Pittsburgh Public Schools

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Pittsburgh Public Schools
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
United States
District information
Type Public school
Excellence for All
Grades Pre-K–12
Established 1794
Superintendent Linda Lane
Budget $542,600,000
Students and staff
Students 28,000
Athletic conference PIAA District 8
Colors Black, Gold
Other information
Website Pittsburgh Public Schools
File:Map of Allegheny County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Map of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts
File:Pittsburgh Board of Education.JPG
Board of Education's Administration Building in Oakland

Pittsburgh Public Schools is the public school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and adjacent Mount Oliver.

The combined land area of these municipalities is 55.3 square miles (143 km2) with a population of 342,503 according to the 2000 census.[1] In March 2012, the superintendent became Linda Lane. She has a performance-based contract until Jan 2014.[2] Lane served as Deputy Superintendent[3] from 2006 until her promotion. The school district operates 65 schools with 5,180 full-time employees and serves 29,445[4][5] students with an operating budget of $533.6 million.[5]

Locations:

  • Administration Building—341 S. Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213—Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Facilities Division—1305 Muriel Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203—Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Food Service—8 S. 13th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203—Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Parent-to-Parent Special Education Help Line 412-323-3996

History

The formation of Pittsburgh’s public schools was due to the passing of the Pennsylvania Free Public School Act of 1834. This act provided government aid for the establishment of a city school system which included the creation of four wards that were self-governed. Twenty years later, the wards were disbanded, and the Central Board of Education was founded. This board would govern the entire school district which would consist of nine wards or sub- districts. The first city superintended of schools was elected in 1868. In 1911, the School Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania modified the existing system to include a Board of Public education that would oversee sixty-one sub-districts and two central boards. The Public School Code (Title 22) of 1949 further regulated the provisions and establishment of Pennsylvania state schools. .[1]

Rankings

The following 2012-2013 rankings are based solely on mandatory Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing of 11th grade students in reading and math. Only public high schools participate in PSSA testing.[6]

  1. Taylor Allderdice High School: Ranked 382 out of 592 Pennsylvania Public High Schools
  2. Carrick High School: Ranked 492 out of 592 Pennsylvania Public High Schools
  3. Brashear High School: Ranked 521 out of 592 Pennsylvania Public High Schools
  4. Perry Traditional Academy HS: Ranked 557 out of 592 Pennsylvania Public High Schools
  5. Milliones University Prep HS: No test results listed
  6. Westinghouse High School: No test results listed

Feeder Neighborhoods

The following City of Pittsburgh high schools serve the denoted City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods:[7]

1) Taylor Allderdice High School- Glen Hazel, Hays, Hazelwood, Greenfield, Lincoln Place, New Homestead, Park Place, Point Breeze, Regent Square, South Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill North, Squirrel Hill South and Swisshelm Park.

2) Carrick High School- Allentown, Arlington, Beltzhoover, Bon Air, Carrick, Overbrook, Mt. Oliver (Pittsburgh section), Southside Slopes and St. Clair.

3) Brashear High School- Banksville, Beechview, Brookline, Chartiers City, Crafton Heights, Duquesne Heights, East Carnegie, Elliot, Esplen, Fairywood, Mount Washington, Oakwood, Ridgemont, Sheriden, South Shore, Southside Flats, West End, Westwood and Windgap.

4) Perry Traditional Academy High School- Allegheny Center, Allegheny West, Brighton Heights, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Chateau, East Allegheny, Fineview, Manchester, Marshall-Shadeland, North Shore, Northview Heights, Perry South, Spring Hill-City View, Spring Garden, Summer Hill and Troy Hill.

5) Milliones University Preparatory High School- Bedford Dwellings, Bloomfield, Bluff, Central Business District, Central Lawrenceville, Crawford-Roberts, Friendship, Garfield, Lower Lawrenceville, Middle Hill, Morningside, Polish Hill, Stanton Heights, Strip District, Terrace Village, Upper Hill, Upper Lawrenceville and West Overland.

6) Westinghouse High School- East Hills, East Liberty, Highland Park, Homewood North, Homewood South, Homewood West, Larimer, Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar and Point Breeze North.

Academics

Accelerated Learning Academies

As part of the final right-sizing plan approved by the Board in February 2006, eight of the poorer performing schools were transformed into Accelerated Learning Academies (ALAs).[8] The eight schools were: Arlington Accelerated Learning Academy (K–8, two campuses), Colfax Accelerated Learning Academy (K–8), Fort Pitt Accelerated Learning Academy (Elementary), Martin Luther King Accelerated Learning Academy (K–8), Murray Accelerated Learning Academy (K–8), Northview Accelerated Learning Academy (Elementary), A. J. Rooney Accelerated Learning Academy (Middle), Weil Technology Accelerated Learning Academy (K–8).[9] These schools were put on a longer school year calendar[10] with 10 extra days, as well as a longer school day adding 45 minutes of instructional time.[11] The ALAs use the America's Choice Design Model,[12] developed by the National Center on Education and the Economy.

Kaplan Curriculum

In early 2006 the district contracted with Kaplan K12 Learning Services to develop a core curriculum for grades 6 through 12. The core curriculum will be phased in over the course of three years: during the 2006-7 school year the district will implement the new curriculum for English in grades 6–10 and Math in grades 6, 9 and 10; in 2007-8 English in grades 11 and 12, Math in grades 7 and 11, and Science in grades 6–11 will start; and Math grade 8, and Social Studies grades 6–11 will start in 2008-9. Lesson plans and curriculum coaching will be provided to teachers, and the students will undergo benchmark testing every 6 weeks to assess student progress. Each school will have curriculum coaches on-site to aid teachers and provide them with professional development. The Key Concepts presented in the curriculum will be aligned with the state standards tested for in the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment annual tests.[13] In July, 2010, Bill Gates noted that the school system is a model due to its teacher performance initiatives.[14]

Signature

The district trademark was created with the Design Department of Carnegie Mellon University. The colorful central building blocks and the Pittsburgh Public Schools logotype together form the PPS "signature."

The multi-colored building blocks are closely associated with children and child development. They represent the multi-cultural community of Pittsburgh and the diversity of the programs and students in the district. The blocks are also versatile in that they can be used in any media either in color or black and white.[15]

The Pittsburgh Promise

On December 13, 2006 Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and then Superintendent Mark Roosevelt announced The Pittsburgh Promise initiative. Starting in 2008 The Promise will make available to all graduates satisfying the criteria a scholarship to any accredited post-secondary institution within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The $5–7 million per year necessary to fund this will be raised through private contributions from foundations and corporations.[16]

The Pittsburgh Promise is similar to an existing program in Kalamazoo, Michigan known as the Kalamazoo Promise. A joint City and School District task force will be formed to develop the plan. Work has been done by the District's High School Reform Task Force and the Mayor's Business and Economic Development Committee.[17]

In January 2007 the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers made the first contribution to The Pittsburgh Promise scholarship program. The donation by the union was to show the teachers' support for the program.[18]

In 2008, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center made a $10 million donation with a commitment for as much as $90 million in additional matching funds over the next nine years.[19]

Board of education

The Pittsburgh Public Schools have an elected nine-member Board, who serve without pay. Each member represents a geographic region of the City, and serves for a four-year term.[20] As of December 7, 2015, the members are:[21]

  • Dr. Regina Holley (President) – District 2
  • Sylvia Wilson (First VP) – District 1
  • Terry Kennedy (Second VP) – District 5
  • Thomas Sumpter – District 3
  • Lynda Wrenn – District 4
  • Moira Kaleida – District 6
  • Cynthia Falls – District 7
  • Kevin Carter – District 8
  • Carolyn Klung – District 9

Schools

Elementary schools (K–5)

K–8 Schools

Middle Schools (6–8) and Accelerated Learning Academies

Eighth Grade Rankings

The Pittsburgh Business Times ranked 141 western Pennsylvania eighth grades in 2009. The ranking was based on student academic achievement as reflected by three years of results on: math, reading, writing and one year of science PSSAs.[22]

Secondary Schools, grades (9-12) and grades (6-12)

In 2009, US News and World report ranked 21,000 public high schools, in the United States, based on three factors. First, the schools were analyzed for the number of students who achieved above the state average on the reading and math tests in 2008. Then they considered how the economically disadvantaged students performed against the state average. Finally, they considered the participation rate and the performance of students in college readiness by examining Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate test data. Seventy Pennsylvania high schools achieved ranking bronze, silver or gold rating. Fifty three Pennsylvania high schools achieved bronze.[23] Eight high schools in Allegheny County and 2 Pittsburgh School District high schools achieved inclusion in the ranking. Brashear High School and Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts achieved Bronze ranking.

Special schools

Charter schools

As required by Pennsylvania state law, the District funds a number of Charter schools:[24]

Federal Stimulus grant

The district received an extra $41,961,757 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[28] This funding is for the 2009-2011 school years. Some of that money was used for a five-week summer-school program that began in 2010. Summer Dreamers is open to all students heading into grades 6, 7 and 8.

Closed schools

Prior to 2006

Gladstone was also high school in the past, sent to Brashear in 1976

  • Swisshelm Park School
  • East Hills Elementary School
  • Reizenstein Middle School
  • Connelley Vocational High School

2006 right-sizing

Charter Schools Closed

  • Career Connections Charter Middle School 6–8 — Charter revoked by Board on 27 September 2006[29] — Closed 29 November 2006[30]

Athletics

PIAA District 8

Elementary school
Winter — Swimming
Spring — Track
Middle school
Fall — Cross Country, Girls Softball, Boys Softball, Boys Volleyball, Girls Volleyball
Winter — Swimming, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball
Spring — Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Wrestling
High school
Fall — Cross Country, Football, JV Football, Golf, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball. Water Polo (a non-varsity team at Pittsburgh Schenley High School)
Winter — Boys Swimming, Girls Swimming, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Wrestling
Spring — Boys Baseball, Boys Tennis, Boys Volleyball, Girls Softball, Co-ed Track & Field
  • The George K. Cupples Stadium is located on East Carson Street between 8th and 9th Streets, next to the now closed South Vo Tech High School. — Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Migration to WPIAL begins in September 2012

Certain sports teams in certain high schools within PPS / District 8 are moving to play within the WPIAL / District 7. All football and basketball teams are going to say within the City League. The better teams that can compete with the WPIAL teams in sports other than football and basketball are moving to new sections.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ The Rankings: 8th Grades, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009
  23. ↑ Best High Schools 2008, US News and World Report. December 9, 2009
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Allegheny County ARRA FUNDING Report 2009
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons

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