Pleasant Valley High School (Pennsylvania)

Pleasant Valley High School
Location
Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, 18322 United States
Coordinates	40°55′22.8″N 75°24′10.8″W
Information
Motto	"Excellence in Education: A Community Commitment"
Established	1960
School district	Pleasant Valley School District
Faculty	107 teachers
Grades	10-12
Enrollment	1,537 pupils (2010)
Student to teacher ratio	14:1
School color(s)	Royal blue and white
Mascot	Bear
Website	Pleasant Valley High School

Pleasant Valley High School is a midsized, rural, public high school in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania. The school's name was given by its founder, John C. Mills, who took it from a common name for the area of the locals.

Graduation Rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 93%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Pleasant Valley High School's rate was 78% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 94%
• 2009 - 94%
• 2008 - 92%
• 2007 - 92%

Academic achievement

In 2011, Pleasant Valley High School declined to Corrective Action II 3rd Year status due to chronic low student academic achievement. In 2010, the high school was in Corrective Action II 2nd Year status due to continuing low student achievement. In compliance with No Child Left Behind, the administration was mandated to notify parents about the low achievement and that they could transfer their child to a successful school in the district. Additionally, the administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop a School Improvement Plan and to submit it for state approval.

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 70% on grade level, (13% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 69%, (14% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 65% (17% below basic). State - 65%
• 2008 - 59% (22% below basic). State - 65%
• 2007 - 65% (15% below basic). State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 65% on grade level (15% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 62%, (19% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 58%, (17% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 39% (35% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 45% (31% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 36% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 32% (17% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 42% (15% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 26% (21% below basic). State - 39%

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 25% of Pleasant Valley 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 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.

SAT Scores

From January to June 2011, 310 Pleasant Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 479. The Math average score was 486. The Writing average score was 455. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.

Graduation requirements

The Pleasant Valley School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 28.5 credits to graduate including: Math 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 4 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 1 credit, Drivers Ed theory 0.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, Computer Lit 0.5 credits and 6 PSSA Enhancement/electives. Each student in the High School, sophomores and juniors, must be registered for at least 8.0 credits per year. Seniors are required a minimum of 6.5 credits. Students who score below the proficient level on the 11th grade PSSA test must enroll in and demonstrate proficiency in a 9 week 1⁄2 credit course in Math and/or Reading prior to graduating called PSSA Enhancement.

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. Completion of the graduation projects earns the student 0.5 credit towards graduation.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores will count for at least one-third of the final course grade. In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level. Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

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. By state regulation, 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. For the first few years of the program, the state offered 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, Pleasant Valley School District received a state grant of $7,422 for the program.

Dress code

The district has a strict dress code which limits the type, style and colors of clothing and jewelry students may wear.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined 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.

Pleasant Valley has had athletic successes in many different events. For over a dozen years, the baseball team was undefeated. All of the school's teams participate in the Mountain Valley Conference.

Pleasant Valley Wrestling The wrestling program has grown strong over the past several years. In 2002-2003 the school was ranked top 10 in the PIAA AAA rankings. They were also ranked top 50 nationally. 2 wrestlers in 2010 medaled in states.

Pleasant Valley Football The Pleasant Valley Football program has been a major contender in the Mountain Valley Conference (PA) (MVC) for quite some time, winning the District 11 Championship in 1999 and numerous Conference Championships. Since then they have been MVC champions a few more times and have continued to be a top competitor in the MVC. The New Football Coach Jim Terwilliger was hired in March 2009. Terwilliger, the former Harlon Hill Trophy winner (Division 2's Heisman Trophy) is trying to put the Bears back in the MVC race. The Proudest part of Pleasant Valley Football's history is "The Old Oaken Bucket". It is an annual rivalry game between the Pocono Mountain East Cardinals and the PV Bears, which has been played since the 60's. For 8 years, up until the 07-08 season, the bears have kept the bucket. This is an individual record for the most times in a row either of the teams have had the bucket. Also Pleasant Valley has had the bucket, the trophy given to the team who wins the game each year that really is a bucket with a football trophy topper on it, the most times out of all 40+ years they have been playing this game. Pleasant Valley currently holds "The Bucket" after an emotional game that came down to the last play. Pleasant Valley won 24-19. Pleasant Valley leads the series with Pocono Mountain.

Pleasant Valley Marching Band The 2010 Pleasant Valley High School Marching Band was crowned the USSBA Group 4A Pennsylvania State Champions with their show "Western Portraits". The show included songs such as The Magnificent Seven, Silverado, and Hoedown.