Ridley High School
Ridley High School serves the Ridley School District. It is located in Folsom, Pennsylvania, United States.  The new high school opened in September 2001. In 2010, Ridley High School had 2,067 students with 146 teachers. There were 1,071 male students and 992 females. Low income students - 445. The principal is Ken Acker.

History

The original building, previously known as Ridley Township High School, was completed in 1934 and was built, in part, by funding from the Works Progress Administration. The library, auditorium, and gym additions of the old school, built in the late 1960s still stand and are used as a community center.  In 2001 a new building was constructed. The sports teams use the community center gym for indoor training. The school had added a pond for the students involved with environmental classes and activities. Ridley also has a natatorium.

Academic achievement
In 2011, Ridley High School was in Corrective Action II 2nd Year AYP status due to continuing low reading achievement among black male students. In 2010, the school was in Corrective Action II 2nd Year AYP status due to chronic low student achievement in reading and math. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the school administration to develop and submit for approval a School Improvement Plan to address the low achievement.

11th Grade Reading
2011 - 72% on grade level, (14% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2010 - 78% on grade level (10% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2009 - 64%  (14% below basic). State - 65% 
2008 - 65% (18% below basic). State - 65% 
2007 - 65% (16% below basic). State - 65% 

11th Grade Math:
2011 - 79% on grade level (9% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2010 - 78%, (10% below basic). State - 59%
2009 - 71% (13% below basic). State - 56%.
2008 - 73% (13% below basic). State - 56%
2007 - 70% (15% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:
2011 - 32% on grade level (22% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2010 - 31% (20% below basic). State - 39%
2009 - 25% (19% below basic). State - 40% 
2008 - 32% (16% below basic)s. State - 39%

College remediation rate
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 39% of the Ridley High School 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.

SAT scores
From January to June 2011, 334 students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 475. The Math average score was 497. The Writing average score was 455. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state 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 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.
http://www.ridleysd.k12.pa.us

Academics
Ridley High School offers many Advanced Placement (AP) courses, in addition to the standard college-prep and Honors classes. RHS offers AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Calculus AB & BC, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics 2, AP Psychology, AP United States History, AP United States Government and Politics, and AP European History.

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 (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Ridley High School did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the high school received $589,355. The school received $106,189, in 2008-09. Ridley High School used the funding to purchase several hundred macintosh laptops, WiFi enabled printers, and touch sensitive smartboards.

Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.

By Pennsylvania law, all K12 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.

Athletics 
Ridley sports teams compete in the Central League and include:

Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Football
Field Hockey
Golf
Ice hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track & Field
Indoor Track
Volleyball
Wrestling

Windscript 
Ridley High School's literary-arts magazine serves as an outlet for student creativity. Windscript won the Gold Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association of Columbia University in 2006.

Notable alumni

Jim Beard, jazz musician and member of Steely Dan
Matt Blundin (1987), former NFL quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
Wendell Butler Jr., mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania
Paul Felder (2004) UFC lightweight and former CFFC lightweight champion
Philip S. Johnson (1970), violinist
Bob Kuberski (1989), former NFL defensive lineman, member of Super Bowl XXXI champion Green Bay Packers
Bill McGlone (2002), professional lacrosse player
Michael Philip Mossman, jazz musician and film composer
Brett Moyer (2002), lacrosse player
Bob Rigby, former professional soccer player, former member of United States men's national soccer team
Dave Schulthise, bassist, Dead Milkmen
J. Randy Taraborrelli, New York Times best-selling author
Joe Valerio (1987), former NFL player, Kansas City Chiefs

References

External links 
 
 Ridley Football Official Website
 Ridley Swimming & Diving Official Website

Public high schools in Pennsylvania
Educational institutions established in 1925
Works Progress Administration in Pennsylvania
Schools in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
1925 establishments in Pennsylvania
School buildings completed in 2001