IN Fox Chapel Area Fall 2016 | Page 18

2015-2016 f ox c hapel a rea s chool d istrict s tate of the s chools •Nine high school and three middle school students won first place awards at the 82nd Annual State Meeting of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS). Additionally, three Fox Chapel Area students received Perfect Score awards. •Three high school juniors won awards at the Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Championship Tournament. •The Asian American Heritage Committee of the Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board named junior Suvir Mirchandani a highest honor winner in its program that honors outstanding Asian American high school students. Student Achievement 2016 PSSA Results Percent Scoring AdvAnced or Proficient on the 2016 PSSA School Math ELA Science Dorseyville Middle School (Grades 6-8) Fairview Elementary School (Grades 3-5) Hartwood Elementary School (Grades 3-5) Kerr Elementary School (Grades 3-5) O’Hara Elementary School (Grades 3-5) 63.4% 90.1% 75.2% 68.8% 77.8% 83.3% 91.8% 85.3% 76.3% 85.8% 78.5% 100% 93.0% 83.6% 92.2% In 2015, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests were revised to reflect the PA Core academic standards. This rigorous new assessment tests some content at a full grade level earlier than the former PSSA. The percent of students across the state scoring advanced and proficient on the PSSA decreased in 2015 by an average of 35 percent in math and by nine percent in English Language Arts (ELA). Additionally, in 2015 the PSSA reading and writing assessments were combined into a single ELA assessment. Students in grades three-eight take the ELA and math assessments. Students in grades four and eight also take a science assessment. Students are rated as Advanced, Proficient, Basic, and Below Basic. •High school seniors Hansen Bursic and Daly Trimble were honored by the Pennsylvania Youth Action Conference Advisory Committee for their work in facilitating the Proud Youth of Pittsburgh Convention. The event involved more than 100 student members from GayStraight Alliance (GSA) clubs from various schools throughout Western Pennsylvania. The goal of the forum was to unite students from GSA clubs from across the region. 16 Fox Chapel Area 2016 Keystone Results Percent Scoring AdvAnced or Proficient on the 2016 KeyStone exAmS Fox Chapel Area High School (Grade 11) State Averages Algebra I Literature Biology 93.1% 68.2% 96.6% 76.8% 93.7% 65.7% The Keystone Exams replaced the PSSA tests at the high school. Beginning with the class of 2019, the state will require that students demonstrate proficiency in the end-of-course Keystone Exams in Algebra I, literature, and biology in order to graduate. However, it is already a requirement for Fox Chapel Area High School students to demonstrate proficiency in Algebra I and literature. The test results are banked until the students’ junior year for accountability purposes.