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MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT : BUILDING FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE !
McDowell ’ s Hidden Jewel :
The McDowell Honors College t illcreek
MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
In this day of school choice , charter schools , and District report cards , much of what is written and reported about our local high schools focuses on specific student achievement score results . Whether it ’ s the PSSA , Keystone , SAT or ACT student test results , all school districts in the Commonwealth are challenged with finding ways to raise these standardized achievement scores every year . These one-time tests are often called “ high stakes tests ,” as many students and parents make their high school choice based on a school ’ s performance profile score , which relies heavily on individual student performance scores from these tests .
There have been many publications , discussions , and debates surrounding the merits of a state mandated , one-time standardized test to measure not just student progress , but also to “ grade ” a high school on its yearly performance . While much uncertainty surrounds the unpredictable results of these yearly standardized tests , there is one certainty that goes largely unnoticed at McDowell High School : McDowell Honors College students are achieving at the highest levels within the state .
So , why does the headline refer to the McDowell Honors College as the “ Hidden Jewel ?” Our Honors College has been in existence for over 15 years , and in that time , the vast majority of students have used this program to receive post-secondary scholarships to attend some of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the country including Harvard , Duquesne , Notre Dame , Rochester Institute of Technology , and the Virginia Military Institute . Last year alone , Honors College graduates received an average of $ 43,983 in scholarship awards to institutions of higher learning .
McDowell Honors College students are not just focused on academics . The purpose of the McDowell Honors College is to identify , support , nurture , and recognize a cohort group of ambitious and high achieving students who are dedicated to “ whole person development ” through a commitment to the following : the pursuit of rigorous and challenging coursework ; a commitment to physical and mental health through exercise and maintenance of a drug-free lifestyle ; and participation in a variety of school and community based activities . The open enrollment process includes an application , 7th and 8th grade transcripts , most recent standardized test scores , and student essay . Attendance records are also required .
Once accepted , and in order to maintain yearly membership in the McDowell Honors College program , students must adhere to the following requirements :
• Enroll in all honors level and / or Advanced Placement ( AP ) courses
• Complete at least three years of a world language
• Ninth and tenth graders are required to maintain an unweighted 3.5 GPA
• Eleventh and twelfth graders are required to maintain an unweighted 3.6 GPA
• Complete a minimum of 20 volunteer service hours per year
• Follow the six pillars of character and discipline code outlined in the student handbook
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Did you know you can attend high school and earn college credits ? Many of our McDowell Honors College students take advantage of this opportunity and graduate sooner from college !
McDowell students conducting scientific research activities .
As an added perk for its members , Honors College students receive preferred scheduling to ensure enrollment in their requested AP and Dual Enrollment classes . Additionally , the Honors College student is recognized at graduation and his / her membership is noted on the official McDowell transcript .
Need proof to our claim that the McDowell Honors College is the most prestigious academic program in our area ? Take a look at recent Keystone score results , which compares our Honors College students with students of Collegiate Academy . Looking closely at the data , particularly at the percentage of students scoring at the “ advanced ” level , the numbers are very telling . The bar graph comparisons verify that McDowell Honors College students have been scoring higher than their counterparts at Collegiate Academy . That is not likely to change , as our 2016 Keystone results increased noticeably from the previous year . And finally , a look at the 2015 SAT scores will show that McDowell Honors College students outperformed Collegiate Academy students by an average of 19 points .
“ We believe , and the state test scores validate , that we have the most rigorous programs for students and families who are driven by academic achievement ,” says Superintendent William Hall . “ This Honors College data proves that we are among the best at providing the highest level of academic programming to all of our students .”