Chestnut Ridge School District
Encyclopedia
The Chestnut Ridge School District covers the Boroughs of New Paris
, Pleasantville
, St. Clairsville
and Schellsburg
and East St. Clair Township, Juniata Township
, King Township, Lincoln Township
, Napier Township, Pavia Township and West St. Clair Township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania
. It encompasses approximately 225 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 10,727. According to District officials, in school year 2005-06 the Chestnut Ridge School District provided basic educational services to
1,779 pupils through the employment of 122 teachers, 78 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 10 administrators.
results in: reading, writing, mathematics and two years of science.
In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Chestnut Ridge School District, was in the 54th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
The district administration attributes the low achievement on the science exams to a lack of emphasis in the district's curriculum, on the content covered in the exam.
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.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 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.
College remediation - According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
study released in January 2009, 8% of Chestnut Ridge 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.
In 2010 the district received $4,628. in a state grant to be used assist students with tuition, fees and books.
8th Grade Reading:
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading:
7th Grade Math:
6th Grade Reading:
6th Grade Math:
5th Grade Reading:
5th Grade Math:
4th Grade Reading:
4th Grade Math:
4th Grade Science:
3rd Grade Reading:
3rd Grade Math:
The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education.
In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.
Chestnut Ridge School District received a $985,663 supplement for special education services in 2010.
The District Administration reported that 48 students (2.86% of students) were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to a dual enrollment program with local colleges. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.
The Chestnut Ridge School Board approved a district antibully policy in November 2008. The district uses the Olweus Bullying Prevention program. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.
Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.
, health insurance
, 5 days paid bereavement leave, professional development reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, 10 sick days, life insurance and other benefits. Department Heads and lead teachers receive extra compensation beyond their salary. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
In 2007, the district employed 110 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $47,706 for 182 school days worked.
Chestnut Ridge School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $967.57 per pupil. The district is ranked 70th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
In 2008, Chestnut Ridge School District reported spending $12,190 per pupil. This ranked 253rd in the commonwealth.
Reserves
In 2009, the district reported a $1,804,108 in a reserved-undesignated fund balance. The undesignated fund balance was reported as zero.
In December 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.
a 6.25% increase. Kennett Consolidated School District
in Chester County
received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.61% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $8,182,492. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $7,897,460. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more. Everett Area School District
received the highest increase in Bedford County for the 2009-10 school year. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District
in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education
, 800 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.
- Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding is for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.
federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands in additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.
in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Chestnut Ridge School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
The Chestnut Ridge School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2010-11. In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.
at $363 per homestead/farmstead. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County
at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. This was the second year they were the top recipient.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently individuals who have income substantially more than $35,000, may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation
, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).
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.
References:
New Paris, Pennsylvania
New Paris is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 214 at the 2000 census. New Paris is located northwest of Bedford, north of Schellsburg and ENE of Somerset.-History:...
, Pleasantville
Pleasantville, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Pleasantville is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pleasantville is located at...
, St. Clairsville
St. Clairsville, Pennsylvania
St. Clairsville is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 86 at the 2000 census.St. Clairsville was named after Northwest Territory Governor Arthur St. Clair and Revolutionary War Major-General.-Geography:St...
and Schellsburg
Schellsburg, Pennsylvania
Schellsburg is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 316 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Schellsburg is located at...
and East St. Clair Township, Juniata Township
Juniata Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Juniata Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,016 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, King Township, Lincoln Township
Lincoln Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Lincoln Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 380 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 16.2 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there...
, Napier Township, Pavia Township and West St. Clair Township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat is Bedford. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. It encompasses approximately 225 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 10,727. According to District officials, in school year 2005-06 the Chestnut Ridge School District provided basic educational services to
1,779 pupils through the employment of 122 teachers, 78 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 10 administrators.
Schools
- Central Elementary School - Grades K-2
- 2534 Quaker Valley Rd.
New Paris, Pennsylvania 15554
- New Paris Elementary School - Grades 3-4
- 4401 Cortland Rd.
New Paris, Pennsylvania 15554
- Chestnut Ridge Middle School (Grades 5-8) was originally constructed as the district's high school in 1955, went through its last renovation/addition process in 2005.
- 3281 Valley Rd.
Fishertown, Pennsylvania 15539
- Chestnut Ridge Senior High School (Grades 9-12) CRSHS went through its last addition/renovation process in 2007.
- 2588 Quaker Valley Rd.
New Paris, Pennsylvania 15554
Academic achievement
The Chestnut Ridge School District was ranked 255th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2010, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on four years of PSSAPennsylvania 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...
results in: reading, writing, mathematics and two years of science.
- 2009 - 252nd
- 2008 - 240th
- 2007 - 262nd of 501 school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times.
In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Chestnut Ridge School District, was in the 54th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
Chestnut Ridge Senior High School
PSSA Results11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 68% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level.
- 2009 - 65%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 64% (21% below basic), State - 65%
- 2007 - 61% (17% below basic), State - 65%
- 2006 - 59%
11th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 64% on grade level (25% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 55% (20% below basic), State - 56%
- 2008 - 55% (24% below basic), State - 56%
- 2007 - 45% (26% below basic), State - 53%
- 2006 - 39% (26% below basic), State - 52%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 48% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 42%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 31% (54% below basic), State - 39%
The district administration attributes the low achievement on the science exams to a lack of emphasis in the district's curriculum, on the content covered in the exam.
Challenge Program
The Challenge Program, Inc. offers $250.00 cash incentives to Chestnut Ridge Senior High School juniors, and seniors who excel in the categories of: Academic Improvement, Attendance, Community Service and Academic Excellence. The program partners with businesses to motivate students both in and out of the classroom by encouraging good habits in students that will last throughout their education and into their future careers. For the 2010-2011 school year, the top 10% of students in each of the categories will be eligible to win $250.00.Graduation Requirements
The Chestnut Ridge Board of Education has determined that students must earn 26 credits to graduate inclduing: English 4 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, Math 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Wellness 2 credits, Physical education 1 credit, Freshman Seminar/Computer Applications 1 credit, Business Education 1 credit, Senior Seminar 0.5 credit, Senior Project 0.5 credits and Electives 7 credits.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.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 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.
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, 8% of Chestnut Ridge 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
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
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...
, 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 Chestnut Ridge Senior High School offers the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. 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.In 2010 the district received $4,628. in a state grant to be used assist students with tuition, fees and books.
Chestnut Ridge Middle School
In 2010 the middle school reported a 95% attendance rate.8th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 84% on grade level. State - 81%
- 2009 - 82%, State - 80%
- 2008 - 83%, State - 78%
- 2007 - 77%, State - 75%
8th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 82% on grade level. State - 75%
- 2009 - 81%, State - 71%
- 2008 - 81%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 73%, State - 67%
8th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 60% on grade level. State - 57%.
- 2009 - 62%, State: - 54%
- 2008 - 59%, State - 52%
7th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 84% on grade level. State - 73%
- 2009 - 73%, State - 71.7%
- 2008 - 71%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 67%, State - 66%
7th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 80% on grade level. State - 77%
- 2009 - 80%, State - 75%
- 2008 - 68%, State - 72%
- 2007 - 67%, State - 67%
6th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 65% on grade level. State - 68%
- 2009 - 75%, State - 67%
- 2008 - 70%, State - 67%
- 2007 - 57%, State - 63%
6th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 78% on grade level. State - 78%
- 2009 - 81%, State - 75.9%
- 2008 - 71%, State - 72%
- 2007 - 75%, State - 69%
5th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 66% on grade level. State - 64%
- 2009 - 67%, State - 64%
- 2008 - 62%, State - 62%
- 2007 - 52%, State - 60%
5th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 79% on grade level. State - 74%
- 2009 - 78%, State - 73%
- 2008 - 78%, State - 73%
- 2007 - 78%, State - 71%
New Paris Elementary Center
In 2010 the school reports a 96% attendance rate.4th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 73%, State - 72% (11% below basic)
- 2009 - 73%, State - 72% (14% below basic)
- 2008 - 66%, State - 70% (20% below basic)
- 2007 - 75%, State - 70%
4th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 91%, State - 84%
- 2009 - 81%, State - 82%
- 2008 - 78%, State - 80%
- 2007 - 85%, State - 78%
4th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 89% on grade level. State - 81%
- 2009 - 92%, State - 83%
- 2008 - 89%, State - 81%
3rd Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 71%, State - 75%
- 2009 - 82%, State - 72%
- 2008 - 76%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 72%, State - 72%
3rd Grade Math:
- 2010 - 85%, State - 84%
- 2009 - 89%, State - 82%
- 2008 - 81%, State - 80%
- 2007 - 82%, State - 78%
Special Education
In December 2009, the district administration reported that 255 pupils or 14.6% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education.
In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.
Chestnut Ridge School District received a $985,663 supplement for special education services in 2010.
Gifted Education
The District Administration reported that 48 students (2.86% of students) were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to a dual enrollment program with local colleges. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.
Bullying policy
The Chestnut Ridge School District administration reported there were 1 incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.The Chestnut Ridge School Board approved a district antibully policy in November 2008. The district uses the Olweus Bullying Prevention program. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.
Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.
Budget
In 2009, the district reports employing over 130 teachers with a starting salary of $34,000 for 184.5 days work. The average teacher salary was $50,518 while the maximum salary is $98,800. In Pennsylvania, the average teacher salary for Pennsylvania's 124,100 public school teachers was $54,977 in 2008. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, Chestnut Ridge School District teachers receive a defined benefit pensionPension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
, health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
, 5 days paid bereavement leave, professional development reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, 10 sick days, life insurance and other benefits. Department Heads and lead teachers receive extra compensation beyond their salary. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
In 2007, the district employed 110 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $47,706 for 182 school days worked.
Chestnut Ridge School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $967.57 per pupil. The district is ranked 70th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
In 2008, Chestnut Ridge School District reported spending $12,190 per pupil. This ranked 253rd in the commonwealth.
Reserves
In 2009, the district reported a $1,804,108 in a reserved-undesignated fund balance. The undesignated fund balance was reported as zero.
In December 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.
State basic education funding
For 2010-11 the Chestnut Ridge School District received a 3.35% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $8,456,203 payment. The highest increase in BEF in Bedford County was awarded to Bedford Area School DistrictBedford Area School District
The Bedford Area School District covers the Boroughs of Bedford, Hyndman, Manns Choice and Rainsburg and Bedford Township, Colerain Township, Cumberland Valley Township, Harrison Township, Londonderry Township and Snake Spring Township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses...
a 6.25% increase. Kennett Consolidated School District
Kennett Consolidated School District
The Kennett Consolidated School District,or KCSD for short, is a public school district serving portions of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is centered on the borough of Kennett Square and also incorporates Kennett Township, New Garden Township, and the southern portion of East Marlborough Twp....
in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.61% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $8,182,492. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $7,897,460. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more. Everett Area School District
Everett Area School District
Everett Area School District is a school district in Pennsylvania. It serves a rural region and encompasses the borough of Everett and the townships of West Providence, East Providence, Monroe, Southampton, and Mann, all in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. EASD encompasses of rural southern...
received the highest increase in Bedford County for the 2009-10 school year. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District
Muhlenberg School District
The Muhlenberg Area School District is a public school district serving parts of Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. It encompasses the borough of Laureldale and the Muhlenberg Township. The district encompasses approximately 13 square miles. Per the 2000 federal census data it serves a resident...
in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.
According to the 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...
, 800 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.
Accountability Block Grants
Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, All Day Kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students. For 2010-11 the Chestnut Ridge School District applied for and received $307,818 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full day kindergarten for the 7th year.Classrooms for the Future grant
The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Chestnut Ridge School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $156,342. For the 2008-09 school year, the district received $45,413. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.Federal Stimulus Grant
The district received an extra $2,151,943 in ARRAArra
Arra is a census town in Puruliya district in the state of West Bengal, India.-Demographics: India census, Arra had a population of 19,911. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Arra has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 59% of the...
- Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding is for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.
Race to the Top grant
School district officials did not apply to participate in the Race to the TopRace to the Top
Race to the Top, abbreviated R2T, RTTT or RTT, is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education competition designed to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education...
federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands in additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.
Common Cents state initiative
The Chestnut Ridge School Board did not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.Real estate taxes
The school board set property tax rates in 2010-2011 at 9.7307 mills. A reassessment of Bedford County real estate values lead to the sharp decline. The revenue to the school district is neutral. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections (Local Tax Enabling Act), which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.- 2009-10 - 52,9000 mills.
- 2008-09 - 52.9000 mills.
- 2007-08 - 46.9000 mills.
Act 1 Adjusted index
The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not authorized to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor StatisticsBureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is a governmental statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and...
in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Chestnut Ridge School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
- 2006-07 - 5.6%, Base 3.9%
- 2007-08 - 4.9%, Base 3.4%
- 2008-09 - 6.3%, Base 4.4%
- 2009-10 - 5.9%, Base 4.1%
- 2010-11 - 4.1%, Base 2.9%
- 2011-12 - 2.0%, Base 1.4%
The Chestnut Ridge School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2010-11. In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.
Property tax relief
In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Chestnut Ridge School District was $173 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,616 property owners applied for the tax relief. The tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property on the individual's tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Bedford County the highest property tax relief went to the Tussey Mountain School DistrictTussey Mountain School District
The Tussey Mountain School District is a public school district serving parts of Bedford County, Pennsylvania and Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The rural district serves a large number of communities. In Huntingdon County, it encompasses the boroughs of Broad Top City, Dudley, and Coalmont as...
at $363 per homestead/farmstead. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. This was the second year they were the top recipient.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently individuals who have income substantially more than $35,000, may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation
Tax Foundation
The Tax Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank founded in 1937 that collects data and publishes research studies on tax policies at the federal and state levels. The organization is broken into three primary areas of research which are the Center for Federal Fiscal Policy, The and the...
, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set by school board policies.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.
Athletics
- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
- Class AA - BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- Class AA - Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- Class AA - FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
- Class AA - GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- Class AAAA - Soccer - Class A/AA
- SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
- Class AA - Girls TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- Class AA - Track and FieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
- Class AA - VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- Class AA - WrestlingWrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
- Class AA
Community Awareness
For numerous years Chestnut Ridge has been devoted to community service work through their various organizations and clubs. Chestnut Ridge FBLA has won many awards through the years with their partnership with the elderly, Humane Society, hospitals, among other organizations. Chestnut Ridge offers eight other organizations for the students to choose from and to help raise awareness on issues such as obesity and tobacco use for younger children.References: