Jim Thorpe Area School District

Jim Thorpe Area School District
Address
410 Center Ave
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, Carbon County 18229-1702
United States
Information
Type Public
School board 9 locally elected members
Superintendent Barbara A. Conway, Ed D. (salary $97,544 2009)
School number (570) 325-3691
Faculty 153 teachers (2010)
Grades K-12
Age 4 years old to 21 years old Special Education students
Pupils 2,187 pupils (2009-10)[1]
 • Kindergarten 170
 • Grade 1 136
 • Grade 2 179
 • Grade 3 184
 • Grade 4 168
 • Grade 5 182
 • Grade 6 171
 • Grade 7 183
 • Grade 8 168
 • Grade 9 205
 • Grade 10 178
 • Grade 11 139
 • Grade 12 131
 • Other Enrollment projected to be 2300 in 2019[2]
Budget $36, 073,070 (2012-13)[3]
Tuition for nonresident and charter school students ES - $8,487.44, HS - $8,626[4]
Per pupil spending $13,059 (2008)
Per pupil spending $15,288.37, ranks 100th for spending in PA in 2010
Website http://www.jimthorpesd.org/

The Jim Thorpe Area School District is located in the United States state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the borough of Jim Thorpe and the townships of Penn Forest and South Kidder. It covers a total area of 137 square miles (350 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 11,428. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $17,444, while the median family income was $42,637.[5] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[6] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[7] District officials reported in school year 2007-08, that Jim Thorpe Area School District provided basic educational services to 2,364 pupils. It employed: 161 teachers, 59 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 7 administrators. Jim Thorpe Area School District received more than $4.8 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.

Jim Thorpe Area School District operates three schools: L.B Morris Preschool and full-day kindergarten - 6th grade, Penn Kidder K - 8th grade, and Jim Thorpe Area High School. The high school grades 7th through 12th. LB Morris is located in the town of Jim Thorpe. Penn Kidder Campus is located about 15 miles (24 km) from Jim Thorpe in the town of Albrightsville.

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 Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[8] 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 Jim Thorpe Area School Board and District Administration a "F" 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.[9]

Academic achievement

In July 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying Jim Thorpe Area School District schools as among the lowest-achieving schools for reading and mathematics in 2011. Jim Thorpe Area High School was among the 15% lowest-achieving schools in the Commonwealth. Parents and students may be eligible for scholarships to transfer to another public or nonpublic school through the state's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program passed in June 2012.[10] The scholarships are limited to those students whose family's income is less than $60,000 annually, with another $12,000 allowed per dependent. Maximum scholarship award is $8,500, with special education students receiving up to $15,000 for a year's tuition. Parents pay any difference between the scholarship amount and the receiving school's tuition rate. Students may seek admission to neighboring public school districts. Each year the PDE publishes the tuition rate for each individual public school district.[11] Fifty three public schools in Allegheny County are among the lowest-achieving schools in 2011. According to the report, parents in 414 public schools (74 school districts) were offered access to these scholarships. For the 2012-13 school year, eight public school districts in Pennsylvania had all of their schools placed on the list, including: Sto-Rox School District, Chester Upland School District, Clairton City School District, Duquesne City School District, Farrell Area School District, Wilkinsburg Borough School District, William Penn School District and Steelton-Highspire School District.[12] Funding for the scholarships comes from donations by businesses which receive a state tax credit for donating.

Statewide academic ranking

Jim Thorpe Area School District was ranked 377th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012.[13] The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing math and science.[14] The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.

Overachiever statewide ranking

In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Jim Thorpe Area School District ranked 264th In 2011, the District was ranked 302nd in the Commonwealth.[18] The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."[19]

District AYP status history

In 2011, Jim Thorpe Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.[20] Jim Thorpe Area School District achieved AYP status each year from 2006 through 2010.[21]

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate at Jim Thorpe Area School District was 97%.[22] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Jim Thorpe Area High School's rate was 84.21% for 2010.[23]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

Teacher evaluation study

In 2011, the district agreed to participate in a pilot program to develop a new way to evaluate teachers that, in part, takes into account student achievement. Several York County school districts are participating.[28] The pilot program had 104 K-12 entities, including: nine career and technical centers, nine charter schools and nine intermediate units. Beginning in January 2012, participating school districts will use the new evaluation method and provide feedback to the Department of Education. This new evaluation will not be used to determine an educator’s official 2011-12 assessment. Under the new evaluation system, 50% of the evaluation of a teacher will be based on an observation divided into four categories: planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities. The other half will be based on student achievement (15 percent will be building-level data, 15 percent will be teacher-specific data, and 20 percent will be elective). The new evaluation system has both announced and unannounced observations. There are meetings between the teacher and evaluator before and after the direct observation of a lesson.[29]

High school

Jim Thorpe Area High School is located at 1 Olympian Way, Jim Thorpe. It currently educates students in grades 9-12. In addition, the school hosts the Lehigh Carbon Community College within its building. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 654 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 268 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 50 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.[30] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 3 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[31]

In 2011, Jim Thorpe Area High School was in Warning AYP status. The school achieved one of 6 metrics.[32]

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

11th Grade Math:

11th Grade Science:

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 31% of the Jim Thorpe Area 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.[46] 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.[47] 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.

References

  1. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA, 2010
  2. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2011). "Enrollment and Projections by school district".
  3. ↑ Jim Thorpe Area School District Administration, Budget Income and Expense Summary 2012-13, May 2012
  4. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Public School District Tuition Rates, May 2012
  5. ↑ US Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, 2009
  6. ↑ US Census Bureau (2010). "American Fact Finder, State and County quick facts".
  7. ↑ US Census Bureau (September 2011). "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010" (PDF).
  8. ↑ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
  9. ↑ The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives. "The Pennsylvania Project". Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  10. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (July 2012). "Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program".
  11. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2012). "Tuition rate Fiscal Year 2011-2012".
  12. ↑ Olsen, Laura, State list of failing schools has 53 in county, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, July 26, 2012
  13. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 6, 2012). "Guide to Pennsylvania Schools Statewide ranking".
  14. ↑ "Statewide Honor Roll Rankings 2012". Pittsburgh Business Times. April 5, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Statewide Honor Roll Rankings 2011". Pittsburgh Business Times. April 2011.
  16. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times (April 30, 2010). "Statewide Honor Roll Rankings 2010".
  17. ↑ "Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County". Pittsburgh Business Times. May 23, 2007.
  18. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Overachivers Ranking Information, April 6, 2012
  19. ↑ "Overachiever statewide ranking". Pittsburgh Business Times. May 6, 2010.
  20. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Public School District AYP History, 2011
  21. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania District AYP History 2003-2010, 2011
  22. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Jim Thorpe Area School District AYP Data Table".
  23. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (March 15, 2011). "New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented".
  24. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Jim Thorpe Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card Data table, October 20, 2010
  25. ↑ The Times-Tribune (June 27, 2010). "PA School District Statistical Snapshot Database 2008-09".
  26. ↑ The Times-Tribune (June 25, 2009). "County School Districts Graduation Rates 2008".
  27. ↑ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (2008). "High School Graduation rate 2007" (PDF).
  28. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2011). "More Than 100 Entities Sign Up to Participate in Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilot Program".
  29. ↑ Mason, Angie., Educators: New teacher evaluation system is a lot of talk -- but so far that's good, "The York Daily Record, April 29, 2012
  30. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data - Jim Thorpe Area High School, 2010
  31. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Jim Thorpe Area High School, September 29, 2011
  32. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Jim Thorpe Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011".
  33. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results".
  34. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2010). "2009-2010 PSSA and AYP Results".
  35. ↑ The Times-Tribune (September 14, 2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 PSSA results".
  36. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (August 15, 2008). "2007-2008 PSSA and AYP Results".
  37. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2007). "PSSA Math and Reading results".
  38. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "Jim Thorpe Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011" (PDF).
  39. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Jim Thorpe Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010, October 20, 2010
  40. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Jim Thorpe Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, September 14, 2009
  41. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Jim Thorpe Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2008, August 15, 2008
  42. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Jim Thorpe Area High School Academic Achievement Report Card, 2007
  43. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "2010-2011 PSSA results in Science".
  44. ↑ The Times-Tribune (2009). "Grading Our Schools database, 2009 Science PSSA results".
  45. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2008). "Report on PSSA Science results by school and grade 2008".
  46. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education (January 20, 2009). "Pennsylvania College Remediation Report,".
  47. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2008
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