Northwestern School District


Northwestern School District is a small, rural, public school district based in Albion, Pennsylvania, United States. The district is located in Erie County, which is in the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania bordering Lake Erie and the State of Ohio. Northwestern School District encompasses approximately. Three boroughs and three townships are served by the Northwestern School District.
According to 2000 federal census data, Northwestern School District serves a resident population of 11,767. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $13,725, while the median family income was $41,810. In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.
District officials reported that in school year 2017–2018 the Northwestern School District provided basic educational services to 1,378 pupils. The district employed: 114 teachers, 49 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 11 administrators. Northwestern School District received more than $12.3 million in state funding in school year 2009–2010.

Schools

The district operates four schools. Three are located in Albion, while one is located in the unincorporated community of East Springfield.
Northwestern School District was ranked 323rd out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012. The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing math and science. 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. Northwestern School District ranked 8th out of 13 public school districts in Erie County in 2012. The top ranked public school district in Erie County was Fairview School District which ranked 31st statewide.
;Overachiever statewide ranking:
In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Northwestern School District ranked 95th. In 2011, the district was 133rd. 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."
;District Adequate Yearly Progress history:
In 2011, Northwestern School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress. 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 based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of 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. Northwestern School District achieved AYP status each year from 2004 to 2009, while in 2003 the district was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 94%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Northwestern High School's rate was 88% for 2010.
;According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
Northwestern Senior High School is located at 200 Harthan Way, Albion. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2017–2018, the school reported an enrollment of 451 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 225 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The high school is a Title I school. The school employed 36 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
In 2011, Northwestern Senior High School achieved AYP status using Confidence Interval and Growth Model even though the students' scores were not AYP. In 2010, the high school was in Warning Status due to lagging student achievement.
;PSSA Results:
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 20% of the Northwestern Senior 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. 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.

Dual enrollment

Northwestern Senior 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 2009–2010 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $19,965 for the program.

Graduation requirements

The School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26 credits to graduate. The fourth year of high school is not required for students who have completed all the requirements for graduation and are attending a post secondary institution. Students must earn Mathematics 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, English credits, Science 3 credits, Computer - 0.5 credit, Physical Education 1.5 credits, Health.5 credits, Driver Education 0.5 credits and Electives 8 credits.
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.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2017, 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. In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level. Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

SAT scores

From January to June 2011, 62 Northwestern High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 489. The Math average score was 483. The Writing average score was 465. 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.