New Castle Area School District

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New Castle Area School District
Map of Lawrence County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
420 Fern Street

New Castle
,
Lawrence County
,
Pennsylvania
16101-2596

United States
Information
TypePublic
School board9 Locally Elected Members
SuperintendentMrs. Debra DeBlasio
SpecialistJoseph Ambrosini, Business Manager
Head teacherJohn Mozzocio
Faculty392 in 2018
GradesPreschool - 12th Grade
Age4 Years Old (Pre School) to 21 Years Old (Special Education)
Enrollment3,141 (2018-19)
 • Kindergarten317
 • Grade 1232
 • Grade 2253
 • Grade 3257
 • Grade 4247
 • Grade 5241
 • Grade 6241
 • Grade 7257
 • Grade 8245
 • Grade 9244
 • Grade 10198
 • Grade 11168
 • Grade 12161
Student to teacher ratio15 Students Per Teacher
Color(s)Black & Red
SportsBaseball, Football, Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, Golf, Cross Country, Track & Field, Wrestling
Team nameRed Hurricanes
NewspaperThe Eye of the Hurricane
Budget$57.6 million in 2018-2019 School Year
Websitehttp://www.ncasd.com

New Castle Area School District is a public school district located in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The district serves the city of New Castle and Taylor Township. New Castle Area School District encompasses approximately 14 square miles (36 km2). According to 2017 Census Estimates, the district served 22,069 residents, down from 23,273 residents in the 2010 Census.[1]

The District is governed by 9 individually elected board members who serve without compensation for a term of four years, as well as the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[2] The Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintended is the chief administrative officer with responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither the Superintendent, nor the Business Manager are voting members of the school board.

New Castle Area School District operates four schools: Croton Pre-Kindergarten, Harry W. Lockley Early Learning Center, George Washington Intermediate School, and New Castle Junior/Senior High School.

Schools[]

Junior-Senior High School[]

New Castle Junior Senior High School is located at 300 East Lincoln Avenue. The school first opened in 2004 to Senior High students and opened to Junior High students a year later at a total construction cost of $40,300,000. As of the 2018-2019 school year, 771 students were housed in the Senior High wing, 502 students were housed in the Junior High wing. This is a total of 1,273 students housed in the building, up from 1,262 the previous school year. As of the 2019-2020 school year, grade 6 is also housed in the high school in its own separate wing. The Senior High School principal is Mr. Richard Litrenta, and the assistant principals are Mr. Ralph Blundo and Mrs. Jonalyn Romeo. The Junior High School principal is Mrs. Carol Morell and the assistant principal is Mrs. Jonalyn Romeo.

George Washington Intermediate School[]

George Washington Intermediate is located at 101 East Euclid Avenue. It first opened in 1928, and since has had many major renovations to modernize the building. The school houses grades 3 through 5 as of the 2019-2020 school year, as grade 6 was moved to the Junior-Senior High School. In the 2018-2019 school year, 986 students were enrolled at this building. The building's coprincipals are Mr. David Antuono and Mrs. Tabitha Marino.

Harry W. Lockley Early Learning Center[]

Harry W. Lockley Early Learning Center is located at 900 East Main Street, New Castle, is the newest building in the New Castle Area School District. Completed in 2013 after an expansion and modernization to a former building, and was constructed at a cost of $19,031,300. The school houses grades Kindergarten through 2nd grade. In the 2018-2019 school year, 802 pupils were enrolled at this school. The building's principal is Mr. Joe Anderson.

Croton Pre-Kindergarten Center[]

Croton Pre-Kindergarten Center is located at 420 Fern Street. In the 2018-2019 school year, 80 students were enrolled at the school. The building's principal is Mr. Joe Anderson.

District Rankings[]

The New Castle Area School District was ranked 459th out of 500 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2013, based on student PSSA standardized test scores.[3] The year prior, the district was rated 441st out of 500 school districts.[4]

In 2019, Niche, a website that ranks school districts throughout the country, rated New Castle Area School District a 'C+'.[5] This includes a 'C' in Academics, a 'A-' in Diversity, a 'B+' for Teachers, a 'C+' in College Prep, a 'C+' in Clubs & Activities, a 'C' in Health & Safety, a 'B' in Administration, an 'A' in Sports, an 'A-' in food, and a 'B+' in Resources & Facilities.

In addition, they ranked the school among other schools in the state for specific topics. These are the results.

State-Wide Rankings[]

  • Best District for Athletes in Pennsylvania: #43 out of 498 school districts.
  • Most Diverse Districts in Pennsylvania: #51 out of 500 school districts.
  • Best Places to Teach in Pennsylvania: #221 out of 500 school districts.
  • Best Teachers in Pennsylvania: #236 out of 500 school districts.

County-Wide Rankings[]

  • Best District for Athletes in Lawrence County: #1 out of 8 school districts.
  • Best Places to Teach in Lawrence County: #6 out of 8 school districts.
  • Best Teachers in Lawrence County: #7 out of 8 school districts.

Academic achievement[]

District AYP Status History[]

The New Castle Area School District has been under Warning AYP status due to missing academic metrics in reading and mathematics coupled with a low graduation rate since 2012. In the 2017-2018 school year, the student group did not meet the standard demonstrating growth in English Language Arts/Literature, as well as Mathematics/Algebra 1. In addition, the student group did not meet the performance standard for regular school attendance, as well as the percent four-year cohort graduation goal.[6] The school was also below the statewide average for advanced students who took Algebra, Literature, and Biology state assessments such as the Pennsylvania Keystone Exam.

Graduation Rate[]

The graduation rate in 2019 was 82%, according to Niche.[7] Niche reports that the most popular colleges students choose in this school district are Slippery Rock University, Youngstown State University, Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Westminster College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro University, Point Park University, and Robert Morris University.

Dual Enrollment[]

New Castle Junior Senior 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. 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.[8] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[9] Currently courses are offered at Westminster College, Seton Hill University, and Butler County Community College.

Advanced Placement Courses[]

New Castle Senior High School Offers: AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP English, AP U.S. History, AP Economics, and AP Computer Science Principles. Students are encouraged, but not required to take the AP test in the spring. Each AP Class is weighted to a maximum 5.00 GPA.

Honors Courses[]

New Castle Senior High School Offers: Honors English 7, Honors English 8, Honors English 9, Honors English 10, Honors English 11, Honors World History, Honors U.S. History, Honors Integrated Science, Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, Honors Concert Band, Honors Spanish V, Honors Italian V, Honors French V, Honors Pre-Algebra, Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra I, Honors Pre-Calculus, Honors Calculus. Elective courses that are classified as Honors courses are Intro to Engineering, Principles of Engineering, English Design & Development, and Computer Science Essentials. These courses are weighted to a maximum 4.5 GPA.

Graduation Requirements[]

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The New Castle Area School Board has determined that in the class of 2023, a pupil must earn 25.5 credits to graduate, including:

  • 4 Credits in Math
  • 4 Credits in English
  • 4 Credits in Social Studies
  • 4 Credits in Science
  • 2 Credits in Health/P.E./Driver's Education
  • .5 Credits in Financial Literacy
  • .5 Credits in STEAM Elective
  • 6.5 Credits in Additional Electives

A student must have earned 6 credits to be classified as a Sophomore; 13 credits to be classified as a Junior; 19.5 credits to be classified as a Senior.

In addition to credits, students are required to complete a College and Career Readiness Project, the ASVAB test, passed all three of the Pennsylvania Keystone Exams, taken the PSAT, a resume, a cover letter, a senior research paper, job shadowing, and community service.

PSSA Test Results[]

Every year, each student statewide in Pennsylvania in grades 3 through 8 must take a state required 'PSSA', or 'Pennsylvania System of School Assessment' test. The results from the New Castle Area School District in both the 2016-2017 school year through the 2018-2019 school year are as follows.[10]

8th Grade[]

7th Grade[]

6th Grade[]

5th Grade[]

4th Grade[]

3rd Grade[]

Special education[]

In December 2010, New Castle Area School District administration reported that 600 pupils or 17.5% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 36.8% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.[11] In December 2009, the District administration reported that 600 pupils or 17.3% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 37.5% of the identified students having a specific learning disability. Special education services in the Commonwealth are provided to students from ages three years to 21 years old. In the 2010-11 school year, the total student enrollment was more than 1.78 million students with approximately 275,000 students eligible for special education services. Among these students 18,959 were identified with mental retardation and 21,245 students with autism.[12] The largest group of students are identified as Specific Learning Disabilities 126,026 students (46.9 percent) and Speech or Language Impairments with 43,542 students (16.2 percent).

In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, the school district engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress .[13] To identify students who may be eligible for special education services, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Special Education administration. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the district's Special Education Department.[14][15]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.[16] The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district's students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student's needs accrue the same level of costs.[17] Over identification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.[18] The state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[19] In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive that schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.[20]

New Castle Area School District received a $2,439,291 supplement for special education services in 2010.[21] For the 2011–12 and 2012-13 school years, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.[22][23]

Gifted Education[]

New Castle Area School District Administration reported that 127 or 4.0% of its students were gifted in 2018. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student's building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate 'giftedness' will also be considered for eligibility.[24][25][26]

Wellness policy[]

New Castle Area School Board established a district wellness policy in June 2006.[27] 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 district commits to providing Kindergarten students with 70 minutes of physical activity per week; first through sixth grade students with 35 minutes of physical activity per week; seventh through twelfth grade students with 115 minutes of physical activity per week. 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." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[28]

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.[29] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

New Castle Area School District offers a free school breakfast and free school lunch to all students, regardless of their parent or guardian's income. The program is funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[30]

School Safety and Bullying[]

New Castle Area School District administration reported there were 10 incidents of bullying in the district in the 2017-2018 school year.[31] Additionally, there were 47 incidents of assaults on students, 4 assaults on staff members, as well as 49 fights. Each year this data is reported by the district to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Safe Schools Online program.

New Castle Area School Board has provided the district's anti bullying policy online - Prohibiting Bullying, Harassment and intimidation Policy 249.[32] 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.[33] 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.[34][35]

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.[36]

Budget[]

Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by local school district administrative officials. A uniform form is furnished by the PDE and submitted to the board of school directors for approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1. The final budget is submitted to the PDE for documentation and data collection each year.

Under Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, all school districts of the first class A, second class, third class and fourth class must adopt a preliminary budget proposal. The proposal must include estimated revenues and expenditures and the proposed tax rates. This proposed budget must be considered by the Board no later than 90 days prior to the date of the election immediately preceding the fiscal year. The preliminary budget proposal must also be printed and made available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to its adoption. The board of school directors may hold a public hearing on the budget, but are not required to do so. The board must give at least 10 days’ public notice of its intent to adopt the final budget according to Act 1 of 2006.[37]

In 2011, New Castle Area School District employed 264 teachers and administrators. The average teacher salary in New Castle Area School District was $58,221.47 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $18,242.27 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $76,463.74.[38] According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers’ total compensation is roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation, including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.[39]

In 2009, New Castle Area School District reported employing 282 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $60,008 and a top salary of $131,475.[40] The teacher's work day is 7 hours and 15 minutes at the Junior Senior High School and 6 hours 45 minutes at the elementary schools; with 185 days in the contract year. Teachers receive a 30-minute duty-free lunch and a daily preparation period. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, professional development reimbursement, 1 paid personal day, 12 paid sick days, 5 paid funeral days, Election day leave, and other benefits.[41] Additionally, teacher and administrator retirees receive district-funded health insurance at no cost to them. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living, Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation.[42][43] Teachers who take a leave to conduct union business continue to get full benefits paid for by the taxpayers. They also accrue seniority as though they were working in the district. The local American Federation of Teachers president is facilitated to conduct union business during the regular school hours. Teachers who serve special education students receive a $300 annual bonus.

New Castle Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $845.30 per pupil. This was among the top 30% in Pennsylvania ranking 140th The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[44] The Pennsylvania School Boards Association collects and maintains statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania, including administrators. The District has experienced steadily declining enrollment from a high of 3,642 pupils in 2006-07; calling into question the number of administrators.

Per Pupil Spending In 2008, New Castle Area School District administration reported that per pupil spending was $12,035. In 2010 the per pupil spending had increased to $12,511.[45] Among the states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.[46] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.[47] The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.[48]

Reserves In 2008, New Castle Area School District reported a balance of $4,438,562 in its unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $3,200,000. [49] In 2010, New Castle Area Administration reported $3,200,000 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The District reported an increase to $4,927,354 in its unreserved-designated fund in 2010. Pennsylvania public school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.[50]

In August 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the District. The findings were reported to the School Board and the District's administration.[51]

Tuition Students who live in the New Castle Area School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to New Castle Area School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $7,480.96, High School - $8,617.77.[52]

New Castle Area School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax and net profits tax rate 0.5%,[53] a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.[54] Interest earnings on accounts also provide nontax income to the district. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of the individual's personal wealth.[55]

State Basic Education Funding[]

For the 2012-13 school year, New Castle Area School District received $21,849,382.[56] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 included $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which was an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. In addition, the Commonwealth provided $100 million for the Accountability Block grant program. New Castle Area School District received $342,157 in Accountability Block grant funding. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[57]

In 2011-12, New Castle Area School District received a $21,507,225 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[58][59] Additionally, New Castle Area School District received $342,158 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount was a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011.[60] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.[61] In 2010, the district reported that 2,169 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[62]

In the 2010-11 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 6.51% increase in Basic Education Funding (BEF) for a total of $23,734,379 to New Castle Area School District . New Castle Area School District received the highest increase in BEF among the districts in Lawrence County. In 2010-11 the District received 65% of its annual funding from the Commonwealth. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.[63] The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of Governor Rendell's policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.[64]

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.60% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $22,282,350. Among the districts in Lawrence County, the highest increase went to Wilmington Area School District which got a 4.36%. In 2010-11 the District received 62% of its annual funding from the Commonwealth. Ninety school Pennsylvania public school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[65] The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal.[66] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.[67][68]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,880 New Castle Area School District students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–08 school year.[69]

The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $4,787,151.79. This was 66.81% of the New Castle Area School District funding coming from the Commonwealth. Local sources contributed 25% of annual revenues.[70]

Accountability Block Grants[]

Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania's school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students. For 2010-11, the district applied for and received $928,701 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide prekindergarten for 120 children beginning in 2003. It also uses the funding to provide tutoring before and after school.[71][72]

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. New Castle Area School District was denied funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the school received $281,053. Finally, New Castle Area School District received $50,752 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $331,805.[73] In Lawrence County the highest award was given to New Castle Area School District. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.

Science It’s Elementary Grant[]

George Washington Intermediate School successfully applied to participate and received a Science It's Elementary grant in 2008-09. For the 2008-09 school year, the program was offered in 143 schools reaching 2,847 teachers and 66,973 students across Pennsylvania.[74] In 2007, the Pennsylvania Department of Education initiated an effort to improve science instruction in the Commonwealth's public elementary schools. Called Science: It's Elementary, the program is a hands on instruction approach for elementary science classes that develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills.[75] To encourage schools to adopt the program's standards aligned curriculum, the state provided a grant to cover the costs of materials and extensive mandatory teacher training.[76] The district was required to develop a three-year implementation plan for the participating school. They had to appoint a district liaison who was paid $3000 by PDE to serve as the conduit of all information between the district and the Department and its agents along with submitting orders and distributing supplies to implementing teachers. For the 2006-07 state education budget, $10 million was allocated. The 2006-07 State Education Budget provided $635 million in new spending for pre-K through 12th grades for the 2006-07 school year. This marks an 8-percent increase over 2005-06 public school funding.[77] The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 budget. The grant was discontinued in 2010 by Governor Rendell due to a massive state budget crisis.

Federal Stimulus grant[]

New Castle Area School District received an extra $8,754,072 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[78][79] The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010-2011 school years.[80] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, public school districts were repeatedly advised by the state General Assembly and Pennsylvania Secretary of Education to use the funds for one-time expenditures like: acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software.

Race to the Top Grant[]

New Castle Area School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[81] Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.[82] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.[83][84][85]

Common Cents state Initiative[]

New Castle Area School Board elected to participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program.[86] The program called for the state to audit the District, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the District could save tax dollars by rethinking administrative and transportation functions.[87] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real Estate Taxes[]

Property tax rates in 2012-13 were set by the school board at 17.2700 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region.[88] Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.[89] When the school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties.[90] In 2010, miscalculations by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.[91]

  • 2011-12 - 17.2700 mills.[92]
  • 2010-11 - 17.2700 mills [93]
  • 2009-10 - 17.2700 mills.[94]
  • 2008-09 - 17.2700 mills.[95]
  • 2007-08 - 17.2700 mills.[96]
  • 2006-07 - 17.2700 mills.[97]
  • 2005-06 - 17.2700 mills.[98]

The average yearly property tax paid by Lawrence County residents amounts to about 2.94% of their yearly income. Lawrence County ranked 636th of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[99] According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[100] Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).[101]

Act 1 Adjusted Index[]

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not permitted to raise property taxes above their annual Index unless they either: allow voters to vote by referendum or they receive an exception from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The base index for the school year is published by the PDE in the fall of each year. Each individual school district's Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as local property values and the personal income of district residents. Originally, Act 1 or 2006 included 10 exceptions: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.[102] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[103] Several exceptions were maintained: 1) costs to pay interest and principal on indebtedness incurred prior to September 4, 2004 for Act 72 schools and prior to June 27, 2006 for non-Act 72 schools; 2) costs to pay interest and principal on electoral debt; 3) costs incurred in providing special education programs and services (beyond what is already paid by the State); and 4) costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school's share of payments to PSERS (PA school employees pension fund) taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate.[104][105]

The School District Adjusted Index for the New Castle Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[106]

For the 2012-13 budget year, New Castle Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2012-2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit.[109]

For the 2011-12 school year, the New Castle Area School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the New Castle Area School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[110]

According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district's index. Of the districts who sought exceptions: 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.[111]

Property Tax Relief[]

In 2012, New Castle Area School District approved homestead residents received $224.[112] In 2010, property tax relief for 5,357 approved residents of Area School District was set at $221.[113] In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Area School District was also $224 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 5,288 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Lawrence County, the highest tax relief goes to New Castle Area School District which was set at $224.[114] The highest property tax relief, among Pennsylvania school districts, went to the homesteads of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County which received $632 per approved homestead in 2010. Chester-Upland School District has consistently been the top recipient since the programs inception.[115] The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres (40,000 m2) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Lawrence County, just 51.25% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. This was among the lowest participation rates in Pennsylvania.[116]

Enrollment & Demographics[]

According to Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports, there were 3,170 students enrolled in K-12 in 2017–18 school year at New Castle Area School District. There were 170 students in the Class of 2018. Enrollment is steadily declining in the school district. Of the students in this district, 0.2% are American Indian/Alaskan Native; 0.1% are Asian, 23.5% are Black, 0.1% are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 2.8% are Hispanic, 62.6% are white, and 10.6% are of two or more races. 51.6% of students are male, while 48.4% are female. In the 2017-2018 school year, approximately 73.6% of students in the school district were considered economically disadvantaged, 0.3% of students in the district are English language learners, and 18.5% of students are enrolled in special education. 3.0% of students in the district are considered 'gifted'.

All students in the district are entitled to free school lunch and breakfast, regardless of their financial status.

Academic Extracurricular Activities[]

The New Castle area school district funds different activities for academically advanced students. Below is what is offered by the district:

Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science[]

Each year, hundreds of students in Honors Integrated Science, Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Biology, and AP Chemistry attend the annual Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science regional competition at Slippery Rock University. Students who participate and win a first place award for their project get to travel to Penn State University in State College for three days to present their project again. At the meet in State College in May 2019, 82 students from the district participated, and of these, 24 of them won first place awards - a record number for the school.[117]

VEX Robotics Competition[]

Students in the district are also able to compete in VEX Robotics competitions. The competitions involve students creating their own unique robot that is able to complete tasks both autonomously and user-controlled. In 2018, the district sent one team, 16101Z, to Louisville, Kentucky, to compete in the VEX World Competition. In 2019, the district sent three teams, 16101X, 16101Y, and 16101Z, to the world competition where all three teams excelled.

Sports Offered[]

New Castle Area School District offers an extensive and costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and PIAA regulations. It does not offer any clubs or have plans to do so.

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.[118]

The District funds:

Junior High School Sports

The district also participates in Bocce programs through the Special Olympics.

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Coordinates: 41°00′25″N 80°19′19″W / 41.007°N 80.322°W / 41.007; -80.322

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