Chambersburg Area Senior High School (CASHS) is a public high school located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The school serves grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. Students come from Chambersburg and surrounding townships of Hamilton, Greene, Lurgan, Letterkenny and Guilford. CASHS is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,858 students and 105.5 classroom teachers on a FTE basis, for a student-teacher ratio of 17.6. There are four administrators, five guidance counselors, three paraprofessionals, eight secretaries and seven aides working at the school. CASHS has occupied its current facilities since 1955. In 1962, 26 rooms were added to the high school building.
Video Chambersburg Area Senior High School
Graduation rate
In 2012, the graduation rate at Chambersburg Area Senior High School was 80%. In 2011, the graduation rate was 85%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Chambersburg Area School District's rate was 87% for 2010.
- Former calculation graduation rate
- 2010 - 87%
- 2009 - 90%
- 2008 - 90%
- 2007 - 90%
Maps Chambersburg Area Senior High School
Academic achievement
In 2012, Chambersburg Area Senior High School declined further to Corrective Action II 6th Year due to its ongoing failure to improve student achievement in mathematics and reading. The school achieved just 7 of 18 measured academic metrics. In 2011, Chambersburg Area Senior High School declined to Corrective Action II 5th Year due to its ongoing failure to improve student achievement in mathematics. Science achievement is also very low. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer the parent the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the District. Additionally the Chambersburg Area Senior High School administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the School must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students. Chambersburg Area Senior High School is eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants which the school must apply for each year.
- 2010 - Corrective Action II 4th Year due to chronically low student achievement.
- 2009 - Corrective Action II 3rd Year due to unresolved low student achievement.
- 2008 - Corrective Action II 2nd Year due to chronic low student achievement.
- 2007 - Corrective Action II
- 2006 - School Improvement Level II
- 2005 - School Improvement Level I
- PSSA Results:
- 11th Grade Reading:
- 2012 - 64% on grade level, (19% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2011 - 69% (17% below basic). State - 69.1%
- 2010 - 64% (20% below basic). State - 67%
- 2009 - 63%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 64%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 61%, State - 65%
- 11th Grade Math:
- 2012 - 53% on grade level (28% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2011 - 60%, (20% below basic). State - 60.3%
- 2010 - 61% (24% below basic). State - 59%
- 2009 - 57%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 59%, State - 56%
- 2007 - 60%, State - 53%
- 11th Grade Science:
- 2012 - 34% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2011 - 37% (18% below basic). State - 40%.
- 2010 - 34% (24% below basic). State - 39%
- 2009 - 35%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 32%, State - 39%
Science in Motion
Chambersburg Area Senior High School and both of the District's middle schools took advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate. Gettysburg College provided the experiences to the schools.
College remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 16% of Chambersburg Area Senior 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.
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, including the graduation ceremony. 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. 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. The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $12,909 for the program.
SAT scores
In 2012, 362 Chambersburg Area Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 490. The Math average score was 489. The Writing average score was 476. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400. 485 In 2011, 301 Chambersburg Area Senior High School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was . The Math average score was 490. The Writing average score was 463. 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 Chambersburg Area School Board has determined that in order to graduate a student must earn 23.5 credits, including: 4 Credit Units of English; 4 Credit Units of Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, 4th math); 3.5 Credit Units of Social Science (Early Am. Hist., World Hist., Am. Hist., and Civics); 3 Credit Units of Science (Biology plus 2 other sciences); 2 Credit Units of Wellness and Fitness; 6.5 Credit Units of Electives; 0.25 Credit Units of Speech.
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. Chambersburg Area Senior High School requires the completion of a Junior Project to fulfill this requirement. The Junior Project is completed in conjunction with their junior English class.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams. The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade. Students have several opportunities to pass the exam, with those who do not able to perform a project in order to graduate. For the class of 2019, a Composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements. 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. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.
Other High School Options
Students in Chambersburg Area School District have several options outside of the traditional high school program.
Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School offers a 9th grade through 12th program with a technology emphasis, career exploration and acceleration to graduate early. Students apply to attend.
Franklin County Career and Technical Center - votech training program.
Franklin Virtual Academy - 9th through 12th. A joint venture of Chambersburg Area School District, Fannett-Metal School District, Greencastle-Antrim School District, Southern Huntingdon County School District and Waynesboro Area School District. A self paced, custom blend of rigorous, multi-media rich online classes. FVA students have the option of filling their schedules with online classes or creating a blend of online and in-school classes in their home high school. Students graduate with a diploma from their respective high school.
Awards and recognition
Principal Dr. Barry Purvis was recognized as the 2006 High School Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals.
Extracurricular Activities and Color Day
Chambersburg Area Senior High School offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities and an extensive, costly sports program. In addition to a full range of sports, the school also maintains a band, an orchestra, a glee club, a student newspaper, a national honors society, a national art honors society, a variety of language clubs, a math club, a ping pong club, a ski club, an economics club, a sports club, a drama club, a camera club, a religious fellowship, a student government, a small business club, and a number of other organizations.
Chambersburg Area Senior High School is also well known for its Color Day tradition. Every year since the early 1920s, classes are suspended for a series of games and competitions between the freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior classes. The term Color Day originated from the hues given to the different grades: gold and blue are worn by future graduates of an odd numbered year (example 2013) and red and white for the even numbered years (example 2014).
Athletics
The 7,000-seat Trojan Stadium was overhauled in 2006 as part of a $6.5 million renovation project that included additional home seating and renovated visitors bleachers, along with a new press box. Other enhancements to the facility included artificial turf, a running track, concession stands, restrooms, ticket booths and parking lots. The Trojans called Henninger Field their home for football from 1898 until 1956, for soccer from 1968-2003 and 2005, and for baseball from the early 1900s until 2006.
The District funds:
On June 18, 2004, the Chambersburg Area Senior High School Trojans boys baseball team won the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class AAA state championship, defeating Peters Township High School by 12-5, in a game played at RiverSide Stadium in Harrisburg. Coming on the heels of this state title, the baseball team was ranked 7th in the Eastern United States by USA Today in their final 2004 rankings.
The Girls' Gymnastics team was recognized as the 2005 team state champion in the State Silver Division.
Track-and-field team member Lorraine Hill had the second-longest girls high school javelin throw in the nation in 2006 with a throw of 157 feet, four inches. Hill won the 2006 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AAAA state javelin championship, won second-place finish at the Penn Relays and finished third at the Nike Team Nationals Outdoor competition in the javelin that year. Hill was named a first-team All-American by American Track & Field Magazine for her achievements in 2006.
References
External links
- Chambersburg Area Senior High School
- National Center for Education Statistics for Chambersburg Area Senior High School
- Chambersburg Area Senior High School Web page at Great Schools Web site
- Alumni Site for the CASHS Class of 1968
Source of the article : Wikipedia