South Fayette Township School District

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South Fayette Township School District
300 px
"Tradition, Pride, and Excellence"
Address
3680 Old Oakdale Road
McDonald, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County 15057-2580
United States
Information
Type Public
School board 9 locally elected members
Superintendent Bille P Rondinelli, Ed.D.
Administrator Michael Loughead, Ed.D. - Assistant Superintendent
Mr Brian Tony - Director of Finance
Staff 231 staff members
Faculty 188 (2014-2015) [1]
109 (2010)[2]
Grades K-12
Age 5 years old to 21 years old special education
Pupils 2877 (2014-2015) [3]
Color(s) Kelly Green and White
Team name Lions
Budget $68.5 million (2015-16)

$41.43 million (2013-14)[4]
$37.5 million (2012-13)[5]
$32,906,175.81 (2010-11)[6]
$32,206,517 (2009-10)[7]
$29,283,609 (2008-09)

$28,836,579 (2007-08)
Per pupil Spending $13,140 (2008)
Per pupil Spending $12,673.58 (2010)
Website http://www.southfayette.org

The South Fayette Township School District is a small suburban, public school district serving the Pittsburgh suburb of South Fayette Township, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses approximately 21 square miles (54 km2). In 2010, the district's population was 14,416 people.[8] In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $26,082, while the median family income was $65,473.[9] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 [10] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[11]

According to District officials, in school year 2009-10 the South Fayette Township School District provided basic educational services to 2,380 pupils. The District employed: 165 teachers, 166 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 11 administrators. South Fayette Township School District received more than $6.5 million in state funding in school year 2009-10.[12]

South Fayette Township School District operates four schools: South Fayette High School (9th-12th), South Fayette Middle School (6th-8th), South Fayette Intermediate School (3rd-5th) and South Fayette Elementary School (K-2nd). The Intermediate School was put into use in time for the 2013-14 school year.

Governance

South Fayette Township School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serves without compensation for a term of four years), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[13] The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low-income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates each public school district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills. The Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the School Board.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the South Fayette Township School Board and District Administration a "C-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.[14]

Academic achievement

South Fayette Township School District was ranked 7th among Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2014[15] The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing, math and science.[16] The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.

  • 2014 - 7th [17]
  • 2013 - 8th
  • 2012 - 10th
  • 2011 - 12th [18]
  • 2008 - 15th [19]
  • 2007 - 15th out of 501 school districts.[20]
Overachiever statewide ranking

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. South Fayette Township School District ranked 44th. In 2012, the district was 50th. [21] The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."[22]

In 2009 the 8th grade was ranked 6th out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on three years of student academic achievement in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science.[23] (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County)

District AYP status history

In 2011 and 2012, South Fayette Township School District achieved AYP status. [24] In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.[25] South Fayette Township School District achieved AYP status each year from 2003 to 2010.[26]

South Fayette Ranking Among Western Pennsylvania School Districts

South Fayette Township High School ranking among high schools in Pittsburgh region ranked by SAT score

Combined SAT scores
Year Combined Ranking
2014[34] 1717 6th
2013[35] 1612 9th
2012[36] 1589 11th

Graduation rate

In 2012, South Fayette Township School District’s graduation rate was 89.5%.[37] In 2011, the graduation rate was 88.5%.[38] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. South Fayette Township High School's rate was 85% for 2010.[39]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

Enrollment

School Year K5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total
2004-2005[44] 145 173 140 171 166 132 152 140 162 138 172 119 119 1929
2005-2006[45] 150 152 176 145 174 165 135 154 145 168 140 162 116 1982
2006-2007[46] 174 163 156 183 153 178 168 148 160 154 175 131 162 2105
2007-2008[47] 181 186 165 163 180 156 177 173 139 170 143 165 126 2124
2008-2009[48] 180 187 194 167 174 190 167 193 177 160 174 146 170 2279
2009-2010[49] 222 199 189 198 180 183 195 163 195 191 159 163 143 2380
2010-2011[50] 207 231 205 200 201 179 192 205 159 202 186 153 166 2486
2011-2012[51] 224 209 241 214 201 202 186 195 201 159 199 172 145 2548
2012-2013[52] 230 243 213 246 225 205 207 188 197 216 158 193 167 2713
2013-2014[53] 201 246 253 225 248 232 209 214 198 205 216 153 192 2793
2014-2015[54] 208 226 261 254 235 257 240 206 214 209 202 209 156 2877

Extracurriculars

The District offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania interscholastic Athletics Association (PIAA).

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.[55]

Band

South Fayette High School has been home to the “Little Green Machine” Marching Band for over 60 years. Content is created entirely by the band's members; the graduating class assumes responsibility of choreography while the director arranges the music. Much of what the band practices today has been passed down through generations of South Fayette students and directors, including its three-part audition process and “rookie” spot rotation. Another key element of the Little Green Machine tradition requires all majorettes to successfully complete one full year as an instrumentalist in the band before auditioning to become a majorette. Most notably, the Little Green Machine marches relatively little, instead performing high-energy dances, now adopted by many other Pittsburgh-area bands (a number of whom now employ South Fayette alumni as band directors). In addition to numerous performances at Pittsburgh Steelers games, the band has performed in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Walt Disney World “Magic Music Days” Parade and many other high visibility venues across the East Coast. In 1994, the band was profiled in a Fox Sports Profile. In 2010, it was awarded the County Executive's Award and deemed the best marching band in the county.

Clubs

Clubs/Activities in the Middle School include the student-run Newspaper, Student Council, National Junior Art Honor Society, the Spring Musical, Lion Hearts Club, Yearbook Staff, Media Club, Green Team, Drama Club, 5th/6th and 7th/8th Grade Chorus, 5th Grade and 6th Grade (separate) band and 7th/8th grade band, 7th/8th grade Jazz Ensemble, Spanish, German, and French Club, Friends of Rachel Club, MathCounts, and TSA.

Club/Activities in the High School include French Club, German Club, Spanish Club, Health Careers Club, Library Club, Teen Institute, Circle of Friends, Art Club, National Honor Society, Technology Student Association, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Student Government, Prom Committee, Science Club, Homecoming Committee, Ski Club, Student Newspaper, Powder Puff Team, Yearbook Staff, Forensic Science Club, Media Team, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), Band (Concert, Jazz, & Marching), Chorus (Concert & Show Choir), Drama Club, Spring Musical, Fall Drama Production, Stage Crew, Quiz Bowl Team, and Model United Nations.

Athletics

The following sports are offered to students in grades 9-12:

Fall Season: Varsity and Junior Varsity Football, Varsity and Junior Varsity Cross-Country, Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity Soccer, Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity Soccer, Varsity Golf, Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity Volleyball, Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity Tennis, Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleading

Winter Season: Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball, Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball, Boys/Girls Varsity Swimming, Varsity and Junior Varsity Wrestling, Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleading, Hockey, Track (Indoor)

Spring Season: Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity Baseball, Girls Varsity & Junior Varsity Softball, Boys Tennis, Varsity and Junior Varsity Track

In February 2010, the Boys Basketball Team won the PIAA State Championship in State College, Pennsylvania.

In November 2010, 2013, and 2014 the Football team won the WPIAL championship

In December 2013 and 2014, the Football team won the PIAA State Championship in Hershey, Pennsylvania, for the third and Fourth in the history of the school. It should be noted that while this is flaunted and praised by many in the district, the championships were in the "AA" classification. South Fayette had been a "AAA" school before hand. During the time of the championships the school was only 6 students short of being classified as a AAA school.

Other State Champions: Nick Carr - Wrestling 145 lbs. Nicole Hilton -Track and Field 3200 meters

Other WPIAL Champions: Girls 200 Freestyle Relay 2012 (Swimming), Stephen Zombek 1m Diving 2013 & 2014, Boys 2013 Cross Country, Girls Track and Field 2013 & 2014

Controversy

In April 2014, it was reported that Christian Stanfield, a sophomore at South Fayette High, was brought up on charges of disorderly conduct after he recorded several people bullying him. When he reported it to school officials, they forced him to delete the video and called police to report that Stanfield may have violated the state's wiretapping law; Pennsylvania law requires all parties to consent to being recorded. The police opted to charge him with disorderly conduct, a charge that was upheld by a judge. However, the charges were later dropped by the Allegheny County District Attorney. [56]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data - South Fayette Township School District, 2012
  3. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/enrollment/7407/public_school_enrollment_reports/620541
  4. ↑ Pittsburgh Post Gazette, South Fayette school board approves budget, June 26, 2013
  5. ↑ Pittsburgh PostGazette, Budget would raise taxes again in South Fayette, May 31, 2012
  6. ↑ South Faytette Township School District Administration, 2010-11 School Budget Presentation, May 2010
  7. ↑ South Faytette Township School District Administration, 2010-11 School Budget Presentation, April 2010
  8. ↑ US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Poverty Data by Local Educational Agency, 2011
  9. ↑ US Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, 2009
  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.
  12. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General Office, South Fayette Township School District report, 2013
  13. ↑ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
  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.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/slideshow/2014/04/11/slideshow-top-50-school-districts-in-pennsylvania.html
  18. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2012/04/09/7-local-school-districts-in-pas-top-15.html
  19. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times, Pennsylvania School District Rankings 2008, May 15, 2008
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Overachivers Ranking Information, April 4, 2013
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ The Rankings: Eighth grade, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15th, 2009.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Public School District AYP History, 2011
  26. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania District AYP History 2003-2010, 2011
  27. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2015/04/10/south-fayette-unseats-mt-lebanon-as-top-ranking.html
  28. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/morning-edition/2014/04/mt-lebanon-unseats-upper-st-clair-as-regions-top.html
  29. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2013/04/05/honorrollrank2013.html
  30. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2012/04/09/7-local-school-districts-in-pas-top-15.html
  31. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2011/04/08/Upper-St-Clair-tops-school-list.html
  32. ↑ http://northofpittsburgh.com/docs/school%20ranking%20BT.pdf
  33. ↑ http://northofpittsburgh.com/docs/school%20ranking%20BT.pdf
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, South Fayette Township School District AYP Data Table 2011, September 29, 2011
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, South Fayette Township School District Academic Achievement Report Card Data table 2010, October 20, 2010
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1434350/enrollment_public_school_withgender_2004-05_xls
  45. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1264766/enrollment_public_school_withgender_2005-06_xls
  46. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1264766/enrollment_public_school_withgender_2006-07_xls
  47. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1264766/enrollment_public_school_withgender_2007-08_xls
  48. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1264766/enrollment_public_school_withgender_2008-09_xls
  49. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1264766/enrollment_public_school_withgender_2009-10_xls
  50. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1264771/enrollment_public_school_withgender_2010-11_xls
  51. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1338092/enrollment_public_schools_2011-12_xlsx_%282%29
  52. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1338093/enrollment_public_schools_2012-13_xlsx
  53. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1416133/enrollment_public_schools_2013-14_xlsx
  54. ↑ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1497002/enrollment_public_schools_2014-15_xlsx
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ http://www.wtae.com/news/south-fayette-student-to-fight-wiretapping-charge-for-recording-bullying/25507510#!bGv3fn

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