In 2011, Cedar Cliff High School declined to School Improvement II AYP status due to chronic low student achievement in mathematics and reading. In 2010, the school was on Making Progress: in School Improvement I status. In 2009, Cedar Cliff High School was in School Improvement I for chronic, low student achievement. According to the federal No Child Left Behind law, students must be offered the opportunity to transfer to a higher achievement high school within the district. The school was also required to create a school improvement plan and submit it to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval.
Graduation Rate
2011 – 89%
2010 – 90%
2009 – 89%
2008 – 92%
PSSA Results
;11th Grade Reading
2011 – 67% on grade level,. 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2010 – 74%. State – 67%
2009 – 69%, State – 65%
2008 – 64%, State – 65%
2007 – 72%, State – 65%
;11th Grade Math:
2011 – 57%, on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2010 – 63%. State – 59%
2009 – 56%, State – 56%
2008 – 58%, State – 56%
2007 – 60%, State – 53%
;11th Grade Science:
2011 – 33% on grade level. State – 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2010 – 43%, State – 39%
2009 – 46%, State – 40%
2008 – 34%, State – 39%
College remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 37% of West Shore School District 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.
From January to June 2011, 198 Cedar Cliff High School students took the SAT exams. The school's Verbal Average Score was 512. The Math average score was 510. The Writing average score was 498. 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.
Graduation requirements
In order to receive a diploma from West Shore School District a student must earn 23 credits in the following subject areas: English/Composition & Communication, Social Studies, Science, Math, Physical Education & Health. 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 the 2015-16 school year, it was decided by the state that the class of 2017 and 2018 are exempted from this graduation exam, and now starts with the class of 2019.
Dual enrollment
The school district offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state funded 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 at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers 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. The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system. For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $6,852 for the program.
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. The school board determines eligibility for participation in coordination with respective individual governing organizations. Varsity and junior varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. In 2007–08 the district spent $910,900 on athletics. In 2007–08 West Shore spent $583,496 on school athletics. In 2010–11 the spending increased to $639,152 and in 2011–12 it has budgeted $600,680 for athletics. In October 2011, the school board voted to eliminate random drug testing of students who participate in extracurricular activities. Over the course of the program, six students were tested each at each high school each week for 899 tests administered, with just 37 positive results. By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students 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. As of the 2011–2012 school year, students participating in any competitive sport in the West Shore School district must pay a district fee, as part of their "Pay to Play" program.
