- Quaker Valley High School is a high school located in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania. The average graduating class is about 150 students, most of whom go on to further education. The entire high school of four grade levels (9th to 12th) contains fewer than 650 students. QVHS is well-known for an innovative laptop-technology grant, received in 2000 from former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge. In the spring of 2006, U.S.News & World Report ranked Quaker Valley High School among the top 2% of public high schools nationwide. The school is also very strong athletically, having won PIAA State Championships in Boys Cross Country, Boys Tennis, Boys Soccer, and Boys Hockey.
- Location
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Quaker Valley High School is located twelve miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania along the Ohio River. The school district is close to the Pittsburgh International Airport as well. The school district covers 21 square miles, an area encompassing 13,225 people (2004 Census Bureau Estimate). The school district altogether serves about 2,000 students from 11 municipalities: Aleppo Township, Bell Acres Borough, Edgeworth Borough, Glenfield Borough, Haysville Borough, Leet Township, Leetsdale Borough, Osborne Borough, Sewickley Borough, Sewickley Heights Borough, and Sewickley Hills Borough.http://www.msasportsnetwork.com/images/logos/schools/school_logo78.gif
- Education and Recognition
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The high school is particularly known for quality, international-level education. The school district is proud to be one of the first fifteen U.S. districts (and the first district in Pennsylvania) to offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. This is practiced in middle school and continued in grades 9 and 10, terminating with a student project completed during the sophomore year. The High School is recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, a Pennsylvania Digital School, and has been ranked in the top 2% of nationwide high schools by Newsweek Magazine. It has also been named among the best 100 schools in the nation for music education. Quaker Valley has been ranked in a University of Pittsburgh Study to be first in the region in use of technology, as an Apple Distinguished School for technology, and as a 2004 recipient of the Technology in Action Award (AASA). In regard to technology, the school also is proud to offer CISCO classes, furthering student knowledge in advanced technology.
- Typically, 90% of Quaker Valley seniors take the SAT. In 2003-2004, the average score was 1082. Also, 94% of seniors who graduate go on to higher education. Quaker Valley test scores are far above statewide and nationwide levels, and they continue to rise steadily. The school also offers 11 Advanced Placement (AP) subjects: English Literature, AB Calculus, BC Calculus, German, Spanish Language, U.S. History, European History, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science. Approximately two dozen other AP courses are offered online as a part of APEX. Average AP scores are much higher than the state average. In 2004-2005, 123 students took 242 tests, with 80% qualifying for college credit. Generally, 40% of seniors enroll in at least one AP class. The distinguished Pennsylvania Governor's Schools of Excellence have accepted 17 QVHS students since 2003. The high school is also pleased to offer students (other than freshmen) the option of attending Parkway West CTC, a career and technology center.
- Teaching
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Recently, over twenty Quaker Valley teachers have been semi-finalists in the annual Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year competition. Seven teachers in the district have received the certification of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. In 2005, mathematics teacher Jeff Sebastian won the Milken Family Foundation National Education Award which comes with a $25,000 cash prize. The award is only given to two teachers in each state annually.
- Activities
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There are many activities, offered both in and out of school. In school, the Student Service Learning Center works to raise money for noteworthy causes, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Student government and school store participants also work during school hours.
- Theater Arts
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Quaker Valley is known for having one of the best public high school music programs in the country. The annual musicals have frequently netted Gene Kelly awards, and the chorus has often won compitions, too. In addition to the drama class, students can participate in SPAM (Short Plays And Monologues), in which they often write, direct, and act in their own plays. The Drama Club often goes to the Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Competition at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, and is also active in other theatrical ways.
- Athletics
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Sports teams are highly successful, often moving to state competitions. Most recently, the hockey team won the state championship in 2005. The girls' tennis team was a state runner up in 2007 and the boys' basketball team was a state "Final Four" team in 2006. The track and cross country teams are successful as well, often ranking in PIAA competition. The girls' lacrosse teams is ranked among the best in Pennsylvania.
- Other Activities
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Youth and Government, Spanish Club, French Club, Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Ensemble, Math Club, Science Olympiad, Mock Trial, Quaker Quill (newspaper), Bittersweet (literary magazine), Yearbook, Key Club, Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Crew.
- Marching band
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The Quaker Valley Marching Band has a lengthy history of innovation and excellence. Beginning in the 1960s under the direction of Walter C. Iacobucci, later assisted by James Drake, the "Swingin' Quakers" were favorites at band festivals across western Pennsylvania for their unique uniforms, original arrangements (by Drake) of the latest hits, and unconventional dance moves and other choreographed routines.
- The current edition of the band continues this tradition, and is an award-winning group. The band has 60 members, ranging from freshmen to seniors. Due to the small size, each member must assume a musical role. The band also includes a colorguard, majorettes, drumline and musical pit ensemble.
- Each year, a new drum major is nominated to direct the band's performances. Other leaders are responsible for the group's "drill" and visuals.
- In 2004 while under the direction of Sean Desguin, the band participated for the first time in the PIMBA competition and had a flawless season, receiving first place honors in every one of their competitions. In the past two years, the group has finished fourth in Class A statewide competition.
- The group has also marched in the Pittsburgh Veterans Day Parade, where the current drum major was honored for exemplary conducting.
- Notable alumni
- Dan Cortese - actor
- Wentworth Miller - (Senior year only) Star of Prison Break
- Keith Starr - Former NBA Player for the Chicago Bulls
- Lou Valenzi - actor
- Chuck Knox Former NFL Head Coach, First Coach in History to Lead 3 different teams to Postseason, Retired 6th on alltime coaching list and multiple year winner of NFL Coach of the Year awards.
- Demographics
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A study conducted in the 2004-2005 school year found the school diversity to be as follows: Black - 8%, Hispanic - 1.4%, Native American - 0.3%, Asian - 1.3%, White - 87.1%, Multi - 1.9%. It appears that over the past thirteen years, diversity has increased about 6%. However, the school still remains quite homogeneous.
- See also
- List of high schools in Pennsylvania
- External links
- Quaker Valley High School - School website
- Quaker Valley School District - School district website
- Quaker Valley Marching Band - Marching Band website
- Quaker Valley Class of 1997 - Official website of the graduating class of 1997.
- Quaker Valley Class of 1976 - Official website of the graduating class of 1976.
- Quaker Valley Class of 1978 - Official website of the Class of 1978
- Quaker Valley Class of 1979 - Official website of the Class of 1979
- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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