The Cranberry Area School District is a small, rural, public school district which serves the residents of Cranberry Township, Pinegrove Township and Rockland Township in Venango County, Pennsylvania. Cranberry Area School District encompasses approximately . According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 9,698. In 2009, the per capita income of district residents was $16,307, while the median family income was $39,203 a year.American Fact Finder, US Census Bureau, 2010 In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501, and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010. Per school district officials, in school year 2007-08 the Cranberry Area School District provided basic educational services to 1271 pupils through the employment of 115 teachers, 77 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 7 administrators. In 2006, the 1,308 student population was 98% white, 1% black, 1% Asian, Native American <0.1% and <0.2% Hispanic. The Cranberry Area School District received more than $9 million in state funding for school year 2007-08.
The district operates Cranberry Jr/Sr High School (7th-12th) and Cranberry Elementary School (K-6th).
Academic achievement Cranberry Area School District was ranked 250th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2011, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance based on the PSSAs for: reading, writing, mathematics and three years of science.
2010 - 251st 2009 - 250th 2008 - 264th 2007 - 323rd out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts
In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Cranberry Area School District, was in the 55th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best).
Graduation rate In 2011, Cranberry Area Junior Senior High School's graduation rate was 94%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, four-year cohort graduation rate. Cranberry Area School District's rate was 88% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations: 2010 - 89% 2009 - 94% 2008 - 89% 2007 - 89%
High school In 2011, Cranberry Area Junior Senior High School improved to "AYP" status. In 2010, the school was in "Making Progress: in School Improvement I" AYP status due to chronic, low student achievement.
PSSA results 11th grade reading 2011 - 75% on grade level (12 % below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th gradersweare on grade level. 2010 - 74% (8% below basic). State - 66%. 2009 - 67% (16% below basic). State - 65%. 2008 - 71% (18% below basic). State - 65%. 2007 - 71% (16% below basic). State - 65%.
11th grade math 2011 - 71% on grade level (14% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level. 2010 - 67% (17% below basic). State - 59%. 2009 - 54% (17% below basic). State - 56%. 2008 - 62% (22% below basic). State - 56%. 2007 - 56% (21% below basic). State - 53%.
11th grade science 2011 - 45% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. 2010 - 42% (12% below basic), State - 39%. 2009 - 39% (21% below basic). State - 40%. 2008 - 28% (26% below basic). State - 39%.
College remediation According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 21% of Cranberry Area 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.National Center for Education Statistics 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.
Graduation requirements The Cranberry Area School Board has determined that a student must earn 23 credits to graduate, including: English four credits, Mathematics three credits (Algebra and Geometry required), Social Studies four credits, Science three credits (Biology required), Health 0.5 credit, Physical Education one credit, Computer 0.5 credits and seven 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 Cranberry Area High School are required to write a research paper and give an oral presentation.
By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 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.
Dual enrollment The 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 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 a $4,130 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books. The grant was discontinued in 2011 however the program's opportunities continue to be available.
SAT scores From January to June 2011, 50 of the district's students took the SAT exams. The district's average verbal score was 488. The Math average score was 502. The average writing score was 475. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.
Junior high
8th grade reading 2011 - 83% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders were on grade level. 2010 - 81% on grade level. 58% advanced (9% below basic) State - 81%. 2009 - 77%, 51% advanced (14% below basic), State - 80%. 2008 - 77%, 50% advanced (12% below basic), State - 78%. 2007 - 70%, 38% advanced (15% below basic), State - 75%.
8th grade math 2011 - 87% on grade level, 56% advanced (3% below basic). State - 76.9%. 2010 - 76% on grade level, 58% advanced (8% below basic). State - 75%. 2009 - 72%, 45% advanced (13% below basic). State - 71%. 2008 - 72%, 44% advanced (16% below basic). State - 70%. 2007 - 72%, 44% advanced (13% below basic). State - 67%.
8th grade science 2011 - 64% on grade level (19% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level. 2010 - 54% (22% below basic). State - 57%. 2009 - 55%, State - 54%. 2008 - 66%, State - 52%.
7th grade reading 2011 - 71% on grade level (6% below basic). State – 76%. 2010 - 69%, 39% advanced (13% below basic) State - 73%. 2009 - 82%, 45% advanced (9% below basic), State - 71.7%. 2008 - 71%, 35% advanced (17% below basic), State - 70%. 2007 - 77%, 41% advanced (13% below basic), State - 66%.
7th grade math 2011 - 85% on grade level. 67% advanced (3% below basic). State - 78.6%. 2010 - 86%, 67% advanced (5% below basic) State - 77%. 2009 - 87%, 63% advanced (9% below basic), State - 75%. 2008 - 81%, 60% advanced (11% below basic), State - 72%. 2007 - 83%, 64% advanced (8% below basic), State - 67%.
Elementary schools
Cranberry Elementary School provides kindergarten through 6th grade for 449 students employing 34 teachers, in 2010.National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data Cranberry Elementary School information, 2010 The school achieved AYP in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, 80% of the students (grades 3-6) were on grade level in math. Just 70% of the 3rd through 6th graders were reading on grade level with 64% of boys and 76% of girls successful in reading. Pinegrove Elementary School provides kindergarten through 5th grade for 79 students employing 8 teachers, in 2010.National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data Pinegrove Elementary School information, 2010 The school achieved AYP in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, 93% of the students (grades 3-5) were on grade level in math. In reading, 93% of the 3rd through 5th graders were reading on grade level. Rockland Elementary School provides kindergarten through 5th grade for 69 students employing 8 teachers, in 2010.National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data Rockland Elementary School information, 2010 The school achieved AYP in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, 78% of the students (grades 3-5) were on grade level in math with only 63% of boys on grade level while 94% of girls were successful. In reading, 73% of the 3rd through 5th graders were reading on grade level. Just 53% of boys read on grade level, while 94% of girls were reading on grade level.
Special education In December 2009, the district administration reported that 230 pupils or 18.9% of the district's pupils received special education services.
In accordance with state and federal law, 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 Special Education Department.
In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for 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. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system estimates that 16% of the district's students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student's needs accrue the same level of costs. The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. Overidentification of students in order to increase state funding has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.