West Allegheny High School
Encyclopedia
West Allegheny Senior High School is located in Imperial, Pennsylvania
Imperial, Pennsylvania
Imperial is a census-designated place in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,541 at the 2010 census.The CDP is located in North Fayette and Findlay townships.-Geography:Imperial is located at ....

, just outside the Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...

. It houses students grades 9-12, and is currently in the stages of being remodeled. West Allegheny High School is part of the West Allegheny School District
West Allegheny School District
The West Allegheny School District is a midsized, suburban public school district which is located in the western corner of Allegheny County, approximately from downtown Pittsburgh. The district comprises Findlay, North Fayette, and Robinson townships, and Oakdale borough. Imperial is the...

, which extends all across the communities of Imperial, Oakdale, Findlay, North Fayette, and McDonald.

Graduation Rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. West Allegheny Senior High School's rate was 92% for 2010.
  • 2010 - 95%
  • 2009 - 97%
  • 2008 - 97%
  • 2007 - 98%

Academic ranking

West Allegheny Senior High School's 11th grade was ranked 13th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, based on three years of results in 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 on: reading, math, writing and one year of science.

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading
  • 2010 - 76% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
  • 2009 - 79%, State - 65%
  • 2008 - 73%, State - 64%


11th Grade Math:
  • 2010 - 71% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
  • 2009 - 78%, State - 55%
  • 2008 - 58%, State - 56%


11th Grade Science:
  • 2010 - 51% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
  • 2009 - 68%, State - 39%
  • 2008 - 38%, State - 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, 35% of the West Allegheny Senior High School's 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, 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 ceremonry. 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 $9,309 for the program.

Virtual Academy

Beginning in 2011, the high school will offer a new academy that will provide online course offerings consistent with West Allegheny curricula and course expectations. In some classes, students and teachers will go to a virtual meeting place instead of a classroom, that provides students with direct instruction and opportunities for asking/answering questions in real time. Alternatively, some classes are using a student-centered teaching method that provides information through online learning resources. The teacher and student are not simultaneously interacting with course content, but they work as a team to meet the course objectives. Advanced placement courses and foreign languages are offered through the virtual academy.

Extracurriculars

The SHS is home of the Schools TV channel West Allegheny TV, or WATV which is found on local listings channel 45. This channel includes West A Today News such as weather, school cancellations, district or school info(upcoming events, etc.).

The SHS publishes their school newspaper Indian Tribune, and a magazine called the Red Review. The SHS is also home to the districts newspaper called West A Today which puts the news channel into the newspaper. The MS also has their personal school TV show which performs the same as the SHS use. The SHS is also home to the WA RADIO, local radio channel 104.3 FM. The MS also publishes their own school newspaper and magazine called the Indian Today and the WAMS review.

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies that are published in the student handbook.

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.

The school colors are scarlet and gray, with the mascot being a Native American Indian depicted in full head-dress. The school's football team has gained notability by reaching play-off status during past years, and play divisional play-off games in Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...

. Through the 60's and 70's West Allegheny shared an intense rivalry with Fort Cherry School District
Fort Cherry School District
Fort Cherry School District is a small, rural public school district located in southwestern Pennsylvania. It covers a portion of suburban Pittsburgh and some outlying rural areas. The district serves students in a area that includes the towns of McDonald, Midway, and Hickory, as well as the...

.

External links

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