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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.”