Delaware Valley School District
For the Delaware Valley School District located in New York see Sullivan West Central School
The Delaware Valley School District is a midsized, rural, public school district located in Pike County, Pennsylvania. Delaware Valley School District encompasses approximately, covering the Boroughs of Matamoras and Milford and Delaware Township, Dingman Township, Milford Township, Shohola Township and Westfall Township in Pike County, Pennsylvania. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 24,333. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $20,553, while the median family income was $51,674. In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010. According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Delaware Valley School District provided basic educational services to 5,685 pupils through the employment of 416 teachers, 241 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 25 administrators. Delaware Valley School District received more than $20.7 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.
The district operates one High School, two Middle Schools and four Elementary Schools.
Schools
Elementary Schools
- Delaware Valley Elementary School
- Dingman Delaware Primary School
- Dingman Delaware Elementary School
- Shohola Elementary School
Secondary schools
- Delaware Valley Middle School
- Dingman Delaware Middle School
- Delaware Valley High School
Governance
The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D-" 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.
Academic achievement
Delaware Valley School District was ranked 56th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2012, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the reading, writing, math and science PSSAs.- 2011 - 59th
- 2010 - 63rd
- 2009 - 83rd
- 2008 - 88th
- 2007 - 109th out of 501 school districts.
In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of Delaware Valley School District was in the 96th percentile among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Scale -
Graduation rate
In 2011, the graduation rate was 96%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Delaware Valley High School's rate was 88% for 2010.;According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
- 2010 - 94%
- 2009 - 94%
- 2008 - 95%
- 2007 - 95%
High school
11th Grade Reading
- 2011 - 84% on grade level,. State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 85%. State - 66%
- 2009 - 80%. State - 65%
- 2008 - 81%. State - 65%
- 2007 - 78%. State - 65%
- 2011 - 68% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 72%. State - 59%
- 2009 - 67%. State - 56%.
- 2008 - 61%. State - 56%
- 2007 - 70%. State - 53%
- 2011 - 48% on grade level. State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 51%. State - 39%
- 2009 - 48%. State - 40%
- 2008 - 39%. State - 39%
College remediation rate
SAT scores
From January to June 2011, 311 Delaware Valley High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 505. The Math average score was 508. The Writing average score was 499. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states 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 verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.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. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offered 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. For the 2009-10 funding year, the Delaware Valley School District received a state grant of $43,855 for the program.Delaware Valley Middle School
Delaware Valley Middle School is located at 258 Route 6 And 209, Milford. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Delaware Valley Middle School had 409 pupils enrolled in grades 7th and 8th, with 100 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 31 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1. In 2010 and 2011, Delaware Valley Middle School achieved AYP status.PSSA Results:
8th Grade Reading
- 2011 - 96% on grade level, 81% advanced. In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
- 2010 - 96%, 79% advanced. State - 81%
- 2009 - 98%, 84% advanced. State - 80%
- 2008 - 90%, 72% advanced. State - 78%
- 2007 - 89%, 64% advanced. State - 75%
- 2011 - 92% on grade level 62% advanced. State - 76.9%
- 2010 - 92%, 68% advanced. State - 75%
- 2009 - 91%, 63% advanced. State - 71%
- 2008 - 87%, 55% advanced. State - 70%
- 2007 - 76%, 38% advanced. State - 68%
- 2011 - 82% on grade level. State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 79%. State – 57%
- 2009 - 79%. State - 55%
- 2008 - 72%. State - 52%
- 2011 - 93% on grade level 65% advanced. State – 76%
- 2010 - 93%, 67% advanced. State - 73%
- 2009 - 92%, 64% advanced. State - 71%
- 2008 - 91%, 62% advanced. State - 70%
- 2007 - 81%, 46% advanced. State - 67%
- 2011 - 86% on grade level 61% advanced. State - 78.6%
- 2010 - 95%, 66% advanced. State - 77%
- 2009 - 95%, 69% advanced. State - 75%
- 2008 - 87%, 55% advanced. State - 71%
- 2007 - 78%, 49% advanced. State - 67%
Delaware Valley Elementary School
6th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 90% on grade level. 62% advanced. State - 69.9%
- 2010 - 88%, 56% advanced. State - 68%
- 2009 - 91%, 63% advanced. State - 67%
- 2011 - 93% on grade level, 70% advanced. State - 78.8%
- 2010 - 85%, 55% advanced. State - 78%
- 2009 - 93%, 69% advanced. State - 75%
- 2011 - 77% on grade level 22% advanced. State - 67.3%
- 2010 - 73%, 28% advanced. State – 64%
- 2009 - 83%, 41% advanced. State - 64%
- 2011 - 89% on grade level 51% advanced. State - 74%
- 2010 - 87%, 59% advanced. State - 76.3%
- 2009 - 96%, 69% advanced. State - 73%
- 2011 - 95%, 58% advanced. State – 73.3%
- 2010 - 81%, 40% advanced. State - 73%
- 2009 - 90%, 53% advanced. State - 72%
- 2011 - 97%, 84% advanced. State – 85.3%
- 2010 - 93%, 64% advanced. State - 84%
- 2009 - 96%, 73% advanced. State - 81%
- 2011 - 98%, 81% advanced. State – 82.9%
- 2010 - 95%, 77% advanced. State - 81%
- 2011 - 92%, 29% advanced. State – 77%
- 2010 - 97%, 36% advanced. State - 75%
- 2009 - 95%, 40% advanced. State - 77%
- 2011 - 96%, 63% advanced. State – 83%
- 2010 - 94%, 49% advanced. State - 84%
- 2009 - 97%, 61% advanced. State - 81%
Dingman Delaware Middle School
PSSA Results:
8th Grade Reading
- 2011 - 90% on grade level 64% advanced. In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
- 2010 - 91%, 66% advanced. State - 81%
- 2009 - 94%, 73% advanced. State - 80%
- 2011 - 81% on grade level. State - 76.9%
- 2010 - 78%. State - 75%
- 2009 - 78%. State - 71%
- 2011 - 63% on grade level. State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 56%. State – 57%
- 2009 - 68%. State - 55%
- 2008 - %, State - 52%
- 2011 - 90% on grade level. State – 76%
- 2010 - 84%. State - 73%
- 2009 - 80%, 45% advanced. State - 71%
- 2011 - 88% on grade level 58% advanced. State - 78.6%
- 2010 - 85%, 55% advanced. State - 77%
- 2009 - 85%, 54% advanced. State - 75%
- 2011 - 86%, 56% advanced. State - 69.9%
- 2010 - 89%, 52% advanced. State - 68%
- 2009 - 82%, 53% advanced. State - 67%
- 2011 - 94% on grade level (69% advanced. State - 78.8%
- 2010 - 93%, 63% advanced. State - 78%
- 2009 - 87%, 58% advanced. State - 75%
Dingman Delaware Elementary School
Dingman Delaware Primary School
Dingman Delaware Primary School is located at 1375 Route 739, Dingmans Ferry. Dingman Delaware Primary School had 631 pupils enrolled in grades preschool through 2nd, with 181 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 39 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1. In 2010 and 2011, Dingman Delaware Primary School is not evaluated for AYP status because of the grade levels it provides.Shohola Elementary School
Shohola Elementary School is located at 940 Twin Lakes Road, Shohola. Shohola Elementary School had 651 pupils enrolled in grades preschool through 6th, with 132 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 45 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14:1. In 2010 and 2011, Shohola Elementary achieved AYP status.Special education
In December 2010, the district administration reported that 760 pupils or 13.9% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. Fifty six percent of the identified students had a specific learning disability.In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, the school 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 services, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data ; hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Special Education administration. 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 district's 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 assumes 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.
The Delaware Valley School District received a $2,434,217 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.
Gifted education
The District Administration reported that less than 10 of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student's building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.Budget
In 2009, the district reported employing 452 teachers and 12 administrators with an average salary of $60,824 and a top salary of $210,686. The starting salary was $45,250 for 180 days. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits.In 2007, the district employed 359 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $52,527 for 180 days worked. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation.
Delaware County School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $851.41 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In 2009, the district reported that 20 administrators earned $100,000 or more with the superintendent earning over $200,000. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent, for the 2007-08 school year, was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.
In 2008 the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,424 which ranked 349th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending had increased to $12,372.21. Among the states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.
Reserves In 2008, the district reported a balance of $7,430,539. in an unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as zero. In 2010, Delaware Valley Area Administration reported an increase to $9,051,568.00 in the unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance remained zero. Pennsylvania school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.
In August 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.
In June 2011, the district developed a mandatory summer school for students with low grades at an estimated cost of $175,000. Enrollment was anticipated to be 200 students. At the end of the school year, only 26 children met the grading criteria for the new program. The district expects to pay between $35,000 and $40,000, or some $1500 per student for the five-week program, for materials, transportation and teacher salaries.
The district is funded by a combination of: a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of the individual's personal wealth.
State basic education funding
In 2011-12, the district received a $13,100,420, allocation, of state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the School District received $278,027 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. In 2010, the district reported that 1,296 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 7.03% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $13,466,578. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where a district received at least the same amount as the year before, even where enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district receives was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of the Governor's policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.
In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided an 8.50% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $13,466,574. Among the districts in Pike County, the highest increase went to Southeastern Greene School District which got a 6.92%. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $11,374,795.40. Ninety school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009. The amount of increase each school district receives was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,091 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.
Accountability Block Grants
Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania's school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students. For 2010-11, the district applied for and received $754,634 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten and an to pay teacher coaches to instruct teachers in their teaching techniques.PreK Counts grant
Wilkinsburg School District receives state funding to provide preschool at the elementary schools. For the 2011 school year, Pre-K Counts was funded at the 2010 levels of $83.6 million statewide in Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget,. The state also supplements the federal Head Start preschool program with an additional $37.6 million. Pre-K Counts funding was initiated during the Rendell administration. In 2007-08 the state funded Pre-K Counts at $75 million. Delaware Valley School District received funding in 2007-08. In 2009-10 the district received $209,350 from the state, to provide preschool to 52 children.Classrooms for the Future grant
The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Delaware Valley School District was denied funding by the Department of Education, in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $548,545. The district received $99,595 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $648,140. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.Federal Stimulus grant
The district received an extra $4,515,609 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students. The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years. Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised to use the funds for one-time expenditures like acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software.Race to the Top grant
District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.Common Cents state initiative
The School Board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.Real estate taxes
Property tax rates in 2011-12 were set by the school board at 100.8700 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.- 2010-11 - 100.8700 mills
- 2009-10 - 100.8700 mills.
- 2008-09 - 100.8700 mills.
- 2007-08 - 100.8700 mills.
- 2006-07 - 98.9000 mills.
- 2005-06 - 94.2000 mills.
Act 1 Adjusted Index
The School District Adjusted Index for the Delaware Valley School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.
- 2006-07 - 5.5%, Base 3.9%
- 2007-08 - 4.7%, Base 3.4%
- 2008-09 - 6.1%, Base 4.4%
- 2009-10 - 5.6%, Base 4.1%
- 2010-11 - 4.0%, Base 2.9%
- 2011-12 - 1.9%, Base 1.4%
- 2012-13 - 2.3%, Base 1.7%
According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district's index. Of the districts who sought exceptions: 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.
The Delaware Valley School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011. For 2009-10 school budget, the Delaware Valley School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index. In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.
Property tax relief
In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the School District was $363 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 8,236 property owners applied for the tax relief. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead. Thdistrict has been the top recipient since the program began.Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half of their Social Security income, consequently, individual with income much more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income.
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.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.