Lower Dauphin High School
Lower Dauphin High School is a midsized, suburban, public high school located in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Lower Dauphin School District, serving Hummelstown, East Hanover, South Hanover, Londonderry Township, and Conewago Township. In 2013, enrollment was reported as 1,176 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 13% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. Additionally, 15% of pupils received special education services, while 5.9% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 87 teachers. Per the PA Department of Education 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school is not a federally designated Title I school.

In 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that 100% of the 92 teachers at the high school were rated "highly qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school's enrollment was 1,219 students in grades 9th through 12, with 154 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 1,219 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 154 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 93 teachers, yielding a student teacher ratio of 13:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind. The school building was built in 1960. Enrollment in the 2006–2007 school year was 1,275 pupils.

Students may choose to attend Dauphin County Technical School for training in the construction and mechinal trades. The cost is paid by the school district. The high school is served by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15 which offers a variety of services, including a completely developed K–12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.

District students grades 6th through 12th may be alternatively assigned or elect to attend the online program at Price School. The school uses Capital Area Online Learning Association which is run by the Capital Area IU15. The school also offers a work experience program and an outdoor learning program. In 2012–2013, 21 students chose this alternative program.

Students
Many of the school's students come from Lower Dauphin Middle School, which gets students from: Nye Elementary School (Hummelstown), East Hanover Elementary School, South Hanover Elementary School, Londonderry Elementary School, and Conewago Elementary School.

Approximately 80 percent of Lower Dauphin High School graduates undertake tertiary education, either in four-year institutions, two-year colleges, or technical institutions. The local community college, Harrisburg Area Community College receives 20 to 25 percent of the Lower Dauphin graduating class.

Graduation rate
In 2013, Lower Dauphin School District's graduation rate was 93.46%. In 2012, Lower Dauphin School District's graduation rate was 93%. In 2011, Lower Dauphin School District graduation rate was 96%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Lower Dauphin School District's graduation rate was 95% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations
2010 - 94% 
2009 - 96% 
2008 - 89% 
2007 - 89%

Graduation requirements
Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Lower Dauphin School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 23.75 credits to graduate, including: Math 3 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3.5 credits, Physical Education/health - 2 credits, Career Exploration 0.25 credits and electives totaling 6 credits. Students with disabilities who are of school age may graduate and be awarded a regular high school diploma when they satisfactorily complete the special education program prescribed in their Individualized Education Program, even if the student's special education program does not otherwise meet all the requirements for graduation. Special Education students are permitted to participate in graduation without receiving a diploma in compliance with state law.

The board will award diplomas to World War II or the Korean War veterans who were honorably discharged and who meet requirements.

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 State 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. The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Schools are mandated to provide targeted assistance to help the student be successful. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate. 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 (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

School Performance Profile
Lower Dauphin High School achieved 92.3 out of 100. Reflects on-grade-level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 83.5% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 73% showed on-grade-level mathematics skills. In Biology, 64% showed on-grade-level science understanding. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.

AYP history
In 2012, Lower Dauphin High School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status due to missing 9 of 11 metrics measured. In 2011 and 2010, Lower Dauphin High School achieved AYP status under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.  In 2010, Lower Dauphin Senior High School achieved AYP status.
2009 - achieved AYP
2008 - achieved AYP 
2007 - achieved AYP 
2006 - declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging achievement
2005 - achieved AYP 
2004 - achieved AYP 
2003 - achieved AYP

PSSA history
Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.

In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.

11th Grade Reading:
2012 - 70% on grade level, (15% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2011 - 79%, (12% below basic). State - 69.1% 
2010 - 72%, State - 67% 
2009 - 74%, State - 65% 
2008 - 70%, State - 65%
2007 - 65%, State - 65% 

11th Grade Math:
2012 - 66% on grade level (19% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2011 - 75%, (12% below basic). State - 60.3% 
2010 - 67%, State - 59% 
2009 - 67%, State - 56% 
2008 - 64%, State - 56%
2007 - 59%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science:
2012 - 52% on grade level (15% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2011 - 50%, (19.8% below basic). State - 40% 
2010 - 43%, State - 39%
2009 - 47%, State - 40%
2008 - 49%, State - 39% 

Science in Motion  Lower Dauphin High School did not take 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. Gettysburg College  provided the science enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 27% of Lower Dauphin High School graduates required remediation courses 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.

Dual enrollment
Lower Dauphin High School does not offer a Dual Enrollment program. This state 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 and programs 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.

AP courses
Lower Dauphin High School offers 15 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses in 2013–2014. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on  the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Lower Dauphin High School 59% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.

SAT Scores
In 2013, Lower Dauphin High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 529. The Math average score was 548. The Writing average score was 514. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.

In 2012, Lower Dauphin High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 529. The Math average score was 548. The Writing average score was 514. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the US, 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, 195 Lower Dauphin School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 519. The Math average score was 534. The Writing average score was 500. 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 (out of 800) 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 (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. Lower Dauphin School District received $168,763 for funding in 2006–07. In 2007-08 the district received $300,000. For the 2008–09, school year the district received $67,347 for a total of $536,110. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.

School safety and bullying
Lower Dauphin High School administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the high school in 2012. Additionally, there was one assault on a student, one incident of reckless endangerment and two cases of terroristic threats. There were no sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in sixteen incidents at the school with fourteen arrests. Three pupils were assigned to alternative education.
 For the 2011–2012 school year, the administration reported there were 26 incidents involving the police with 14 arrests. Additionally, were there two assaults on students, seven incidents with disorderly conduct and one incident of bullying at Lower Dauphin High School. No sexual  incidents involving students were reported. Each year the school safety data is reported by the Lower Dauphin School District to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.

The Lower Dauphin School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.

Education standards relating to student safety and anti harassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.

Administration and staff work hard to ensure the safety of students and staff. Many resources have been developed to ensure a safe learning environment. Recent programs that have been implemented are Safe and Supportive School lessons. These lessons were designed to facilitate open discussions between faculty and students. The lessons teach students K–12 about the importance of the acronyms T.H.I.N.K. and S.H.A.R.E. T.H.I.N.K. requires students to think before they act. Is what they are about to do or say true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind? If not, do not do it or say it! S.H.A.R.E. tells students to size up the problem, help yourself and others, assert yourself, report responsibly, and empower yourself and others. T.H.I.N.K. and S.H.A.R.E. posters are displayed around the schools as well as the school safety motto, "Not in our nest!"

Wellness policy
Lower Dauphin School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K–12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

The Lower Dauphin High School offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low-income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals. The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.  In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day. The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.

Lower Dauphin School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. At the high school,  nurses are available in each building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health's extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance. Nurses also monitor each child's weight.

Extracurriculars
Lower Dauphin High School offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and a large, taxpayer funded sports program. Eligibility to participate is determined by the school board in policy.

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.

Sports
According to Pennsylvania's Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.

Lower Dauphin High School is a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Mid-Penn Conference Athletic League. Thirteen of the schools 19 varsity sports also offer a second junior varsity team. The district is compliant with state law, posting its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website. The district spent $510,401 for the high school sports in 2012-13 (excluding facility costs and employee benefits costs). There is no athletics fee charged to the participants.

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.

The district funds:

Boys
Baseball - varsity and JV teams AAAA
Basketball - varsity and JV teams  AAAA
Cross country - AAA
Football - AAAA
Golf - AAA
Indoor track and field - AAAA
Lacrosse - AAAA
Soccer - varsity and JV teams AAA
Swimming and diving - Class AAA
Tennis - varsity and JV teams  AAA
Track and field - AAA
Volleyball - varsity and JV teams  AAA
Wrestling - varsity and JV teams  AAA

Girls
Basketball - varsity and JV teams AAAA
Cheerleading - varsity and JV teams
Cross country - AAA
Field hockey - varsity and JV teams AAA
Golf - AAA
Indoor track and field - AAAA
Lacrosse - AAAA
Soccer - varsity and JV teams AAA
Softball - varsity and JV teams  AAAA
Tennis - varsity and JV teams  AAA
Track and field - AAA
Volleyball - varsity and JV teams AAA

According to PIAA directory July 2012 

The 2016 boys' soccer team finished the season ranked third in the nation by USA Today on its final Super 25 Expert Rankings.

Notable alumni
 Nikocado Avocado, Nicholas Perry, known online as Nikocado Avocado is a YouTuber known for his extreme eating mukbangs.
Joey Julius, former college football kicker for the Penn State Nittany Lions football.
 Steve Spence, professional long-distance runner
Bob Swank, college head football coach

References

External links
School website

Public high schools in Pennsylvania
High schools in Central Pennsylvania
Educational institutions established in 1961
Susquehanna Valley
Schools in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
1961 establishments in Pennsylvania