Honesdale High School


Honesdale High School is a public, four-year, regional high school serving grades 9-12 in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States, as a part of the Wayne Highlands School District. In 2010, the School reported an enrollment of 978 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 333 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school employed 67 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
In 1813 the Honesdale Academy which was a private preparatory school and the
forerunner of the Honesdale High School, was founded. In 1875, the first class was graduated
from a public high school in Honesdale. Honesdale’s first modern building constructed for
school purposes was opened in 1909. In 1924, the consolidation of six political subdivisions
formed the first union school district in Pennsylvania. On April 6, 1959 the present high
school building was constructed. In 1970, under the School District Reorganization Act, the
district was again expanded. The new name became the Wayne Highlands School District.
As of the 2007-08 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,072 students and 63.0 classroom teachers, for a student-teacher ratio of 17.0.
Honesdale High School is an accredited member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1940. The school is also accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Graduation rate

In 2012, Wayne Highlands School District’s graduation rate was 92%. In 2011, the District's graduation rate was 93%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Honesdale High School's rate was 92% for 2010.
;According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
In 2011 and 2012, Honesdale High School was in Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics.
;PSSA results:
11th Grade Reading:
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
Honesdale High School took advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate. The school worked with Wilkes University to provide the experiences.

Dual enrollment

Honesdale 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. Honesdale High School holds an agreement with Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University and the Pennsylvania State University - Worthington Campus. 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. Students are responsible for their own transportation. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.
For the 2009-10 funding year, Wayne Highlands School District received a state grant of $10,742 for the program. In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis. The program is available with the student's parent responsible for all the costs.

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Wayne Highlands School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 22 credits to graduate, including: Math 3, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, including Civics, science 3 credits, including Biology, Physical Education 4 courses, Health 1 course, Drivers Education 1 course and electives 2 credits.
By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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. Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams. For the class of 2019, a composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements. 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. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

SAT scores

In 2012, 163 Wayne Highlands School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 487. The Math average score was 512. The Writing average score was 471. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the United States, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.
In 2011, 158 Wayne Highlands School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 502. The Math average score was 533. The Writing average score was 490. 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.

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. The Wayne Highlands School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the High School received $366,586. The School received an additional $66,785 in 2008-09, for a total funding of $433,371. In Wayne County, the highest Classrooms For the Future grant was awarded to Wallenpaupack Area School District which received $453,928. The highest funding state wide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of his 2009-10 state general fund - education budget.

Extracurriculars

Wayne Highlands School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania interscholastic Athletics Association.
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.

Sports

The District funds:
;Boys:
;Girls:
Honesdale High School has a long history of athletic success, most notably in cross-country, wrestling, track and field, golf, and more recently boys and girls soccer. Honesdale High School football has had a notable decline in the past years and is facing their third losing season in a row.

Notable staff and alumni