers with a new cafeteria (seating capacity of 600), gymnasium (capacity of 2000), library/media center, and enclosed walkway. All classrooms were reconfigured with additional classrooms located in the former library and cafeteria. The familiar curving hallways remained but new terrazzo
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is a composite material poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other suitable chips, sprinkled or unsprinkled, and poured with a binder that is cementitious, chemical or a combination of both...
floors, ceiling tiles, and freshly painted lockers were added. Along with updated lab facilities, technology was a huge part of the project, adding over 500 computers throughout the building.
Penn Manor’s switch to a 4 x 4 block schedule coincided with the renovation project. Where a traditional schedule has students moving to eight classes a day, the block schedule has four 90-minute classes in the fall and four different classes in the spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
. Considering the size of the building, eight minutes were needed between classes get from one end of the building to the other. The block schedule decreased the amount of time students spent in the hallways. Study hall
Study Hall
Study hall or study period is a term for a place and/or time during the school day where students are assigned to study when they are not scheduled for an academic class. They are most commonly found in high schools and some middle schools, especially in the United States...
s were eliminated and graduation requirements were gradually increased from 21 to 28 credits required for graduation. All students are required to take four credits each in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, math, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
. An Honors program
Honors course
Honors course is a distinction applied in the United States to certain classes to distinguish them from standard course offerings. The difference between a regular class and the honors class is not necessarily the amount of work, but the type of work required and the pace of studying...
was developed and Advanced Placement offerings were increased.
Academics
In 2011, the high school declined further to Corrective Action II 1st Year status due to low student achievement by 4 sub groups, especially in math and reading. In 2010, Penn Manor High SchoolPenn Manor High School
Penn Manor High School is a large secondary school located in Millersville, Pennsylvania. It is home to approximately 1900 students. It is part of the Penn Manor School District.-History:...
AYP status declined to Corrective Action I due to chronic low achievement of its 11th grade students. In 2009, the school was in School Improvement II. Under No Child Left Behind, the school must allow students to transfer to a higher performing high school with in the district.
Graduation Rate
In 2011, the graduation rate was 96%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Penn Manor High School's rate was 94% for 2010.
Traditionally calculated graduation rate:
- 2009-2010 - 97%
- 2008-2009 - 97%
- 2007-2008 - 96%
- 2006-2007 - 96%
- 2005-2006 - 95%
- 2004-2005 - 93%
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading- 2010-2011 - 69% on grade level, (16% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009-2010 - 71% (16% below basic). State - 66%
- 2008-2009 - 66% (16% below basic). State - 65%
- 2007-2008 - 72% (14% below basic). State - 65%
- 2006-2007 - 74% (13% below basic). State - 65%
- 2005-2006 - 78% (9% below basic). State - 65%
- 2004-2005 - 71% (15% below basic). State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
- 2010-2011 - 60%, on grade level (17% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009-2010 - 58% (22% below basic). State - 59%
- 2008-2009 - 58% (20% below basic). State - 56%
- 2007-2008 - 68% (18% below basic), State - 56%
- 2006-2007 - 66% (13% below basic). State - 53%
- 2005-2006 - 71% (12% below basic). State - 52%
- 2004-2005 - 63% (17% below basic). State - 51%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010-2011 - 47% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. .
- 2009-2010 - 45% (10% below basic). State - 39%
- 2008-2009 - 49% (10% below basic). State - 40%
- 2007-2008 - 49%, State - 39%
College remediation:
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 23% of Penn Manor High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher EducationPennsylvania 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 books. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. For the 2009-2010 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $13,500 for the program.Graduation requirements
The Penn Manor School Board has determined that 28 credits are required for graduation including: English 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Physical Education/Safety 1 credit, and Physical Education/Health 1 credit. There is also a Family Consumer Science requirement.By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district. At Penn Manor School District the project focuses on career development.
Students must complete 30 hours of community service as a part of the graduation project.
Advanced Placement courses
As of 2010-2011, Penn Manor High School offers courses in the following Advanced Placement subjects:- BiologyAP BiologyIn the United States, Advanced Placement Biology , is a course and examination offered by the College Board to high school students as an opportunity to earn placement credit for a college-level biology course....
- Calculus ABAP CalculusAdvanced Placement Calculus is used to indicate one of two distinct Advanced Placement courses and examinations offered by the College Board, AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC....
- Calculus BCAP CalculusAdvanced Placement Calculus is used to indicate one of two distinct Advanced Placement courses and examinations offered by the College Board, AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC....
- ChemistryAP ChemistryAdvanced Placement Chemistry is a course and examination offered by the College Board as a part of the Advanced Placement Program to give American and Canadian high school students the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and earn college-level credit.-The course:AP Chemistry is a course...
- English Literature and CompositionAP English Literature and CompositionAdvanced Placement English Literature and Composition is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program.-The Course:This course is designated for motivated students with a command of standard English, an...
- Environmental ScienceAP Environmental ScienceAdvanced Placement Environmental Science is a course offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program to high school students interested in the environmental and natural sciences...
- European HistoryAP European HistoryAdvanced Placement European History is a course and examination offered by the College Board through the Advanced Placement Program...
- French LanguageAP French LanguageAdvanced Placement French Language and Culture is a course offered by the College Board to high school students in the United States as an opportunity to earn placement credit for a college-level French course...
- German LanguageAP German LanguageAdvanced Placement German Language is a course and examination provided by the College Board through the Advanced Placement Program...
- MicroeconomicsAP MicroeconomicsAdvanced Placement Microeconomics is a course for students interested in college-level work in microeconomics and/or gaining advanced standing in college. The course begins with a study of fundamental economic concepts such as scarcity, opportunity costs, production possibilities, specialization,...
- PhysicsAP Physics BAP Physics B is an Advanced Placement science course that is divided into nine different sections: Newtonian Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Waves and Optics, and Atomic and Nuclear Physics. The course is equivalent to a one-year college course that...
- PsychologyAP PsychologyThe Advanced Placement Psychology course and corresponding exam is part of the College Board's Advanced Placement Program. This course is tailored for students interested in the field of psychology and as an opportunity to earn placement credit or exemption from a college-level psychology course...
- Spanish LanguageAP Spanish LanguageAdvanced Placement Spanish Language is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program.-The course:...
- StatisticsAP StatisticsAdvanced Placement Statistics is a college-level high school statistics course offered in the United States through the College Board's Advanced Placement program...
- Studio ArtAP Studio ArtAP Studio Art is a series of Advanced Placement Courses divided into three different categories: AP Studio Art Drawing, AP Studio Art 2D, and AP Studio Art 3D.-The portfolio:...
- US Government
- US History
Penn Manor High School also offers many honors courses in a variety of subjects. Honors courses have an additional weighting of 0.5 extra quality points while AP courses have an additional 1.0 extra quality point. Most of these AP courses run for a full academic year. The only AP course that runs in 1-semester is AP Microeconomics, available in the spring only.
Technology initiatives
In September 2007, Penn Manor High School was awarded $585,907 as part of the Pennsylvania Classrooms for the Future Project (CFF). CFF funding was used to purchase 60 data projectors, 60 PolyVision interactive whiteboards, and 475 Macbook laptopssMacBook
The MacBook was a brand of Macintosh notebook computers built by Apple Inc. First introduced in May 2006, it replaced the iBook and 12-inch PowerBook series of notebooks as a part of the Apple–Intel transition. Positioned as the low end of the MacBook family, the Apple MacBook was aimed at the...
.
Penn Manor High School received a major technology renovation during the summer of 2009. The "Smart Classroom" renovation provided ceiling mounted data projectors, sound systems, and integrated multimedia
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
switching boxes for most building classrooms. A new Meru wireless N network
Wireless network
Wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is not connected by cables of any kind. It is a method by which homes, telecommunications networks and enterprise installations avoid the costly process of introducing cables into a building, or as a connection between various equipment...
was also installed as part of the facility renovation.
Since June 2000, the high school has been one of the few Pennsylvania schools to provide a webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
of senior graduation ceremonies. The live commencement webcast has been viewed by hundreds of viewers around the country and around the world.
Penn Points, the student news magazine of Penn Manor High School launched a new online version of the student newspaper in October 2009. With the launch of the online version of Penn Points, Penn Manor High School ceased all paper publications.
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policy All student athletes must be passing all credits with a "C" average to participate in extracurriculars. Tutoring assistance is available and required for struggling students.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.
Quiz Bowl
In 2006, the Quiz Bowl Team consisting of members Justin Bradfield, Chelsea Shover, Kevin Brent, and Philip Gruber earned first place honors on WGALWGAL
WGAL is the NBC-affiliated television station for South Central Pennsylvania that is licensed to Lancaster. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 8 from a transmitter near U.S. 30 north of Hallam. The transmitter site and tower is also where WGAL's radio partner, WROZ "101.3...
's academic trivia show, BrainBusters. In 2010, the team of Grant Elledge, Brendan Stoeckl, Lars Andersen, Henry Stewart, and Christine Sharp returned to the Brainbusters championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
and earned a second place finish (out of 38 teams). In 2011, the team's lineup of Lars Andersen, Helen Hutchens, Morgan Flood, Garrett Young, and Anthony Cazillo made it to BrainBusters' Final Four, losing to rival Manheim Township.
Sports
PMHS is the home of the Comets sports teams who compete in section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Penn Manor athletic teams have won four state championships. The girls soccer team won the state title in both 2002 and 2005, and the boys baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team was the state champion in 2005. The girls field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
team won the state championship in 2008. The class of 2004 baseball team was the first to achieve a sectional championship since 1973. In addition, the wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
team achieved section champions in 2006.
The Girls Track and Field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
teams of 1977 and 1978 were Lancaster County Champions and sent several girls on to compete and win at the District Track and Field Meet where several girls went on to compete and place at the Pennsylvania State High School Track and Field Meet.
In 2006-2007 The Boys Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team made it all the way to the District Three Championship. They eventually lost to powerhouse Harrisburg High. They won their first round in states against Liberty, then eventually bowed out in the second round to Philadelphia Public League champion Simon Gratz
Simon Gratz High School
Simon Gratz High School is a secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. An inner-city school, it is perhaps best-known for its famous alumni . Originally operated as a public school by the School District of Philadelphia, Gratz has been run as a charter school by Mastery Charter...
. In 2009-2010, Cody Erb anchored the student section known to many as the "Comet Crazies". Rules and regulations were put in place after that year outlining how to behave at basketball games after many students that year were repramanded for their actions at basketball games. Erb has since been regarded as a legend at the school.
In 2008-2009 the 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...
team had a revival season under new head coach Todd Mealy, going from a 1-9 record in 2007-2008 to an 9-3 overall record the following year, eventually bowing out in the second round of playoffs to powerhouse Cumberland Valley
Cumberland Valley School District
The Cumberland Valley School District is a large, suburban public school district located in Central Pennsylvania. It covers Hampden Township, Monroe Township, Middlesex Township and Silver Spring Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It serves about 7,700 students and features three...
. The week four game against section one rival Hempfield
Hempfield School District
The Hempfield School District is a school district of 7218 students educated in 10 schools by 420 teachers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is a member of Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13...
saw Comets defeat the Black Knights, who were led by previous PM coach Bob Forgrave.
The Penn Manor field hockey team made two consecutive state championship appearances in 2007 and 2008 under head coach Matthew Soto and were able to bring the title home to Millersville in 2008. In 2009, the Comets had an undefeated regular season in the Lancaster Lebanon League and proceeded to win the Section 1, Lancaster Lebanon League, and District III championship titles.
Theatrics
Penn Manor's theatreTheatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
program, responsible for the fall play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
and spring musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, is called Penn Manor Productions. Penn Manor Productions teaches students how to build sets, hang lights
Stage lighting
Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of stage lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. Stage lighting has grown considerably in recent years...
, paint, design sound, apply realistic stage makeup, find scenic props, and assist with costumes
Stage clothes
Stage clothes is a term for any clothes used by performers on stage.More specifically, the term is sometimes used only for those clothes which are specially made for the stage performance by a costume designer...
. Recently the "techie" program has taken the next step. Students are now trained on all matters of theatre, so that the students can run the auditorium for any production (play, musical, or assembly) without assistance. Being one of the largest programs at the school, Penn Manor Theatre offers hundreds of students an opportunity to learn about all aspects of the art of theatre.
Penn Manor's theatre club is International Thespian Society (ITS)
International Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high-school and middle-school theatre students located at more than 3,600 affiliated secondary schools across the United States, Canada, and abroad. The International Thespian Society was founded in Fairmont, West Virginia...
Troupe #274. ITS meets once a week during homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom or advisory is the classroom session in which a teacher records attendance and makes announcements. It can also be called Registration or Planning Period...
club period. ITS members earn theatre points for hours spent on theatre work. Upon earning enough points for induction into ITS, students may wear ITS insignia
Insignia
Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction...
at graduation; however, induction is not required for club participation. ITS activities include an apple dumpling
Apple dumpling
An apple dumpling is a pastry filled with apple, cinnamon and occasionally raisins. Apples are peeled and cored, placed on a portion of dough, then filled with cinnamon and sugar. Then the dough is folded over the apples and the dumplings are baked until tender.Apple dumplings are a native food in...
fundraiser
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
, aiding charities such as TOTS-EAT food drive and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, attending state conference, and assisting Penn Manor Productions by serving as ushers for performances. Participation in both ITS and PMP is not required, but most ITS members are active in shows, and most PMP cast/crew are ITS members. ITS Troupe #274 is run by a group of elected student officers supervised by faculty director and advisers.
During the 2010 International Thespian Society Conference held in December at Connellsville High School
Connellsville Area Senior High School
Connellsville Area High School is a public high school, located in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. It is operated by the Connellsville Area School District. The school has a census of approximately 1325 of students in grades 10-12.-School history:...
, Penn Manor students Katie Irwin and Charles Blymier were inducted into the 2010 PA Thespian Performance Hall of Fame and Technical Hall of Fame, respectively. In addition, Charles Blymier won a Technical Cash Award, and Katie Irwin was elected to the state board.
National recognition
Penn Manor and Manor Middle school have participated in Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC)Team America Rocketry Challenge
The Team America Rocketry Challenge is an annual American model rocketry competition for students in grades 7 to 12 sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry. The competition began in 2003 as a way to mark the 100th anniversary of flight, but due...
since 2003. TARC is a national rocketry contest for grades 7-12. The school has reached the national finals every year and won the national championship in 2004 with a team composed of Cam Aumet, Bob O'Connor, and Benjamin Raush. The Penn Manor Rocket teams have been recognized as one of the best TARC programs in the country. In 2010, Penn Manor's TARC team won first place in the nation. The team members were Brendan Stoeckl, Jordan Franssen, Nate Bernhardt, and Tyler Funk. In addition to winning impressive awards, the team traveled to London to compete against the national champions from the U.K.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in an international rocketry competition at the Farnborough air show
Farnborough Air Show
The Farnborough International Airshow is a seven-day international trade fair for the aerospace industry which is held in even-numbered years in mid-July at Farnborough Airfield in Hampshire, England....
. On July 23, 2010 the team defeated the U.K. and France to bring the international title to the United States to the first time in the competition's history.
In addition to the TARC, Penn Manor High School's Technology Student Association (TSA)
Technology Student Association
The Technology Student Association is an international Career and Technical Student Organization made up of over 150,000 Middle School and High School Technology Education Students. TSA is the premier CTSO dedicated to STEM Standards: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics...
Chapter has placed 1st in the nation in events. In June 2006, Josh Dyer, William Killian, and Mark Peifer placed 2nd in the System Control Technology event.
Penn Manor's website initiatives and technology programs were selected by Macromedia
Macromedia
Macromedia was an American graphics and web development software company headquartered in San Francisco, California that produced such products as Flash and Dreamweaver. Its rival, Adobe Systems, acquired Macromedia on December 3, 2005 and controls the line of Macromedia...
/Adobe Software for a case study in 2005.
Twilight School
The district offers an alternative education program for high school students. Students are graded in both academics and behavior each day. A student must earn a 70% for their behavioral grade to be eligible to return to regular education, participate in program incentive events, field trips and/or obtain administrative permission for extra curricular activities.Schools in the District of Penn Manor
Penn Manor School District has a total of 10 schools: 1 high school, 2 middle schools, and 7 elementary schools.The Middle Schools, Marticville and Manor, are both schools containing 7th and 8th grades. Manor Middle School also has the district offices. The 7 elementary schools are: Central Manor, Ann LeTort, Eshleman, Hambright, Conestoga, Pequea, and Martic. Elementary schools operate for the Kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
classes up to the sixth grade. The high school, Penn Manor High School, goes from grade nine to grade twelve
Virtual High School is available to students 7-12th grades. Students, who meet graduation requirements, receive a Penn Manor diploma. Penn Manor has partnered with Lancaster-‐Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, as well as, EdisonLearning to provide this alternative to its students. All these students have full access to participate in Penn Manor School District's extracurricular activities.