Brentwood High School (Pennsylvania)

Brentwood High School is a small, suburban high school located in Brentwood, Pennsylvania, United States, outside of Pittsburgh. It is part of the Brentwood Borough School District.

Local ranking

In 2010, the Brentwood Borough High School was ranked 34th out of 104 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, for academic achievement based on five years of the PSSAs on: reading, writing, math and three years of science.^[1] in 2010, the high school ranked 51st.^[2] In 2009, the high school ranked 25th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools.^[3]

Graduation rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Brentwood Borough School District's rate was 94% for 2010.^[4]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 92% ^[5]
• 2009 - 97%^[6]
• 2008 - 94%
• 2007 - 97% ^[7]

Academic achievement

In 2010 and 2009, the high school achieved AYP status.^[8]

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 74% on grade level (13% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level.^[9]
• 2009 - 59% (23% below basic), State - 65%
• 2008 - 70%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 82%, State - 65%^[10]

11th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 64% on grade level (17% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 43% (29% below basic), State - 56% ^[11]
• 2008 - 60%, State - 56% ^[12]
• 2007 - 73%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2010 - 44%, State - 39% ^[13]
• 2009 - 34%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 29%, State - 39%^[14]

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 35% of Brentwood Borough School District 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.^[15] 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.^[16] 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 Brentwood Borough School Board requires a minimum of 25 credits for a student to graduate including: English 4 credits, Graduation project 1 credit, Social Students 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Mathematics 4 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, Health and PE. 1 and Electives 6 credits.^[17] Additionally, the board requires that the student achieve a score at the advanced or proficient levels on the writing, reading and mathematics assessments of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) administered in the eleventh grade.^[18]

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.^[19] At Brentwood Borough a students may focus on: research on a Curriculum-related project; a School/Community improvement project; an Entrepreneurial project; an Internship or apprenticeship with a local business or corporation or a personal interest project.^[20]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes 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.^[21]

Dual enrollment

The high school offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. 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, including the graduation ceremony. 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.^[22] 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.^[23] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $1,940 for the program.^[24]

Disciplinary code and demerit system

The high school has a highly developed system from unexcused tardiness and public displays of affection to terroristic threats/acts and violation of the Pennsylvania Crime Code. The system is progressive and can ultimately end in expulsion from school.^[25]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. The school board determines eligibility policies to participate in these programs.^[26][27]

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. The students must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.^[28][29][30]

Sports programs

• Girls Volleyball
• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball
• Girls Softball
• Baseball
• Cross Country
• Swimming
• Track and Field
• Golf

Notable alumni

Referenced on individual Wikipedia page links.

• Michael J. Fisher, retired Chief, US Border Patrol, - Class of 1982
• Joe Schmidt, former NFL player for the Detroit Lions (1953–1965), Pro Football Hall of Fame - Class of circa 1949
• Robert W. Bazley, former General in the USAF - Class of 1943
• Sandra Bauer, former head of Women's Design for Ralph Lauren, head of Men's and Women's Design for Calvin Klien - Class of 1961
• Bob Cranmer, former Chairman of the Allegheny County Board of County Commissioners - Class of 1974
• Scott Radecic, former Academic All American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League - Class of 1980
• Brentwood High School Hall of Fame ^[31]

Controversy

Coordinates: 40°22′27″N 79°58′27″W / 40.3743°N 79.9742°W / 40.3743; -79.9742 On February 3, 2012 during a high school basketball game between Brentwood and Monessen there were two students in the Brentwood seating section dressed in banana costumes.^[32] During a break after the first period the two students in costume proceeded to run around the basketball court in an effort (as stated by Brentwood), to "fire-up" the home crowd. (It should also be stated that "Bananas" have no link or association whatsoever with the school or community.)^[32] The students were then immediately ejected for going onto the court, despite the claim that it was done to elicit "team spirit" from the crowd.^[32] Parents from Monessen objected strenuously to the event stating that the banana costumes were intended as a racial slur against Monessen, where many of the students are black (of African descent). It was also alleged that the two students in costume were hurling racial insults at the Monessen players. The local news media was soon involved and the airwaves were filed with accounts of the incident.^[32] Subsequently, the Superintendent of Monessen demanded that the two Brentwood students be reprimanded and the school officially apologize for the incident.^[32] After an investigation it could not be definitively proven that "verbal" racial slurs where used, despite the not-fully explained use of the "banana costumes", which were clearly interpreted as a racial slur by Monessen. The WPIAL, the governing body for western Pennsylvania sports, stepped in to investigate further.^[32] The WPIAL board found no direct evidence of racism in the actions of the Brentwood students but advised that steps be taken to prevent future volatile events from occurring. Thus it was determined that Brentwood and Monessen work together on a plan to promote sportsmanship.^[32]

References