Highlands High School (Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania)

Highlands High School is a suburban, public secondary school in the Natrona Heights neighborhood of Harrison Township in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the Highlands School District and has a current enrollment of about 800 students in grades nine through twelve.^[2]

Graduation rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Highlands School District's rate was 80% for 2010.^[3]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 – 92% ^[4]
• 2009 – 93% ^[5]
• 2008 – 96% ^[6]
• 2007 – 96% ^[7]

Academic achievement

In 2010, the Highland High School achieved AYP status. In 2009, the school was in Warning status due to low student achievement.^[8]

In 2009, Highlands High School's 11th grade ranked 68th out of 123 western Pennsylvania 11th grades for academic achievement on three years of PSSAs in: reading, writing, math and one year of science.^[9]

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 62% on grade level. Boys 52%/Girls 71%, (19% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level.^[10]
• 2009 - 62%, Boys 57%/Girls 67%, (20% below basic). State - 65% ^[11]
• 2008 - 64%, State - 65% ^[12]

11th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 49% on grade level. Boys 47%/Girls 51%, (27% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[13]
• 2009 - 51%, Boys 52%/Girls 49%, (24% below basic). State - 56% ^[14]
• 2008 - 63%, State - 56%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 36% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 32%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 27%, State - 39% ^[15]

College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 24% of Highlands 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 or community colleges.^[16] 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.^[17] 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 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 at their high school. Highlands has partnered with Penn State New Kensington and Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC).^[18] 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.^[19] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[20]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $23,672 for the program.^[21]

Graduation requirements

The Highlands School Board requires that a student earn 24.2 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, Mathematics 4 credits, Science 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Arts and Humanities 2 credits, Health/Phys. Ed. 2.2 credits, and Electives 4 credits.^[22] Every student must successfully complete one credit of English, math and social studies every year.

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.^[23] At Highlands High School students are required to complete a career portfolio over 4 years. It includes Individual and group projects, visitations to post-secondary schools, community service hours, and career job shadowing, coupled with career awareness activities.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes 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 shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.^[24]

Notable alumni

• Cookie Gilchrist, former NFL player
• Dick Modzelewski, former NFL player
• Ed Modzelewski, former NFL player
• Cliff Montgomery, former NFL player

Tutoring

Tutoring is available to high school students, after school Monday thru Thursday from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., for: Math, English, Science and Social Studies.

AP courses

Students have access to several Advance Placement courses including AP English, AP Calculus, AP U.S. History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, and AP Economics. Upon successful completion of the course and achieving a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the exam administered by the College Board, a student can earn college credits. The exams are offered in the area on an annual schedule.

Alleged Bullying

An alleged hazing incident happened on October 5, 2014 at the Highlands High School soccer fields. Sixteen-year-old Austin Babinsack, a student with Autism and soccer player at Highlands High School in Natrona Heights, PA, was duct-taped to the goalpost by two 17-year-old classmates and fellow members of the school soccer team. He was left there for 15 to 20 minutes until passers-by noticed and freed him. Jim Turner, the soccer coach, and the two students were suspended for at least five days. The majority of staff and students united with the soccer players as they felt there was no ill intentions and believed that the media as well as Austin's mother, was trying to exploit the situation and make it into something it was not.^[25]

Air pollution

In 2008, a study released by USA Today, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Maryland indicated that the school may have dangerous levels of chromium in its air, due to its proximity to steel mills of Allegheny Technologies.^[26]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Highlands School District is a member of the WPIAL and PIAA, Highlands School District teams compete at the class AAA or AA level.

Eligibility to participate is set in school board policy. All students must be passing four major subjects to be eligible to participate. Students declared ineligible are not permitted to practice or play from Monday through the end of next Sunday.^{[27][28][29][30]}

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.^[31][32]

The district offers the following sports programs: BOYS - Baseball 9-12, Basketball 7-12, Cross Country 9-12, Marching Band (sometimes 8 but usually) 9-12, Football 7-12, Golf 9-12, Soccer 7-12, Swimming 9-12, Tennis 9-12, Track & Field 7-12, Wrestling 9-12.

GIRLS - Basketball 7-12, Cross Country 9-12, Marching Band (sometimes 8 but usually) 9-12, Soccer 7-12, Softball 7-12, Swimming 9-12, Tennis 9-12, Track & Field 7-12, Volleyball 9-12.

See also

• List of high schools in Pennsylvania

References

External links

• Highlands High School webpage
• Highlands High School newspaper website
• Highlands School District website

Coordinates: 40°37′04″N 79°43′37″W / 40.617843°N 79.726903°W / 40.617843; -79.726903