Thomas Jefferson High School, Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jefferson High School is an American
public secondary school
located in Jefferson Hills
, Pennsylvania
. It is a part of the West Jefferson Hills School District
which includes West Elizabeth
, Jefferson Hills and Pleasant Hills
. These communities have a combined population of 15,000. It is a suburban high school
located nine miles southeast of Pittsburgh
.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
The high school's 11th grade ranked 23rd out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools based on three years of results in PSSAs on: reading, math writing and one year of science.
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
\grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
11th Grade Science:
study released in January 2009, 31% of the Thomas Jefferson High School's 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.
The school permits early graduation for outstanding juniors who are headed to college. They also offer 10 AP courses. Students are responsible for paying the exam fees charges by the College Board.
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. The students at Thomas Jefferson High School are required to complete a project that communicates and exhibits significant knowledge. The presentation must also include a technology component approved by their graduation project teacher.
According to Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the graduating class in 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.
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.
The Thomas Jefferson American football
team won the WPIAL
Class AAA Championships in 1980 at Pitt Stadium
and in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 at Heinz Field
. In 2004, 2007 and 2008, the team won the PIAA
State Championship in Hershey
.
The school newspaper is called the Statesman. The yearbook is titled the Monticello and the literary magazine is named the Spectrum and features fictional submissions written and submitted by actual students and teachers.
Thomas Jefferson's band consists of almost 200 instrumentalists: saxophones, flutes, trombones, krumhorns, piano, valve oil, majorettes, and colorguard each year. The band was featured as the WPXI Band of the week in 1998.
The theater program is also highly lauded, winning the Jenna Hayes Awards in 1993 and 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
public secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in Jefferson Hills
Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania
Jefferson Hills is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes the community of "Large, Pennsylvania". As of the 2010 census the population was 10,619...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It is a part of the West Jefferson Hills School District
West Jefferson Hills School District
West Jefferson Hills School District is a midsized, suburban, public school system for residents of Jefferson Hills, West Elizabeth, and Pleasant Hills. Each of these South Hills communities are suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. West Jefferson Hills School District encompasses approximately 20...
which includes West Elizabeth
West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania
West Elizabeth is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 518 at the 2010 census.-Geography:West Elizabeth is located at ....
, Jefferson Hills and Pleasant Hills
Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania
Pleasant Hills is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,268.-Geography:Pleasant Hills is located at ....
. These communities have a combined population of 15,000. It is a suburban high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located nine miles southeast of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
Graduation rate
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. West Jefferson HIlls School District's rate was 93% for 2010.According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
- 2010 - 98%
- 2009 - 98%
- 2008 - 97%
- 2007 - 97%
Academic Achievement
The high school achieved AYP status in 2009 and 2010.The high school's 11th grade ranked 23rd out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools based on three years of results in PSSAs on: reading, math writing and one year of science.
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 81% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level.
- 2009 - 78%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 78%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 63%, State - 64%
11th Grade Math:
\grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 61%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 67%, State - 56%
- 2007 - 73%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 56% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 54%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 44%, State - 39%
College Remediation rate
According to a Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania 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, 31% of the Thomas Jefferson High School's 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 Thomas Jefferson High School does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through over 400 school districts throughout Pennsylvania, with the assistance of a state grant.The school permits early graduation for outstanding juniors who are headed to college. They also offer 10 AP courses. Students are responsible for paying the exam fees charges by the College Board.
Alternative education programs
Steel Center Vocational Technical Facility is an option for students from tenth through twelfth grades for trade instruction as mechanics, electricians, butchers and beauticians. It is also one of the few technical facilities which offers students a chance to "major" in "law". Job placement from this facility is very high and students can expect to receive professional training in their trade while still attending school to be able to graduate with a high school degree.Graduation Requirements
The West Jefferson HIlls School Board has determined that a student must earn 22.5 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, Math 3 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, Science 3 credits, Computer .5 credits, and Health 1 course, Physical Education 1 course per year, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, and 5.5 electives.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. The students at Thomas Jefferson High School are required to complete a project that communicates and exhibits significant knowledge. The presentation must also include a technology component approved by their graduation project teacher.
According to Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, beginning with the graduating class in 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.
Extracurricular activities
The high school offers a variety of clubs and activities. Eligibility to participate is determined through 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.
The Thomas Jefferson American football
American football
American 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...
team won the WPIAL
Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League
The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League is an interscholastic athletic association in Western Pennsylvania. It is District 7 of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The league is colloquially known as "WIP-ee-al"...
Class AAA Championships in 1980 at Pitt Stadium
Pitt Stadium
Pitt Stadium was a stadium located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1925 to 1999. It served primarily as the home of the University of Pittsburgh's football team, the Pittsburgh Panthers...
and in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 at Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
. In 2004, 2007 and 2008, the team won the PIAA
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
State Championship in Hershey
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
.
The school newspaper is called the Statesman. The yearbook is titled the Monticello and the literary magazine is named the Spectrum and features fictional submissions written and submitted by actual students and teachers.
Thomas Jefferson's band consists of almost 200 instrumentalists: saxophones, flutes, trombones, krumhorns, piano, valve oil, majorettes, and colorguard each year. The band was featured as the WPXI Band of the week in 1998.
The theater program is also highly lauded, winning the Jenna Hayes Awards in 1993 and 1995.
Other activities
- Academic League
- Band
- Class Officers
- Computer Club
- Drama Club
- French Club
- Japanese Club
- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
- History Club
- Honor roll
- Interact Club
- International Thespian Society
- Intramurals
- Kids 4 Wish Kids Club
- Latin Club
- Mock Trial Club
- Monticello
- National Honor Society
- Outdoors Club
- Science Club
- Scrapbook Club
- Spanish Club
- Steel Center
- Student Council