Ringgold High School (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Ringgold High School, part of the Ringgold School District
Ringgold School District
Ringgold School District is a midsized, suburban, public school district located in the northeastern corner of Washington County, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh. The district encompasses 58 square miles including: the city of Monongahela, the boroughs of Donora, New Eagle and Finleyville, and...

, is in Carroll Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Carroll Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Carroll Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,677 at the 2000 census.Carroll Township is strongly allied with the City of Monongahela and the boroughs of Donora and New Eagle...

, which is about thirty miles south of Pittsburgh. The Ringgold School District
Ringgold School District
Ringgold School District is a midsized, suburban, public school district located in the northeastern corner of Washington County, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh. The district encompasses 58 square miles including: the city of Monongahela, the boroughs of Donora, New Eagle and Finleyville, and...

 was formed as a result of the merger of the Donora and Monongahela School Districts.

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 92%. > In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Ringgold School District's rate was 91% for 2010.

Former calculation graduation rate:
  • 2010 - 93%
  • 2009 - 95%
  • 2008 - 92%
  • 2007 - 92%

Academic achievement

In 2011, Ringgold Senior HIgh School achieved AYP status. In 2010 and 20009, the senior high school was in School Improvement II due to chronically low academic achievement of its students.

In 2010 the school ranked 76th. In 2009, Ringgold High School ranked 73rd out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools for academic achievement based on three years of the PSSAs on: reading, writing, math and one year of science.

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 82% on grade level, (4% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
  • 2010 - 78% (10% below basic). State - 66%
  • 2009 - 68%, State - 65%
  • 2008 - 66%, State - 64%
  • 2007 - 62%, State - 65%


11th Grade Math:
  • 2011 - 80%, on grade level (12% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
  • 2010 - 69%, (20% below basic). State - 59%
  • 2009 - 54%, State - 56%
  • 2008 - 65%, State - 56%
  • 2007 - 35%, State - 53%


11th Grade Science:
  • 2011 - 38% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. .
  • 2010 - 42% (13% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 38%, State - 40%
  • 2008 - 35%, State - 39%

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 50% of Ringgold 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
Dual enrollment
In education, dual enrollment involved students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. It may also refer to any individual who is participating in two related programs, but such a general form of usage is uncommon....

 program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school, including the graduation ceremony. 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 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $12,529 for the program.

Challenge Program

The Challenge Program, Inc. offers $250.00 cash incentives to Ringgold High School sophomores, juniors, and seniors who excel in the categories of: Academic Improvement, Attendance, Community Service and Academic Excellence. The program partners with businesses to motivate students both in and out of the classroom by encouraging good habits in students that will last throughout their education and into their future careers. For the 2010–2011 school year, the top 10% of students in each of the categories will be eligible to win $250.00. The program is sponsored by the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce at Ringgold School District.

Graduation requirements

The Ringgold School Board has determined that a students must earn 23 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, Math 3 credits, Science 3 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, Physical Education 1.75 credits, Health 0.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, Graduation Projects .75 credits and 6 credits in Electives. Students must also score at the proficient or advanced level on all of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests taken their junior year or one of the districts four alternative options.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.

By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the graduating class in 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...

, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is determine by school board policy.

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.

Notable alumni

  • Ken Griffey, Sr.
    Ken Griffey, Sr.
    George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...

     (Attended Donora High School before merger)
  • Joe Montana
    Joe Montana
    Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...

  • Fred Cox
    Fred Cox
    Frederick William Cox is a former National Football League kicker who played for the Minnesota Vikings throughout his career . Fred was raised in Monongahela, PA, where his family owned a grocery store...

      (Attended Monongahela High School before merger)
  • Stan Musial
    Stan Musial
    Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...

      (Attended Donora High School before merger)
  • Scott Zolak
    Scott Zolak
    Scott David Zolak is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for nine seasons...

  • Mike Horan
  • United States Congressman Jim Renacci (Attended Donora High School before merger)


References:
Alumni imdb page. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3909108/

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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