pittsburgh's charter schools

Pittsburgh’s charter schools

Additional definitions and sources for charter schoolsDefinitions of indicators that are unique to charter schools are presented here. For common indicators, see pages 114 and 115.

All information is from the 2011-12 school year unless noted.

100

Tests given by the schoolCareer Connections Charter High School:Definition: 4Sight benchmark assessment for 9th through 11th grades, in Reading and Mathematics, reported as percentages of students whose scores moved to a higher range from the first to the third assessment. 4Sight achievement ranges correspond to PSSA achievement ranges.Source: Career Connections Charter High School.

City Charter High School:Definition: ACT assessments in English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science: standard scores for a cohort of students who took the ACT series—the EXPLORE assessment in 9th grade, and the PLAN as-sessment in 10th grade. Scores for all subject areas were combined into one composite standard score. The cohort represents students who took the assessment in 2009-10 and 2010-11. The combined scores would remain the same year to year if school growth oc-curred at the same rate as the national norm group.Source: City Charter High School.

Manchester Academic Charter School:Definition: Mean Normal Curve Equivalent (MNCE) for the TerraNova standardized assessment in Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics, for kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades. MNCE is calculated by adding the normal curve equivalent scores of all students in the group and dividing by the total number of students in that group. Test scores were reported on a scale from 1-99, with 50 being an average score.Source: Manchester Academic Charter School.

Northside Urban Pathways Charter School:Definition: Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) scores for 6th through 12th grades. MAP is a computer adaptive test in Reading and Mathematics. Scores are reported on a scale from approximately 160 to 250.Source: Northside Urban Pathways Charter School.

Propel Northside Charter School:Definition: Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) scores for 1st through 4th grades. MAP is a computer adaptive test in Reading and Mathematics. Scores are reported on a scale from approxi-mately 160 to 250.Source: Propel Northside Charter School.

Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh:Definition: Grade Mean Equivalent for the TerraNova Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics assessments, in kindergar-ten through 5th grades. A grade mean equivalent is an aver-age score expressed in terms of school grade and month. For example, a 4.5 indicates the average performance of a student in the fifth month of 4th grade.Source: Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School.

Urban Pathways K-5 College Charter School:Definition: Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) scores for 2nd and 3rd grades. MAP is a computer adaptive test in Reading and Mathematics. Scores are reported on a scale from approxi-mately 160 to 250.Source: Urban Pathways K-5 College Charter School.

College-bound seniorsDefinition: The percentage of 2011 or 2012 graduates who were accepted to two-year colleges, four-year colleges/universi-ties, or vocational/trade institutions granting certificates or specialized degrees.Sources: Career Connections Charter School, City Charter High School, and Northside Urban Pathways Charter School.

ACT standard scores for 11th grade students (City Charter High School only)Definition: Average scores for students who took the ACT in 11th grade in 2011. The ACT is a college readiness assessment some students take instead of the SAT. Source: City Charter High School.

Percentage of seniors taking the ACT (City Charter High School only)Definition: The number of 12th graders who took the ACT in 2011-12 divided by the total number of 12th graders.Source: City Charter High School.

Propel Northside Charter School

101

K-5 charter school

1805 Buena Vista St., 15212Northside412-325-1412AccessiblePrincipal: Ariane WatsonNumber of teachers: 23

Enrollment/Attendance194 studentsAfrican-American: 63.4%White: 21.1%Multi-Ethnic: 12.9%Hispanic: 1.0%

Principal stability: n/a

Student daily attendance: 95%Teacher daily attendance: 98%

Special education staff 2012-13Learning supportSpeech and language support

Family income status78.9% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch

Student disciplinary actions 2010-11For violence, weapons, and controlled substances

Number of incidents per 100 students: n/a

[School did not provide this information]

Special accomplishments

Percentage of students at Proficient/Advanced levels on PSSA tests

Percentage of students at each PSSA achievement level

Grade 3 Grade 4

Reading 2012 47.3% 61.1%Math 2012 69.4 75.0Science 2012 n/a 72.2Writing 2012 n/a n/a

Perc

ent o

f tes

ted

stud

ents

Black

Advanced

White Low-income

IEP*Asian HispanicMulti-ethnic

Reading (3rd and 4th grades)by subgroup, 2012

Math (3rd and 4th grades)by subgroup, 2012

28.3%

21.7%

43.5%6.5%

22.4%

25.9%

41.4%

10.3%

n/a

20.0%

40.0%

40.0%

n/a n/an/aBlack White Low-

incomeIEP*Asian HispanicMulti-

ethnic

6.5%

21.7%

54.3%

17.4%

20.7%

6.9%

53.4%

19.0%

n/a6.7%6.7%

40.0%

46.7%

n/a n/an/a

* Students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for special education, excluding students identified as “gifted”

Proficient Basic Below Basic

Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP) 2012

Reading Math Grade average average

Grade 1 173.6 169.9

Grade 2 185.6 190.6

Grade 3 197.1 199.3

Grade 4 212 207.4

MAP is a computer-adaptive test. Scores are reported on a scale from approximately 160 to 250.

Tests given by the school

Propel did not have a 5th grade in 2011-12.

Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School

K-5 charter school

327 N. Negley Ave., 15206East Liberty412-361-1008Accessible entrance, no elevatorPrincipal/Chief Executive Officer: Gail EdwardsNumber of teachers: 21

Enrollment/Attendance222 students African-American: 100%

Administrator stability: 1 principal/chief executive officer in the last four years


Special education staff 2012-13Learning supportSpeech and language supportMultiple disabilities support

Family income status86% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch


Number of incidents per 100 students: 3.9

102

n Edible Schoolyard siten Student competed in 2012 Western

PA Spelling Bee


2009 2010

100%Math (Fifth grade)Reading (Fifth grade)

2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012

65.5% 67.6%

82.8%70.7%

82.8%

64.9%

89.6%

60.9%



Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5

Reading 2012 65.7% 63.2% 70.7% Math 2012 74.3 76.3 60.9 Science 2012 n/a 73.2 n/a Writing 2012 n/a n/a 73.2

Perc

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ted

stud

ents

Black

Advanced

White Low-income


Reading (3rd through 5th grades)by subgroup, 2012

Math (3rd through 5th grades)by subgroup, 2012

14.9%

18.4%

51.8%

14.9%

20.4%

16.1%

52.7%

10.8%

42.9%

35.7%

21.4%

n/a n/a n/an/aBlack White Low-


ethnic

7.9%

21.9%

40.4%

29.8%

19.4%

8.6%

44.1%

28.0%

28.6%

35.7%

21.4%

14.3%

n/a n/a n/an/a



Tests given by the school: TerraNova standardized assessment 2012

* A grade mean equivalent is an average score expressed in terms of school grade and month. For example, a 4.5 indicates the average performance of a student in the 5th month of 4th grade.

Grade Mean Equivalent* Reading Language Arts Math

Grade 1 2.4 2.6 2.7Grade 2 3.4 4.4 3.2Grade 3 3.9 4.4 4.0Grade 4 5.5 5.5 5.3Grade 5 7.3 6.1 6.0

Urban Pathways K-5 College Charter School

K-5 charter school (K-4 in 2012-13)

925 Penn Avenue, 15222Downtown412-392-4601AccessibleChief Executive Officer: Linda ClauttiNumber of teachers: 9

Enrollment/Attendance137 studentsAfrican-American: 97.8%White: 2.1%

Principal stability: n/a

Student daily attendance: 95.0%Teacher daily attendance: 99.1%

Special education staff 2012-13Learning supportEmotional supportSpeech and language supportTherapeutic emotional supportAutism supportHearing impaired supportVisually impaired supportMultiple disabilities supportLife skills support



Number of incidents per 100 students: n/a

103

n “The Leader in Me” schooln Awarded site visit for Core Knowledge certification




Grade 3

Reading 2012 27.6%Math 2012 34.5Science 2012 n/aWriting 2012 n/a

Perc

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ted

stud

ents

Black

Advanced

White Low-income


Reading (3rd grade)by subgroup, 2012

Math (3rd grade)by subgroup, 2012

60.7%

10.7%

28.6%

13.6%

68.2%

18.2%

n/an/a n/a n/an/aBlack White Low-


ethnic

17.9%

46.4%

35.7%

45.5%

13.6%

40.9%

n/an/a n/a n/an/a



Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP) 2012

Reading Math Grade average average

2 181.7 185.8

3 186.2 195.3 MAP is a computer-adaptive test. Scores are reported on a scale from approximately 160 to 250.


The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park

K-8 charter school, housed in two buildings(K-7 in 2012-13)

Lower school (K-3): 309 S. Braddock Ave., 15221Regent Square412-242-1480AccessiblePrincipal: Tawana CookUpper school (4-7):829 Milton St., 15218Regent Square412-247-7970Accessible entrance, no elevatorPrincipal: Stephen Pellathy Number of teachers: 49

Enrollment/Attendance525 students

African-American: 23.9% White: 61.1%Multi-ethnic: 6.0%Asian: 3.1%Hispanic: 4.9%Other: 0.9%

Principal stability: Upper school, 1 principal in the last four years; lower school, n/a

Student daily attendance: 95.6%Teacher daily attendance: 97%

104

[School did not provide this information]


2009 2010


2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012

n/a n/a

73.2%64.8%

n/a n/a

79.4%69.1%

Percentage of students at Proficient/Advanced levels on PSSA tests Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5

Reading 2012 84.3% 79.1% 64.8%Math 2012 81.4 85.1 69.1Science 2012 n/a 91.3 n/aWriting 2012 n/a n/a 63.4

Perc

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f tes

ted

stud

ents

Black

Advanced

White Low-income




25.5%

25.5%

38.2%

10.9%

23.0%

18.9%

36.5%

21.6%

18.2%

63.6%

18.2%

9.7%6.4%

35.5%

48.4%



ethnic

14.5%

36.4%

32.7%

16.4%

27.0%

9.4%

35.1%

28.4%

18.2%

27.3%

45.5%9.1%

3.2%8.9%

30.6%

57.2%

n/a n/an/a




Special education staff 2012-13Learning supportSpeech and language support



Number of incidents per 100 students: 0

105

n School received Honorable Mention from Green Ribbon Schools

n Locally produced school lunches through partnership with Springboard Kitchens



Grade 6

Reading 2012 81.3%Math 2012 83.1 Science 2012 n/aWriting 2012 n/a

Perc

ent o

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ted

stud

ents

Black

Advanced

White Low-income


Reading (6th grade)by subgroup, 2012

Math (6th grade)by subgroup, 2012

10.5%

21.1%

36.8%

31.6%

25.0%

10.0%

25.0%

40.0%

n/a5.3%7.9%

23.7%

63.2%



ethnic

15.0%

25.0%

45.0%

15.0%

23.8%

14.3%

28.6%

33.3%

n/a5.3%

23.7%

71.1%

n/a n/an/a




Manchester Academic Charter School

K-8 charter school

1214 Liverpool St., 15233Manchester412-322-0585AccessibleChief Executive Officer: Vasilios ScoumisNumber of teachers: 24

Enrollment/Attendance234 studentsAfrican-American: 97.9%White: 2.1%

Administrator stability: 1 chief executive officer in the last four years


106

Tests given by the school: TerraNova standardized assessment 2012 Mean Normal Curve Equivalent*

Reading Language Arts Math

Kindergarten 71 75 721st grade 60 61 642nd grade 53 61 58* Test scores were reported on a scale of 1-99, with 50 being an average score.

2009 2010


2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012

36.4% 40.9% 41.6% 47.6%59.1%

72.7%58.3% 57.1%



Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 District*

Reading 2012 56.5% 73.9% 47.6% Math 2012 91.3 60.8 57.1Science 2012 n/a 69.6 n/aWriting 2012 n/a n/a 59.1

Perc

ent o

f tes

ted

stud

ents

Black

Advanced

White Low-income

IEP**Asian HispanicMulti-ethnic



15.4%

26.2%

46.2%

12.3%

28.8%

17.3%

44.2%9.6%


incomeIEP**Asian HispanicMulti-

ethnic

6.2%

24.6%

53.8%

15.3%

28.8%

7.7%

50.0%

13.5%

n/an/a n/a n/an/a

** Students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for special education, excluding students identified as “gifted”


n Middle grades students won special award for Best Housing Development and Layout in National Engineers’ Week Future City competition


Elementary grades

107

Special education staff 2012-13Learning supportEmotional supportSpeech and language supportAutism support



Number of incidents per 100 students: 0


2009 2010

100%Math (Eighth grade)Reading (Eighth grade)

2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012

86.4% 90.0%80.0%

73.7%86.4%

80.0%70.0%

47.3%


Reading 2012 43.4% 58.3% 73.7% Math 2012 47.8 54.2 47.3 Science 2012 n/a n/a 31.6 Writing 2012 n/a n/a 79.0

Middle grades


Perc

ent o

f tes

ted

stud

ents

Black

Advanced

White Low-income


Reading (6th through 8th grades)by subgroup, 2012

Math (6th through 8th grades)by subgroup, 2012

20.6%

23.8%

33.3%

22.2%

21.8%

21.8%

30.9%

25.5%



ethnic

17.5%

34.9%

30.2%

17.4%

34.5%

18.2%

25.5%

21.8%

n/an/a n/a n/an/a



Northside Urban Pathways Charter School

6-12 charter school

914 Penn Ave., 3rd floor, 15222Downtown412-392-4601AccessibleChief Executive Officer: Linda Clautti Number of teachers: 28


African-American: 97.9% White: 1.8%Other: 0.3%

Administrator stability: 1 chief executive officer in the last four years


108

n U.S. News & World Report silver medal school

n Teacher named a 2012 Global Enterprising Educator of the Year by Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship

n School was featured on KDKA-TV morning show



Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 11

Reading 2012 47.3% 57.5% 44.6% 32.5% Math 2012 39.5 45.0 63.2 42.5Science 2012 n/a n/a 11.5 2.5Writing 2012 n/a n/a 58.2 90.0

2009 2010

100%Math (Eighth grade)Reading (Eighth grade)

2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012

88.6%

66.7%79.6%

63.2% 62.9% 61.4% 58.0%44.6%

2009 2010

100%Math (Eleventh grade)Reading (Eleventh grade)

2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012

47.1% 51.5%57.9%

42.5%32.4%

39.3%50.0%

32.5%

Special education staff 2012-13Learning supportEmotional supportTherapeutic emotional supportAutism supportHearing impaired supportVisually impaired supportSpeech and language supportMultiple disabilities supportLife skills support




Graduation rate 2011: 100%

College/Post-secondary readiness

College-bound seniors100% accepted to four-year colleges/universities or two-year post-secondary institutions/programs

Percentage of students taking AP (Advanced Placement) courses Overall Black White Low-income

Urban Pathways: 32.0% 31.2% n/a 25.6%

109

Perc

ent o

f tes

ted

stud

ents

Black

Advanced

White Low-income


Reading (6th – 8th and 11th grades)by subgroup, 2012

Math (6th – 8th and 11th grades)by subgroup, 2012

25.6%

24.4%

31.4%

18.6%

27.2%

26.5%

29.8%

16.6%

65.4%

15.4%7.7%

11.5%

n/a n/a n/an/aBlack White Low-


ethnic

23.4%

30.4%

30.4%

15.8%

32.0%

24.0%

30.7%

13.3%

68.0%

20.0%

12.0%

n/a n/a n/an/a




Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP) 2012 Math ReadingGrade average average

6 214.3 205.6

7 218.7 210.4

8 221.7 217.4

9 226.2 217.0

10 228.9 220.6

11 232.9 222.2

12 229.7 222.4

MAP is a computer-adaptive test. Scores are reported on a scale from approximately 160 to 250.


Career Connections Charter High School

9-12 charter school

4412 Butler St., 15201Lawrenceville412-682-1816AccessiblePrincipal: Peter SimpsonNumber of teachers: 27

Enrollment/Attendance249 students (1/12)

African-American: 76.7%White: 21.3%Other: 2%

Principal stability: 1 principal in the last four years


110

n Independent League boys’ basketball champions (4th year)n Robotics team placed 3rd in 2012 Science Olympiadn Students planned events and raised money for local

shelters for the homeless and Susan G. Komen for the Cure



Science 2012 (11th) 9.6%Writing 2012 (11th) 70.0

2009 2010


2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012

36.4% 42.3% 42.6%51.7%

32.1%

51.1%

18.5%

37.5%

Perc

ent o

f tes

ted

stud

ents

Black

Advanced

White Low-income


Reading (Eleventh grade)by subgroup, 2012

Math (Eleventh grade)by subgroup, 2012

33.3%

25.6%

38.5%2.6%

18.2%

29.5%

47.7%4.5%

n/a6.7%

20.0%

60.0%

13.3%



ethnic

43.6%

28.2%

23.1%5.1%

22.7%

40.9%

27.3%9.1%

n/a

33.3%

13.3%

40.0%

13.3%

n/a n/an/a




Special education staff 2012-13Learning supportEmotional supportHearing impaired supportSpeech and language supportMultiple disabilities support




111

Graduation rate 2011: 83%


College-bound seniors 201112% accepted to four-year colleges/universities33.3% accepted to two-year post-secondary institutions/programs

Percentage of students taking AP (Advanced Placement) courses Overall Black White Low-income

Career: 17.5% 9.2% 8.3% 16.7%


4Sight benchmark assessment 2012Percentage of students whose scores moved to a higher achievement range from 1st to 3rd assessment (achievement ranges correspond to PSSA achievement ranges)


Reading 1.4% 28.1% 4.7%

Math 37.4 35.1 5.4

City Charter High School

9-12 charter school

201 Stanwix St., 15222Downtown412-690-2489AccessibleChief Executive Officer: Ron SofoNumber of teachers: 59


African-American: 51.6% White: 38.9%Multi-ethnic: 7.5%Hispanic: 1.6%

Administrator stability: 2 chief executive officers in the last four years

Student daily attendance: 93.5%Teacher daily attendance: 96.2%

112

n Graduating seniors earned 427 Microsoft Office Certifica-tions (MOS); 52 are MOS “masters”

n Redesigned school lunch program—all food prepared fresh on site



Science 2012 (11th) 34.7%Writing 2012 (11th) 94.4

2009 2010


2011 2012 2009 2010 2011 2012

71.8% 71.9%78.6%

85.5%

55.0% 50.8% 50.4%

79.0%Pe

rcen

t of t

este

d st

uden

ts

Black

Advanced

White Low-income


Reading (Eleventh grade)by subgroup, 2012

Math (Eleventh grade)by subgroup, 2012

6.9%

17.2%

48.3%

27.6%

11.3%3.8%

50.0%

35.0%

n/a1.9%3.8%

45.3%

49.1%



ethnic

15.5%

13.8%

48.3%

22.4%

16.3%

8.8%

40.0%

35.0%

n/a3.8%7.5%

34.0%

54.7%

n/a n/an/a




Graduation rate 2011: 93.9% Black: 92.5% White: 95.4%


College-bound seniors94.0% accepted to four-year colleges/universities or two-year post-secondary institutions/programs

Percentage of seniors who took the ACT: 92%

Percentage of students taking AP (Advanced Placement) courses City High: n/a

ACT standard scores for 11th grade students, 2011 (scale of 0-36) All students Black White Low-income

Group means for composite scores in Reading, Math, English, Writing, Science 19.9 18.3 21.1 19.1The ACT is a college readiness assessment some students take instead of the SAT.

Special education staff 2012-13Learning supportEmotional supportTherapeutic emotional supportAutism supportSpeech and language supportVisually impaired supportHearing impaired supportMultiple disabilities support




113

ACT assessments: English, Reading, Mathematics, Science (measuring growth over time for a group of students)*

0

6

12

18

24

30

36

10th gradersin 2010-11

(PLAN assessment,scale of 0-32)

* Scores were combined for all subject areas. Growth in scores over time indicates a greater rate of progress than the national norm group.

14.9 15.6

9th graders in2009-10

(EXPLORE assessment,scale of 0-28)


pittsburgh's charter schools

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