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{{short description|School district in Pennsylvania}}
{{Infobox school

| name = Danville Area School District
{{Infobox school district
| image = Map of Montour County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
| imagesize = 200 px
| name = Danville Area School District
| image = Map of Montour County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
| streetaddress = 600 Walnut Street
| city = Danville
| imagesize = 210 px
| state = [[Pennsylvania]]
| streetaddress = 733 Ironmen Lane
| county = Montour County and Northumberland County
| city = Danville
| zipcode = 17821
| state = [[Pennsylvania]]
| country = [[United States]]
| county = Montour County and Northumberland County
| coordinates =
| zipcode = 17821
| schoolboard = 9 members elected at large
| country = United States
| coordinates =
| superintendent = Jason Bendle, salary $132,500 in five year contract.<ref>Joe Sylvester., Milton grad is Danville's new superintendent, The Daily Item, October 18, 2017</ref><br>
| type = Public
Retired - Cheryl Latorre, M'ED, ($125,000 in 2011) Contract through June 30, 2016<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Ed Names and Addresses, 2013</ref> Salary $138,000 (2015)<ref>Joe Sylvester., Danville leader gets 3% raise, The Daily Item, September 9, 2015</ref> Contract renewed 2016 to June 30, 2019<ref>PDE, ED Names and Addresses 2016, 2017</ref>
| principal =Lee Gump, HS, salary $92,365 (2013)<br>
| grades = PreK-12
| superintendent = Dr. Molly Nied
Mr. Mike Garman, HSVP
| us_nces_district_id = 4207320
| principal1 = Charles Smargiassi, MS<br>
| students = 2,162 (2022-23) <ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?ID2=4207320|title=Danville Area SD|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|accessdate=July 15, 2024}}</ref>
Jeremy Winn, MS VP
| principal2 = Chris Johns, LVIC
| teachers = 171.00 (FTE) <ref name=NCES/>
| ratio = 12.64 <ref name=NCES/>
| principal3 = John Bickhart, PC
| dean =
| mascot = Ironman
| colors = Orange and purple
| administrator =Ms Janis K Venna, Business Manager salary $87,550<ref>OpenPaGov.org, Danville Area School District payroll report 2013, 2013</ref><br>
| free_label1 = State Classification
Jillann Shupp, Director of Special Education, salary $84,338<br>
| free_text1 = District of the 3rd class due to district population between 5,000 and 30,000 people<ref>Pennsylvania General Assembly, Public School Code of 1949 - Section 202 Classification, 2017</ref>
Dana Earnest, Asst to the Director of Special Education<br>
| website = https://www.danvillesd.org/
Stephen M. Kalberer, PhD, NCSP<br>
Dawn Brookhart, Supervisor salary $95,461
| director =Ron Kanaski, athletic director
| staff =143 non teaching staff<ref>NCES, Common Core of Data - Danville Area School District, 2014</ref>
| faculty =182 teachers 2013),<ref>NCES, Common Core of Data - Danville Area School District, 2015</ref> 205 teachers (2010)
| ratio =12:1 (2013), 11:1 Student/teacher 2010
| lower_age =4 years old preschool
| upper_age =21 years special education students
| type = Public
| fees =
| tuition =For nonresident and charter school students ES - $8,934.40, HS - $9,808.87 <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Tuition rates per LEA, 2011</ref>
| budget =$40 million (2017-18)<ref name="WKOK 1070AM">{{cite web |url=http://wkok.com/danville-area-school-board-says-no-new-taxes/ |title=Danville Area School Board says "No new taxes" |author=WKOK 1070AM |date=June 14, 2017}}</ref><br>
$38.77 million (2016-17)<ref>Joe Sylvester., Board: no tax increase, The Daily Item, June 15, 2016</ref><br>
$34.9 million (2014-15),<ref>Robert Stoneback, Board OKs 2.5% millage hike, The Daily Item, June 11, 2014</ref><br>
$34.02 million (2013-14)<br>
$32,850,131 (2012-13)
| grades = Preschool-12th
| language = English
| mascot = Ironman
| colors = Orange and Purple {{Color box|orange}}{{Color box|purple}}
| founded = 1900
| closed = Danville Elementary School, Riverside Elementary School, Mahoning Cooper Elementary School in 2011
| pupils = 2,267 students (2016)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/127 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Danville Area School District Fast Facts 2016 |date=October 2016}}</ref><br>
2,276 students (2015)<ref>Robert Stonebeck., School Numbers Take a Dip, The Daily Item, August 17, 2015</ref><br>
2,500 students (2014)<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment by LEA, October 2014</ref><br>
2,431 students 2012<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Danville Area School District Common Data - Danville Area School District, 2013</ref><br>
2,428 students in 2010 <ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Danville Area School District Common Data report, 2010</ref><br>
2,498 students (2005)<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA, July 2010</ref>
| gradeK =173 (2014),<ref>Rick Dandes, For Some, tears flow, The Daily Item, August 18, 2014</ref> 188 (2012),<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment by LEA and School, 2013</ref> 201 (2010)<ref>NCES, Common Core of Data Danville Area School District information, 2011</ref>
| grade1 =170 (2015),<ref>PDE, Enrollment by LEA 2015-16, 2016</ref> 171 (2012),<ref>PDE, Enrollment by LEA 2012-13, 2013</ref> 187
| grade2 =170 (2015), 175 (2012), 187
| grade3 =175 (2015), 181 (2012), 167
| grade4 =181 (2015), 185 (2012), 171
| grade5 =178 (2015), 185 (2012), 160
| grade6 =194 (2015), 191 (2012), 157
| grade7 =205 (2015), 169 (2012), 180
| grade8 =196 (2015), 176 (2012), 175
| grade9 =169 (2015), 133 (2012), 197
| grade10 =144 (2015), 157 (2012), 176
| grade11 =158 (2015), 173 (2012), 186
| grade12 =136 (2015), 167 (2012), 217 (2010)
| other_grade_label =preschool
| other = 105 (2012)
| free_label = Per-pupil spending
| free_text = $12,124 (2008)<br>
$12,846.24 (2010) <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/School%20Finances/Finances/FinancialDataElements/Pages/default.aspx#.VkHZgSh1PzI |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Finances Selected Data 2010 |year=2012}}</ref><br>
$13,132.18 (2013)
| free_label1 =
| free_text1 =
| free_label2 = State Classification
| free_text2 =District of the 3rd class due to district population between 5,000 and 30,000 people<ref>Pennsylvania General Assembly, Public School Code of 1949 - Section 202 Classification, 2017</ref>
| free_label3 =
| free_text3 =
| footnotes =
| picture =
| homepage = [http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/ danville.k12.pa.us]
}}
}}


[[File:Map of Northumberland County Pennsylvania School Districts.png|thumb|right|200 px|Map of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts]]
[[File:Map of Northumberland County Pennsylvania School Districts.png|thumb|right|200 px|Map of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts]]
The '''Danville Area School District''' is a midsized, rural, public school district which spans portions of two counties in Pennsylvania. In [[Montour County, Pennsylvania|Montour County]] it covers the Boroughs of [[Danville, Pennsylvania|Danville]] and [[Washingtonville, Pennsylvania|Washingtonville]] and [[Cooper Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Cooper Township]], [[Derry Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Derry Township]], [[Liberty Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Liberty Township]], [[Mahoning Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Mahoning Township]], [[Mayberry Township, Pennsylvania|Mayberry Township]], [[Valley Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Valley Township]] and [[West Hemlock Township, Pennsylvania|West Hemlock Township]]. In [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland County]] it covers the Borough of [[Riverside, Pennsylvania|Riverside]] and [[Rush Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Rush Township]]. The district encompasses approximately {{convert|120|sqmi|km2}}. According to 2000 federal census data, it served a resident population of 18,894. By 2010, the district's population declined to 18,765 people.<ref>US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Poverty Data by Local Education Agency, 2011</ref> The educational attainment levels for the Danville Area School District population (25 years old and over) were 89.8% high school graduates and 27.4% college graduates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://proximityone.com/sddep.htm#pa |title=School District Comparative Analysis Profiles |author=Proximityone |year=2014}}</ref>


According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, 28.8% of the district's pupils lived at 185% or below the Federal Poverty level as shown by their eligibility for the federal free or reduced price school meal programs in 2012.<ref>Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, Education Facts Student Poverty Concentration by LEA, 2012</ref> In 2009, the residents' per capita income was $20,247, while the median family income was $46,435.<ref>American Fact Finder, US Census Bureau, 2010</ref> In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501<ref>{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42000.html |author=US Census Bureau |title=American Fact Finder, State and County quick facts |year=2010 |access-date=2015-04-12 |archive-date=2014-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006065329/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42000.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60-239.pdf |author=US Census Bureau |title=Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010 |date=September 2011}}</ref> In Montour County, the median household income was $45,255.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/pennsylvania/median-household-income#map |title=Pennsylvania Median household income, 2006-2010 by County |author=US Census Bureau |year=2014}}</ref> By 2013, the median household income in the United States rose to $52,100.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/08/31/most-popular-six-figure-jobs/2749981/ |title=America's most popular six-figure jobs |author1=Michael Sauter |author2=Alexander E.M. Hess |website=USA Today |date=August 31, 2013}}</ref>
The '''Danville Area School District''' ia a midsized, rural, public school district which spans portions of two counties in Pennsylvania. In [[Montour County, Pennsylvania|Montour County]] it covers the Boroughs of [[Danville, Pennsylvania|Danville]] and [[Washingtonville, Pennsylvania|Washingtonville]] and [[Cooper Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Cooper Township]], [[Derry Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Derry Township]], [[Liberty Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Liberty Township]], [[Mahoning Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Mahoning Township]], [[Mayberry Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Mayberry Township]], [[Valley Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|Valley Township]] and [[West Hemlock Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania|West Hemlock Township]]. In [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland County]] it covers the Borough of [[Riverside, Pennsylvania|Riverside]] and [[Rush Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Rush Township]]. The district encompasses approximately {{convert|120|sqmi|km2}}. According to 2000 federal census data, it served a resident population of 18,894. By 2010, the district's population declined to 18,765 people.<ref>US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Poverty Data by Local Education Agency, 2011</ref> The educational attainment levels for the Danville Area School District population (25 years old and over) were 89.8% high school graduates and 27.4% college graduates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://proximityone.com/sddep.htm#pa |title=School District Comparative Analysis Profiles |author=Proximityone |year=2014}}</ref> The district is one of the 500 [[List of school districts in Pennsylvania|public school districts of Pennsylvania]].

According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, 28.8% of the district's pupils lived at 185% or below the Federal Poverty level as shown by their eligibility for the federal free or reduced price school meal programs in 2012.<ref>Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, Education Facts Student Poverty Concentration by LEA, 2012</ref> In 2009, the residents' per capita income was $20,247, while the median family income was $46,435.<ref>American Fact Finder, US Census Bureau, 2010</ref> In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42000.html |author=US Census Bureau |title=American Fact Finder, State and County quick facts |year=2010}}</ref> and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p60-239.pdf |author=US Census Bureau |title=Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010 |date=September 2011}}</ref> In Montour County, the median household income was $45,255.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/united-states/quick-facts/pennsylvania/median-household-income#map |title=Pennsylvania Median household income, 2006-2010 by County |author=US Census Bureau |year=2014}}</ref> By 2013, the median household income in the United States rose to $52,100.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/08/31/most-popular-six-figure-jobs/2749981/ |title=America's most popular six-figure jobs |author1=Michael Sauter |author2=Alexander E.M. Hess |website=USA Today |date=August 31, 2013}}</ref>

Danville Area School District officials reported that, in school year 2007-08, the district provided basic educational services to 2,563 pupils through the employment of 200 teachers, 152 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 16 administrators. In 2009-10, the district provided basic educational services to 2,470 pupils. It employed: 202 teachers, 143 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 15 administrators during the 2009-10 school year. The district received $11.4 million in state funding in the 2009-10 school year.

The district operates [[Danville High School (Pennsylvania)|Danville Area High School]] (Grades 9-12), Danville Middle School (Grades 6-8), Liberty Valley Intermediate Elementary School (Grades 3-5), and Danville Area Primary Elementary School (Grades K2). Of the 4 elementary schools formerly operated by the district until June 2011, only Liberty Valley remains open today. Danville Elementary School, Riverside Elementary School, and Mahoning Cooper Elementary School all closed in the 2011 consolidation of the new Danville Area Primary Elementary School. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111006074323/http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=729795] The district provides an online learning option called Danville eLearning Cyber Academy. In 2015, 52 Danville Area School District pupils opted for the eLearning Cyber Academy alternative and another 29 attended one of the 14 public, cyber charter schools operating in the Commonwealth. Danville's cost for cyber school students was $9,817 per pupil.<ref>Justin Strawser., Districts go Digital Six offer their own online classes, The Daily Item, January 31, 2016</ref>

Danville Area School District has experienced a significant decline in enrollment. The 2009-10 enrollment was 2,342 pupils. It had peaked at 2,837 pupils in 1998-99. The board added 36 professional positions and nearly doubled the number of nonprofessional positions by adding 23 workers over that period.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailyitem.com/danvillenews/x1627561205/Staff-numbers-drop-with-enrollment |author=Blackledge, Karen |title=Acting school chief proposes more job cuts, |publisher=The Daily Item. |date=August 10, 2010}}</ref>


;Mascot and Colors
;Mascot and Colors
The district's school colors are Orange and Purple and its mascot is the Ironman. The Orange and Purple represent the colors of hot iron. Iron turns orange at forging temperatures and purple at even hotter casting temperatures. This is due to the historical significance of an iron refinery in downtown Danville. Danville Area was commissioned in 1900, within a few years of when the mill closed. The refinery stood idle for decades, but it was finally demolished in the 1930s.
The district's school colors are Orange and Purple and its mascot is the Ironman. The Orange and Purple represent the colors of hot iron. Iron turns orange at forging temperatures and purple at even hotter casting temperatures. This is due to the historical significance of an iron refinery in downtown Danville. Danville Area was commissioned in 1900, within a few years of when the mill closed. The refinery stood idle for decades, but it was finally demolished in the 1930s.


==History==
== Schools ==
Shortly before the turn of the 20th Century, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania called for special districts acting as their own local government units to run the state's public school system, whereas counties, boroughs, townships, towns, and cities had previously been allowed to run schools. In 1900, the legislature commissioned Danville School District. Originally, the district covered only Danville, but it was granted an increasing geographical region as the state decommissioned surrounding districts. It expanded to cover all but the very northernmost townships of Montour County. Later, with the decommission and annexation of South Danville School District, it took up part of Northumberland County as well. In 1957, Danville School District was awarded the designation of "Area" in its name. In 2007, a U.S. News & World Report study rated Danville High School in the top 5% as one of the best public high schools in the United States of America. In 2010, the high school was no longer listed in the Top US Schools Listing.<ref>[http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/listings/high-schools/pennsylvania US News and World Report - Pennsylvania - Best High Schools 2010]</ref>


* [[Danville High School (Pennsylvania)|Danville Area High School]] (Grades 9-12)
==Governance==
* Danville Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Danville Area School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four-year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the [[Pennsylvania Department of Education]] and the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]].<ref>Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010</ref> The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low-income children in the [[Elementary and Secondary Education Act]] and the [[No Child Left Behind Act]], (renamed [[Every Student Succeeds Act]] (ESSA) in December 2015) which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ed.gov/essa |title=Every Student Succeeds Act |author=US Department of Education |year=2015}}</ref> The school board is required by state law to post a financial report on the district in its website by March of each school year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2012/0/0141..HTM |title=Act of Jul. 12, 2012, P.L. 1142, No. 141 Section 921-A |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly |year=2012}}</ref>
* Liberty Valley Intermediate Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
* Danville Area Primary Elementary School (Grades K-2)
The [[Superintendent (education)|superintendent]] and business manager are appointed by the school board. The superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The business manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the school board. The school board enters into individual employment contracts for these positions. These contracts must be in writing and are subject to public discloure under the state's Right to Know Act. In Pennsylvania, public school districts are required to give 150 days notice to the superintendent regarding renewal of the employment contract.<ref>Pennsylvania General Assembly, Pennsylvania School Code, 2013</ref> Pursuant to Act 141 of 2012 which amended the Pennsylvania School Code, all school districts that have hired superintendents on/after the fall of 2012 are required to develop objective performance standards and post them on the district's website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2012/0/0141..HTM |title=Act of Jul. 12, 2012, P.L. 1142, No. 141 |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly |year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=301477 |title=Superintendent's Page |author=Cheryl Latorre, M'ED |year=2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808101427/http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=301477 |archivedate=2009-08-08 |df= }}</ref>


Of the 4 elementary schools formerly operated by the district until June 2011, only Liberty Valley remains open today. Danville Elementary School, Riverside Elementary School, and Mahoning Cooper Elementary School all closed in the 2011 consolidation of the new Danville Area Primary Elementary School. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111006074323/http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=729795] The district provides an online learning option called Danville eLearning Cyber Academy.<ref>Justin Strawser., Districts go Digital Six offer their own online classes, The Daily Item, January 31, 2016</ref>
The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "C-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Pennsylvania_school_districts |title=The Pennsylvania Project |author=The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives |accessdate=May 20, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716131940/http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Pennsylvania_school_districts |archivedate=July 16, 2011 |df= }}</ref>


==History==
==Academic achievement==
Shortly before the turn of the 20th century, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania called for special districts acting as their own local government units to run the state's public school system, whereas counties, boroughs, townships, towns, and cities had previously been allowed to run schools. In 1900, the legislature commissioned Danville School District. Originally, the district covered only Danville, but it was granted an increasing geographical region as the state decommissioned surrounding districts. It expanded to cover all but the very northernmost townships of Montour County. Later, with the decommission and annexation of South Danville School District, it took up part of Northumberland County as well. In 1957, Danville School District was awarded the designation of "Area" in its name. In 2007, a ''U.S. News & World Report'' study rated Danville High School in the top 5% as one of the best public high schools in the United States of America. In 2010, the high school was no longer listed in the Top US Schools Listing.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/listings/high-schools/pennsylvania |title=''U.S. News & World Report'' – Pennsylvania – Best High Schools 2010 |access-date=2011-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124051827/http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/listings/high-schools/pennsylvania |archive-date=2010-11-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2010, Danville Area School District adopted an Instructional Model with the intent to strengthen student achievement in all grades.<ref>[http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/files/287118/Instructional%20Model%20-%20Faculty.pdf Danville Area School District Instructional Model]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

;Statewide academic ranking
Danville Area School District ranked 67th out of the 494 ranked Pennsylvania School Districts in 2017, by the [[Pittsburgh Business Times]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2017/05/02/search-statewide-honor-roll-rankings.html |title=2017 Regional School Report Card Top school districts in Pennsylvania |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |year=2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://infogram.com/copy_honor_roll_statewide |title=Statewide Honor Roll ranking of top=scoring school districts 2017 |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=May 1, 2017}}</ref> The ranking was based on the last 3 years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by [[Pennsylvania System of School Assessment|PSSAs]] results in: reading, writing, math and science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, [[Algebra]] 1, [[Biology]] I) in high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/print-edition/2014/04/11/what-makes-up-a-district-s-school-performance.html |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |title=What makes up a district's School Performance Profile score? |date=April 11, 2014}}</ref> Three school districts were excluded from the ranking because they do not operate high schools ([[Saint Clair Area School District]], [[Midland Borough School District]], [[Duquesne City School District]]). The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th. Adapted PSSA examinations are given to children in the special education programs. Writing exams were given to children in 5th and 8th grades.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-2}}
*2016 - 63rd<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2016/04/11/chester-county-district-leads-statewide-honor-roll.html |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |title=Chester County district leads statewide Honor Roll 2016 |date=April 12, 2016}}</ref>
*2015 - 87th out of 493<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2015/04/10/chester-county-district-ranks-no-1-in-pennsylvania.html |author=Pittsburgh Business Times |title=Guide to Pennsylvania Schools Statewide School District Ranking 2015 |date=April 10, 2015}}</ref>
*2014 - 88th<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools Statewide Honor Roll Rankings 2014, April 11, 2014</ref>
*2013 - 114th<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Pennsylvania School Guide Statewide Ranking 2013, April 5, 2013</ref>
*2012 - 136th<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Honor Roll Rankings 2012, April 4, 2012</ref>
{{col-2-of-2}}
*2011 - 135th<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, 2011 Statewide Honor Roll Rankings, April 2011</ref>
*2010 - 127th<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Honor Roll Rankings, May 6, 2010</ref>
*2009 - 113th<ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Honor Roll Rankings 2009, May 30, 2009</ref>
*2008 - 124th
*2007 - 119th out of 501 school districts in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/05/21/daily24.html |title=Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County |publisher=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=May 23, 2007}}</ref>
{{col-end}}

;Overachiever statewide ranking:
In 2012, the ''Pittsburgh Business Times'' also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. '''Danville Area School District ranked 187th.''' <ref>Pittsburgh Business Times, Statewide Overachivers Ranking Information, April 6, 2012</ref> The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/feature/schools/overachiever_statewide_rank.html |title=Overachiever statewide ranking |publisher=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=May 6, 2010}}</ref>
*2011 - 201st
*2010 - 313th
*2009 - 282nd

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students at Danville Area School District was in the 72nd percentile among Pennsylvania's 500 schools districts. Scale (0-99; 100 is state best).<ref>''The Morning Call'', 2009 PSSA RESULTS Danville Area School District, February 2011</ref>

===District AYP Status===
In 2010 through 2012, Danville Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance. From 2004 to 2009, Danville Area School District achieved AYP status. In 2003, the district was in Warning status due to lagging student academic achievement.

===Graduation rate===
In 2016, Danville Area School District's graduation rate rose to 94.4%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5733 |title=School Performance Profile - Danville Area High School |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 14, 2016}}</ref>
*2015 - 90%
*2014 - 94.97%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5733 |title=School Performance Profile - Danville Area School District |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref>
*2013 - 93.62%.
*2012 - 92.3%.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Danville Area School District AYP Table 2012, September 21, 2012</ref>
*2011 - 93.6%.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Danville Area School District AYP Table 2011, September 29, 2011</ref>
*2010 - 91.98%, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_education/7237/info/757639 |title=New 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation Now Being Implemented |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=March 15, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914150409/http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_education/7237/info/757639 |archivedate=2010-09-14 |df= }}</ref>

;According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
* 2010 - 90% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Danville Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 data table, October 20, 2010</ref>
* 2009 - 91.39% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Danville Area School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009 data table, September 14, 2009</ref>
* 2008 - 92.45%
* 2007 - 87.75% <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/23571629/PA-High-School-Graduation-Info-by-School-District-2007 |title=Pennsylvania High School Graduation Rates report |author=The Pennsylvania Partnership for Children |year=2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105062625/http://www.scribd.com/doc/23571629/PA-High-School-Graduation-Info-by-School-District-2007 |archivedate=2012-11-05 |df= }}</ref>
* 2006 - 91.71%

===High school===
[[Danville High School (Pennsylvania)|Danville Area High School]] is located at 600 Walnut Street, Danville. In 2013, Danville Area High School enrollment was 625 students, in 9th through 12th grades, with 19.5% of pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 19.5% of pupils receiving [[special education]] services, while 12% of pupils were identified as being [[Intellectual giftedness|gifted]]. The school employed 51 teachers.<ref>US News and World Report, Best High Schools, 2014</ref> Per the PA Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal [[No Child Left Behind]] Act.

According to the [[National Center for Education Statistics]], in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 720 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 122 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 61 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 12:1.<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Common Care Data - Danville Area High School, 2010</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Danville Area High School, September 29, 2011</ref>

In 2009, Danville High School ranked 139th out of 666 Pennsylvania high schools for the reading and mathematics achievement of its students.<ref>Eleventh grade ranking in Pennsylvania, SchoolDigger.com. Accessed April 2010</ref>

;2017 School Performance Profile:
Danville Area High School Keystone Exams mandated testing results were: 92% of students were on grade level in reading/literature and 80.5% of students demonstrated on grade level in Algebra I. In Biology I, 80% of pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the Biology course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/Pages/Keystone-Exams-Results.aspx |title=2017 KEYSTONE Exam Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 27, 2017}}</ref> The school had the highest achievement among schools in the CSIU16 region.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6CAjQ6eteAraW1zOVl1SzBJMHM/view?usp=sharing |title=2017 KEYSTONE Exam Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 27, 2017}}</ref> Statewide 72.7% of students who took the Keystone Reading/Literature exam were on grade level or advanced. In Algebra 1, 65.6% demonstrated on grade level skills. In Biology I, 63.4% of students who took a biology course showed on grade level understanding of concepts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/Pages/Keystone-Exams-Results.aspx |title=2017 Keystone Exam State Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/09/state_exam_scores_show_math_co.html |title=State exam scores show math continues to be a struggle for many students |author=Jan Murphy |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=September 27, 2017}}</ref>

;2016 School Performance Profile:
Danville Area High School Keystone Exams (federally mandated testing) results were: 95.8% of students were on grade level in reading /literature and 88.5% of students demonstrated on grade level in Algebra I skills. In Biology I, 90.3% of pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the Biology course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx |title=2016 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> The requirement that pupils pass the Keystone Exams in reading, algebra I and bIology I in order to graduate was postponed until 2019 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly because less than 60% of 12 grade pupils statewide would have been eligible for graduation from high school due to failing one or more Keystone Exams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/K-12/PDE%20Act%201%20Report.pdf |title=Findings and Recommendations Pursuant to Act 1 of 2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=August 2016}}</ref> Danville Area High School remained the highest achieving school in the CSIU16 region.

;2015 School Performance Profile:
Danville Area High School achieved 89.3 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that 92.9% of the high school's students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 89.76% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 78% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5733 |title=Danville Area High School School Performance Profile 2015 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> Statewide, 53 percent of schools with an eleventh grade achieved an academic score of 70 or better. Five percent of the 2,033 schools with 11th grade were scored at 90 and above; 20 percent were scored between 80 and 89; 28 percent between 70 and 79; 25 percent between 60 and 69 and 22 percent below 60. The Keystone Exam results showed: 73 percent of students statewide scored at grade-level in English, 64 percent in Algebra I and 59 percent in biology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/11/report_card_for_states_high_sc.html#incart_river_home |title=Report card for state's high schools show overall decline |author=Jan Murphy |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=November 4, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Downloads |title=2015 Keystone Exam School Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 4, 2015}}</ref>

;2014 School Performance Profile:
Danville Area High School achieved 92.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 86.6% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 84.7% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 76.6% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5733 |title=Danville Area High School Academic Performance Data 2014 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/news/half-of-valley-districts-see-state-test-scores-decline/article_7f17c13a-663a-11e4-98fa-03b167fc2eff.html |title=Half of Valley districts see state test scores decline |author=Evamarie Socha |publisher=The Daily Item |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> Statewide, the percentage of high school students, who scored proficient and advanced in Algebra I, increased to 39.7% (2013) to 40.1% (2014). The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in reading/literature declined to 52.5%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in biology improved from 39.7 (2013) to 41.4 (2014).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/11/21/State-student-scores-declined-with-reduced-funding-test-results-show/stories/201411240030 |title=Pennsylvania student scores declined with reduced funding, test results show |author=Eleanor Chute |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=November 21, 2014}}</ref>

'''US News and World Report rating''' In 2014, Danville Area High School was recognized by [[US News and World Report]] as a Silver level high school in a nationwide school ranking. Among Pennsylvania high schools (traditional, charter and private) 56 achieved gold or silver medals. Another 103 high schools achieved bronze rating out of 698 Pennsylvania high schools reviewed.<ref>US News & World Report, US High Schools Overview 2014, April 22, 2014</ref>

;2013 School Performance Profile:
Danville Area High School achieved 92.7 out of 100. This was the highest score achieved by an IU16 region high school. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 92% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 92.8% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 50% showed on grade level science understanding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org |title=Danville Area High School Academic Performance Data 2013 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> 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.

;AYP History:
Each school year 2003 through 2012, Danville Area High School achieved AYP status, under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Danville Area High School AYP Overview 2011, September 29, 2011</ref><ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Danville Area High School AYP Overview 2012, September 21, 2012</ref>

;PSSA Scores
[[Pennsylvania System of School Assessment]]s, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. PSSAs are NCLB related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012. The PSSAs for 11th graders included: 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]].

;'''11th Grade Reading:'''
* 2007 - 79% on grade level. State - 65.4% of 11th graders on grade level
* 2008 - 78.6%, State - 65%<ref>{{cite web |title=Danville Area School District Report Card 2008 |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/19283760/Danville-Area-School-District-Report-Card-2008 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education}}</ref>
* 2009 - 75.5%, State - 65% <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/21820779/Pennsylvania-PSSA-Results-Math-and-Reading-by-Schools-2009 |title=Pennsylvania PSSA Results Math and Reading by Schools 2009 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education}}</ref>
* 2010 - 76%, State - 67%. The 11th grade ranked 6th in CSIU16 high schools for reading achievement.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/11th%20grade%20Reading%202010%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20Ranking.pdf |title=11th Grade Reading 2010 Central Pennsylvania Ranking |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 2010}}</ref>
*2011 - 82.5%, (6% below basic). Ranked 2nd among CSIU16 region 11th grades. State - 69%.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2010-2011 PSSA and AYP Results, September 29, 2011</ref>
*2012 - 89% (5% below basic). State - 67%, CSIU16 region 11th grade rank - 1st.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/PSSA/Pages/2011-2012-PSSA-Results.aspx |title=2011-2012 PSSA and AYP Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2011}}</ref>

;'''11th Grade Mathematics on grade level:'''
* 2007 - 65.4%, State - 53.7%
* 2008 - 60.4%, State - 56%
* 2009 - 66.7%, State - 56% <ref>PDE, Central Pennsylvania Public High School Math Ranking 2009, September 2009</ref>
* 2010 - 77%, State - 59%. The 11th grade ranked 2nd, in the CSIU 16 region, for math achievement.<ref>11th Grade Math 2010 Central Pennsylvania IU16 Region Ranking, October 2010</ref>
*2011 - 77.6% (10% below basic). State - 60.3%. The 11th grade ranked 1st, in the CSIU 16 region, for math achievement.
*2012 - 87% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 59% of 11th graders are on grade level. CSIU16 region rank - 1st.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC12S116471803000003425.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082648/http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC12S116471803000003425.PDF |dead-url=yes |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=Danville Area Senior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2012 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 21, 2012 }}</ref>

;'''11th Grade Science on grade level:'''
* 2008 - 39%, State - 36%
* 2009 - 48.5%, State - 39.7%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/24670128/Pennsylvania-Science-Test-Results-by-School-2009 |title=Pennsylvania PSSA Science 2009 results by school and grade |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2009}}</ref>
* 2010 - 54%, State - 39%. In the CSIU16 region, Danville ranked 6th for science achievement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/37996313/11th-Grade-Science-Central-Pennsylvania-Schools-2010 |title=11th Grade Science Central Pennsylvania Schools 2010 |year=2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103125717/http://www.scribd.com/doc/37996313/11th-Grade-Science-Central-Pennsylvania-Schools-2010 |archivedate=2013-11-03 |df= }}</ref>
*2011 - 52.6% (8% below basic). State - 40%. In the CSIU16 region, Danville AHS ranked 5th for science achievement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442 |title=2010-2011 Science PSSA and AYP Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2011}}</ref>
*2012 - 52% on grade level (5% below basic). State - 44% of 11th graders were on grade level. In the CSIU16 region, Danville AHS ranked 6th for science achievement.

'''Science in Motion''' Danville High School took 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.<ref>The Pennsylvania Basic Education/Higher Education Science and Technology Partnership, Science in Motion annual report, 2012</ref> The high school worked with [[Susquehanna University]] to provide the experiences.

====College Remediation rate====
In January 2009, research was presented to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. The research examined course enrollment trends at the state's 14 community colleges and the 14 institutions in the [[Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education]]. The data, provided by PASSHE and the community colleges, showed that during the 2007-08 school year 18% of Danville Area High School graduates required costly remediation in math and/or reading before they could take regular college courses.<ref>[http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7201&PageID=510952&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/single_web/newsroom_press_releases/news_releases/new_higher_education_data_shows_thousands_of_pennsylvania_high_school_graduates_head_to_college_unprepared.html Thousands of Pennsylvania high school graduates head to college unprepared], state.pa.us</ref> 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.<ref>National Center for Education Statistics</ref> Per the [[Pennsylvania Department of Education]], one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

====SAT scores====
In 2015, 131 Danville Area School District students took the [[SAT]] exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 521. The Math average score was 527. The Writing average score was 501.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/Pages/SAT-and-ACT.aspx |title=SAT and AP Scores 2015 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2015}}</ref> The [[College Board]] also reported that statewide 96,826 pupils took the exams with average scores declining in all three measurers to: 495 in reading, 511 in math and 484 in writing.<ref>College Board, SAT 2015 Total Group report Pennsylvania, 2016</ref>

In 2014, 135 Danville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 514. The Math average score was 530. The Writing average score was 490.<ref>PDE, School Performance profile, November 6, 2014</ref> Statewide in Pennsylvania, Verbal Average Score was 497. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 480. The College Board also reported that nationwide scores were: 497 in reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/sat/PA_14_03_03_01.pdf |title=2014 College-Bound Seniors State Profile Report |author=College Board |year=2014}}</ref>

In 2013, 119 Danville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 530. The Math average score was 541. The Writing average score was 526. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://research.collegeboard.org/programs/sat/data/cb-seniors-2013 |title=The 2013 SAT Report on College & Career Readiness |author=College Board |year=2013}}</ref>

In 2012, 148 Danville Area School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 510. The Math average score was 527. The Writing average score was 501. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 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, 137 Danville Area School District students took the [[SAT]] exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 512. The Math average score was 526. The Writing average score was 488.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/data_and_statistics/7202/sat_and_act_scores/674663 |title=Public School SAT Scores 2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015105956/http://pa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/data_and_statistics/7202/sat_and_act_scores/674663 |archivedate=2011-10-15 |df= }}</ref> Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/sat-scores-by-state-2011 |title=SAT Scores State By State - Pennsylvania |author=College Board |date=September 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008051457/http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/sat-scores-by-state-2011 |archivedate=2011-10-08 |df= }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/while_us_sat_scores_dip_across.html |title=While U.S. SAT scores dip across the board, N.J. test-takers hold steady |date=September 2011}}</ref>

The Pennsylvania Department of Education compared the SAT data of students in rural areas of Pennsylvania to students in urban areas. From 2003 to 2005, the average total SAT score for students in rural Pennsylvania was 992, while urban students averaged 1,006. During the same period, 28 percent of 11th and 12th graders in rural school districts took the exam, compared to 32 percent of urban students in the same grades. The average math and verbal scores were 495 and 497, respectively, for rural students, while urban test-takers averaged 499 and 507, respectively. Pennsylvania's SAT composite score ranked low on the national scale in 2004. The composite SAT score of 1,003 left Pennsylvania ranking 44 out of the 50 states and Washington, DC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rural.palegislature.us/news0706.html#8 |title=SAT Scores and Other School Data |author=The Center for Rural Pennsylvania |date=August 2006}}</ref>

====Graduation requirements====
Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Danville Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 28 credits to graduate, including: mathematics - 4 credits, English 4.5 credits, social studies 3 credits, science 4.5 credits, Computer technology 1 credit, Physical Education and health 2.5 credits, Graduation project 0.5 credit and electives. In 2017 graduation requirements will be reduced by 1 credit to 27 credits and the student must score proficient or advanced on the following Keystone Exams: Algebra I, English Literature, and Biology.<ref>Danville Area School Board, 2013-14 High School Course Guide, 2013</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.24.html |title=Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements |author=Pennsylvania State Board of Education}}</ref> Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.<ref>Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Proposed changes to Chapter 4, May 10, 2012</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://static.pdesas.org/Content/Documents/Keystone_Exam_Program_Overview.pdf |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Keystone Exam Overview |year=2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pdesas.org/module/assessment/Keystone.aspx |title=Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317221759/http://www.pdesas.org/module/assessment/Keystone.aspx |archivedate=2012-03-17 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-2/56.html |title=Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4 |author=Pennsylvania State Board of Education |year=2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, State Board of Education Finalizes Adoption of Pennsylvania Common Core State Academic Standards and High School Graduation Requirements, March 14, 2013</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/keystone_exams/20436 |title=Keystone Exams |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref> 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.

====Advance Placement courses====
In 2013, Danville Area High School offered 13 AP courses at a higher cost than regular courses. 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. Danville Area High School gives credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP classes.<ref>Danville Area School District Administration, Advanced Placement Courses information for Parents and Students, 2013</ref> At Danville Area High School 76.8%% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.<ref>PDE, School Performance Profile - Academic Performance Data - Danville Area High School, December 2013</ref>

In 2014, DAHS offered 12 AP Courses. Of those students who took the courses, 68% achieved a 3 or better on the AP exam.<ref>PDE, School Performance Profile Danville High School, 2014</ref>

====ACE====
Danville Area School District students have access to [[Bloomsburg University]]'s Summer College and Advanced College Experience (ACE) during the summer of their sophomore, junior and senior years (after high school graduation). Tuition is deeply discounted to 75% of the regular rate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomu.edu/ace |title=High School Students (ACE) |author=Bloomsburg University Administration |year=2013}}</ref> Successful students earn college credits that can be transferred to other Pennsylvania public colleges and universities through the Pennsylvania TRAC system.

===Middle school===
Danville Area Middle School is located at 120 Northumberland Road. In 2015, enrollment was 572 pupils, in grades 6th through 8th, with 28.6% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 14% of pupils received special education services, while 4% of pupils were identified as gifted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5732 |title=Danville Area Middle School Fast Facts 2015 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> According to a 2014 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Middle School, November 5, 2015</ref>

In 2013, Danville Area Middle School enrollment was 534 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 30% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 15.9% of pupils received special education services, while 3.9% of pupils were identified as gifted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5732 |title=Danville Area Middle School School Fast Facts 2013 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the No Child Left Behind Act.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Danville Area Middle School, October 4, 2013</ref>

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, Danville Area Middle School reported an enrollment of 497 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 151 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 42 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 12:1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=4207320&ID=420732003424 |author=National Center for Education Statistics |title=Common Core Data – Danville Area Middle School |year=2011}}</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Danville Area Middle School, September 21, 2012</ref>

In September 2011, the Danville Area Middle School building was heavily damaged by flash flooding of the [[Susquehanna River]]. Estimates put the damage at over $4 million. The district reports having $2 million in insurance on the building. The school is conducting classes, for the rest of the school year, by conducting 6th grade in one former, elementary school building and 7th and 8th grade in another former, elementary school building.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailyitem.com/danvillenews/x673416918/-4M-bill-2M-coverage |title=$4 mill bill $2M coverage |author=Robert Stoneback |publisher=The Daily Item |date=September 29, 2011}}</ref> In February 2013, the school board reported that most of the repairs were completed. In addition to insurance coverage, grants from the [[Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency]] and the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] covered most of the costs of repairs.<ref>Robert Stoneback, Final Reimbursements come in for flood-damaged school, The Daily Item, February 19, 2014</ref> the school reopened to students in fall 2013.

;2017 School Performance Profile:
No SPP was released by the PDE. Danville Area Middle School PSSA mandated testing results were: 66.9% of students in 8th grade were on grade level in reading, while just 36.6% of students demonstrated on grade level in mathematics. In science, 56.5% of eighth grade pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx |title=2017 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6CAjQ6eteArZjRydEhBako4LTg/view?usp=sharing |title=2017 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 27, 2017}}</ref> In 7th grade, 70% of pupils were on grade level in reading, while just 45% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Among 6th graders, 73.8% were on grade level in reading and only 48% were on grade level in math. Statewide just 32.5% of eighth graders demonstrated on grade level in math and 58.9% of eighth graders were on grade level in reading. In science, 52.7% of eighth graders showed on grade level proficiency. Among Pennsylvania 7th graders, just 37.8% of students demonstrated on grade level skills in mathematics. In seventh grade reading, 59.5% were on grade level. Sixth graders had 40.3% showing on grade level math skills. In reading, 63.6% of Pennsylvania sixth graders were reading on grade level.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx|title=Department of Education Releases Statewide Results on the 2017 Pennsylvania System Of School Assessment (PSSA) |author=PR Newswire |year=2017}}</ref>

;2016 School Performance Profile:
SPP sharply declined to 73.5 out of 100 points.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5732 |title=Danville Area Middle School Academic Performance Profile 2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2016}}</ref>
Danville Area Middle School PSSA mandated testing results were: 66.8% of students in 8th were on grade level in reading, while just 37.1% of students demonstrated on grade level skills in mathematics. In science, 66.5% of eighth grade pupils demonstrated on grade level science understanding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx |title=2016 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> In 7th grade, 75.8% of pupils were on grade level in reading, while just 42.6% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Among 6th graders, 68.8% were on grade level in reading and 49.2% were on grade level in math.

;2015 School Performance Profile:
SPP withheld by the PDE.
The PDE reported that 72% of 8th grade students at Danville Area Middle School students were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In math/Algebra 51.5% of 8th grade students showed on grade level skills. In science, 74% of the school's 8th graders demonstrated on grade level science understanding. No eighth grade writing scores were reported. In 7th grade, 65% were on grade level in reading, while just 47% showed on grade level math skills. Among 6th graders, 70% were on grade level in reading and 54% were on grade level in mathematics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#.Vg5X9ih1PzI |title=2015 PSSA School Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> Statewide 58% of eighth (8th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 29% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Pennsylvania 7th graders were58% on grade level in reading and 33% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Among sixth (6th) graders, 60.7% were reading on grade level, while only 39.7% demonstrated on grade level math skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#.Vg5X9ih1PzI |title=2015 PSSA State Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref>

;2014 School Performance Profile:
Danville Area Middle School achieved a SPP 84.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 77% were on grade level. In Algebra 1/Math, 85.66% showed on grade level mathematics skills. In Science, 78.8% of 8th graders showed on grade level science understanding. In writing, 81% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5732 |title=Danville Area Middle School Academic Performance Data 2014 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref>

;2013 School Performance Profile:
Danville Area Middle School achieved 94.4 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, 80% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics, 85.8% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, 82% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 91% of the 8th grade students were on grade level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5732 |title=Danville Area Middle School Academic Performance Data 2013 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref>

;Adequate Yearly Progress History:
*2012 - achieved AYP status.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c47/116471803/3424 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312220442/http://paayp.emetric.net/School/Overview/c47/116471803/3424 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=March 12, 2011 |title=Danville Area Middle School AYP Status 2012 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 21, 2012 }}</ref>
*2011 - achieved AYP status.<ref name="AYP">Justin Strawser and Rob Wheary Local districts meet AYP But grade-by-grade tests are still below state averages in many cases, Newsitem.com, July 24, 2011</ref> From 2004 through 2010, Danville Area Middle School achieved AYP each school year. In 2003, Danville Area Middle School was in Warning AYP status, due to lagging academic achievement.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, AYP status 2003-2012 by LEA and School, 2012</ref>

;PSSA HIstory:
PSSAs are NCLB related examination given in the Spring of each school year. Sixth and seventh grades are tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999. Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_academic_standards/19721 |title=State Academic Standards |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2014}}</ref>

; '''8th Grade Reading:'''
* 2012 - 87% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 79% of 8th graders on grade level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC12S116471803000003424.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429075645/http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC12S116471803000003424.PDF |dead-url=yes |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |title=Danville Area Middle School Academic Report Card 2012 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 21, 2012 }}</ref>
* 2011 - 84.9% (6% below basic). State - 81.8%. Ranks 9th in the CSIU16 region 8th grades.
* 2010 - 87%, State - 81%. Ranked 6th in the region.<ref>8th Grade PSSA Reading 2010 Central Pennsylvania Region IU16, November 2010</ref>
* 2009 - 89%, State - 80.9%.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Reading, Math, Science and Writing PSSA Results 2009, August 2009.</ref>
* 2008 - 84%, State - 78% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Danville Area Middle School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, 2009</ref>

; '''8th Grade Math:'''
* 2012 - 88% on grade level (6% below basic). State - 76%
* 2011 - 93.4% (3% below basic). State - 76.9%. The 8th grade ranked 2nd in the CSIU16 region.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Danville Area Middle School Academic Report Card 2011, September 29, 2011</ref>
* 2010 - 84.5%, State - 75%. The 8th grade ranked 5th in the CSIU16 region.<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/doc/37996288/8th-Grade-Math-Central-Pennsylvania-IU16-Region-2010 8th Grade Math Central Pennsylvania IU16 Region 2010]</ref>
* 2009 - 89%, State - 71%<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/doc/24547848/Central-Pennsylvania-Public-School-8th-Grade-Math-PSSA-2007-to-2009-Ranking Central Pennsylvania Public School 8th Grade Math PSSA 2007 to 2009 Ranking]</ref>
* 2008 - 73%, State - 70% <ref>[https://www.scribd.com/doc/22402948/8th-Grade-Mathematics-PSSA-2008-Central-Susquehanna-Valley-IU16-Region-ranking 8th Grade Mathematics PSSA 2008 Central Susquehanna Valley IU16 Region ranking]</ref>

; '''8th Grade Science:'''
* 2012 - 76% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
* 2011 - 67% (13% below basic). State - 58.3%. Ranks 11th, in 8th grade science, in CSIU16 region.
* 2010 - 71%, State - 57%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pde.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2009_-2010_pssa_and_ayp_results/770183|title= PSSA results Science, by school and district 2010 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010}}</ref>
* 2009 - 68%, State - 55%
* 2008 - 60%, State - 50%

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'''7th Grade Reading:'''
* 2012 - 89% on grade level (3% below basic). State – 76% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/PSSA/2012/ |title=How is your school doing? |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=October 15, 2012}}</ref>
* 2011 - 81% (5% below basic). State - 76%
* 2010 - 74% (9% below basic). State - 73% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/7th%20Grade%20Reading%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20IU16%202010.pdf |title=7th Grade Reading Central Pennsylvania IU16 2010 |year=2010}}</ref>
* 2009 - 77%, State - 71%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pde.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/school_assessments/7442/2008-2009_pssa_and_ayp_results/600286 |title=Pennsylvania Reading, Math, Science and Writing PSSA Results by School and Grade 2009 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 14, 2009}}</ref>
* 2008 - 77%, State - 70%
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; 7th Grade Math:
* 2012 - 94% on grade level, 71% Advanced. State - 80%
* 2011 - 91.5%, 66% advanced. State - 78.6%. Ranked 3rd in the CSIU16 region.
* 2010 - 84% (12% below basic). State - 77%. Ranked 8th in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsoshouse.com/PSSA2010/7th%20Grade%20Math%20Central%20Pennsylvania%20IU16%202010.pdf |title=7th Grade Math Central Pennsylvania IU16 2010 |author=PDE PSSA |date=October 2010}}</ref>
* 2009 - 76.7%, State - 75%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education PSSA Results Math and Reading School 2009</ref>
* 2008 - 83%, State - 70% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education PSSA Results Mathematics and Reading by School and Grade 2008</ref>
{{col-end}}

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'''6th Grade Reading:'''
*2012 - 70% (10% below basic). State - 68%
*2011 - 83% (4% below basic). State - 69.9%
*2010 - 73% (10% below basic). State - 68%
*2009 - 70% (13% below basic). State - 67%
*2008 - 72% (10% below basic). State - 67%
*2007 - 70% (14% below basic). State - 63%
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'''6th Grade Math:'''
*2012 - 83% on grade level (6% below basic). State - 77%
*2011 - 94%, 62% advanced. State - 78.8%
*2010 - 78% (11% below basic). State - 78%
*2009 - 73% (13% below basic). State - 75%
*2008 - 73% (13% below basic). State - 72%
*2007 - 74% (12% below basic). State - 69%
{{col-end}}

In 2010, the school administration set the goal that 90% of students would be on grade level. They developed an Instructional Plan to achieve that goal.<ref>[http://dailyitem.com/0100_news/x1048512664/New-programs-helping-students-learn-improve Scarcella, Francis, New programs helping students learn, improve, ''The Daily Item''. October 27, 2010]</ref>

;Dropout Early Warning System
In 2013, Danville Area School District did not implement a state funded dropout prevention Early Warning System and Interventions Catalog at the middle school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-first-lady-and-acting-secretary-of-education-announce-35-schools-statewide-implementing-dropout-program-273604741.html |title=Pennsylvania First Lady and Acting Secretary of Education Announce 35 Schools Statewide Implementing Dropout Program |author=Office of First Lady |date=September 2, 2014}}</ref> The process identifies students at risk for droping out by examining the pupil's: attendance, behavior and course grades. Interventions are implemented to assist at-risk pupils to remain in school. The program is funded by federal and private dollars.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/early_warning_system/21791 |title=The Early Warning System |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2014}}</ref>

;School safety and bullying
Danville Middle School administration reported there was one incident of bullying in the school in the 2014-15 school year. Additionally, there were three assaults in pupils and one sexual incident involving a student. The local law enforcement was involved in zero incidents at the school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.safeschools.state.pa.us/SafeSchoolsHistoric/2015/69b84b4a-48a9-48ea-8d1f-32199001c70b.pdf |title=Danville Middle School - School Safety Report 2014-15 |author=Center for Safe Schools |year=2015}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.safeschools.state.pa.us/Main.aspx?App=6a935f44-7cbf-45e1-850b-e29b2f1ff17f&Menu=dbd39a1f-3319-4a75-8f69-d1166dba5d70&res= |title=Pennsylvania Safe Schools Online Reports |author=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Safe School Center |year=2012}}</ref> Each year the school safety data is reported by the district to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/565338/Area-high-school-students-create-anti-bullying-mural.html?nav=5005 |title=Area high school students create anti-bullying mural |author=Safe & Responsive Schools Project |publisher=Williamsport Sun Gazette |date=June 20, 2011}}</ref> Bullying at school was cited as the reason some pupils opted for the district's eLearning Cyber Academy.

===Liberty-Valley Elementary School===
Liberty-Valley Elementary School is located at 175 Liberty Valley Road. In 2016, the School's enrollment declined to 534 pupils in grades 3rd through 5th, with 30% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 16% of the pupils receive special education services, while 1% are identified as gifted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5735 |title=Liberty-Valley Elementary School Fast Facts 2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 14, 2016}}</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile, Liberty-Valley Elementary School Fast Facts, 2016</ref> The school is not a federally designated [[Title I]] school.

In 2013, the school's enrollment was 551 pupils, in grades 3rd through 5th, with 36% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 14.5% of the pupils receive special education services, while 2.3% are identified as gifted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5735 |title=Liberty-Valley Elementary School Fast Facts |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile, Liberty-Valley Elementary School Fast Facts, 2013</ref> The school was not a federally designated Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, enrollment was 584 pupils in grades 3rd through 5th, with 209 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 39 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 15:1.<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core Data – Liberty-Valley Elementary School, 2011</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Liberty-Valley Elementary School, September 21, 2012</ref>

;2017 School Performance Profile:
No SPP was released by the PDE.
Liberty-Valley Elementary School PSSA mandated testing results were: 71% of students in 5th grade were on grade level in reading, while 69% of students demonstrated on grade level mathematics skills. In 4th grade, 71% were on grade level in reading, while just 52% demonstrated on grade level math skills. In science, 84% of fourth grade pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding of science concepts, in the state standards. Among the school's third graders, 72% were on grade level in reading and just 41% showed on grade level mathematics skills.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2017 PSSA English Language Arts, Science and Math Results 2017, September 27, 2017</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6CAjQ6eteArZjRydEhBako4LTg/view?usp=sharing |title=2017 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 27, 2017}}</ref>

;2016 School Performance Profile:
School Performance Profile declined further to 76.4 out of 100 points.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5735 |title=Liberty-Valley Elementary School 2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2016}}</ref>
Liberty-Valley Elementary School PSSA mandated testing results were: 71.4% of students in 5th grade were on grade level in reading, while only 45.2% of students demonstrated on grade level mathematics skills. In 4th grade, 74.2% were on grade level in reading, while 52.2% demonstrated on grade level math skills. In science, 83.1% of fourth grade pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding of science concepts in the state standards. Among the school's third graders, 70.3% were on grade level in reading and just 57.2% showed on grade level mathematics skills.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2016 PSSA AND KEYSTONE Results, September 29, 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/09/state_test_scores_are_trending.html#incart_most-commented_news_article |title=Standardized test scores show Pa. schools have more work to do |author=Jan Murphy |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=September 29, 2016}}</ref>

;2015 School Performance Profile:
School Performance Profile withheld by the PDE.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5735 |title=Liberty-Valley Elementary School 2015 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2015}}</ref>
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 74% of 5th grade students at Liberty-Valley Elementary School were on grade level in reading on the PSSAs given in April 2015. In mathematics, 61% of 5th grade students showed on grade level skills. No fifth grade writing scores were reported. In 4th grade, 71% were on grade level in reading, while 54% showed on grade level math skills. In science, 80% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding. Among third (3rd) graders, 69% were on grade level in reading and 57% were on grade level in mathematics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#.Vg5X9ih1PzI |title=2015 PSSA School Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> Statewide 61.9% of fifth (5th) graders were on grade level in reading, while 42.8% demonstrated on grade level math skills. Pennsylvania 4th graders were 58.6% on grade level in reading and 44.4% demonstrated on grade level math skills. In science, 77.3% of fourth graders showed on grade level understanding. Among Pennsylvania third (3rd) graders, 62% were reading on grade level, while 48.5% demonstrated on grade level math skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#.Vg5X9ih1PzI |title=2015 PSSA State Level Data |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 1, 2015}}</ref>

;2014 School Performance Profile:
Liberty-Valley Elementary School achieved a score of 80.1 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2013-14, only 73.7% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, only 75.8% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 79.6% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 80% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 75 of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5735 |title=Liberty-Valley Elementary School Academic Performance Data 2014 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref>

;2013 School Performance Profile:
Liberty-Valley Elementary School achieved a score of 82.7 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, 72% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 81.7% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 76% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, 83% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, 77% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/5735 |title=Liberty-Valley Elementary School Academic Performance Report 2013 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref>

;AYP status history:
Liberty Valley Elementary School was in '''Warning''' status for student academic achievement in 2010 and 2012, due to declining student achievement.<ref name="AYP"/><ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Liberty Valley Elementary School Report Card 2010, January 2011</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/District/SchoolList/c47/116471803 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314010227/http://paayp.emetric.net/District/SchoolList/c47/116471803 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=March 14, 2011 |title=Liberty Valley Elementary School Report Card 2012 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 21, 2012 }}</ref>

;PSSA results history:
Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing.

{{col-begin}}
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; '''3rd grade Reading:'''
* 2012 - 84%, (10% below basic). State - 74% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC12S116471803000004833.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082958/http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC12S116471803000004833.PDF |dead-url=yes |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=Liberty-Valley Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2012 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 21, 2012 }}</ref>
* 2011 - 72.8% (16% below basic). State - 77.2%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Liberty-Valley Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011, September 29, 2011</ref>
* 2010 - 77%, State - 75%. Ranked 26th out of 35 3rd grades in the region for reading.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/37996311/3rd-Grade-Reading-2010-Central-Pennsylvania-Region-IU16 |title=3rd Grade Reading 2010 Central Pennsylvania Region IU16 |year=2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105050855/http://www.scribd.com/doc/37996311/3rd-Grade-Reading-2010-Central-Pennsylvania-Region-IU16 |archivedate=2012-11-05 |df= }}</ref>
* 2009 - 76%, State - 77% <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/36445157/Danville-Liberty-Valley-Elementary-School-Academic-Achievement-Report-Card-2009 |title=Liberty-Valley Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009 |year=2009}}</ref>
* 2008 - 81%, State - 72%
* 2007 - 76%, State - 69%
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; '''3rd grade Math:'''
* 2012 - 86% (6% below basic). State - 80%
* 2011 - 68.5% (11% below basic). State - 83.5%
* 2010 - 85%, State - 75.2%. Ranked 28th out of 35 3rd grades in the region for mathematics achievement.<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/doc/37996312/3rd-Grade-Math-2010-Central-Pennsylvania-Region-IU16 3rd Grade Math 2010 Central Pennsylvania Region IU16]</ref>
* 2009 - 82%, State - 81%
* 2008 - 93%, State - 77%
* 2007 - 76%, State - 78%
{{col-end}}

; Low Income 3rd Grade Students Achievement Reading:
* 2012 - 73% on grade level. State - 59%
* 2011 - 55.9% on grade level. State - 65.6%
* 2010 - 64% on grade level. State - 61% <ref>Susquehanna Valley Schools Academic Achievement Low Income Student Achievement, 2010</ref>

; Low Income 3rd Grade Students Achievement Math:
* 2012 - 73% on grade level. State - 66%.
* 2011 - 50% on grade level. State - 73%
* 2010 - 72.5% on grade level. State - 74%

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;4th Grade Reading:
* 2012 - 76% (14% below basic). State - 72%
* 2011 - 75.9% (3% below basic). State - 73%
* 2010 - 75.5%, State - 72%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.ptd.net/~cohora/2010PSSAresults.html |title=4th Grade Reading 2010 Central Pennsylvania IU16 Region Ranking |year=2010}}</ref>
* 2009 - 80.7%, State - 72.6%
* 2008 - 82.9%, State - 70%
* 2007 - 66.1%, State - 70%
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; '''4th Grade Math:'''
* 2012 - 76% (14% below basic). State - 82%
* 2011 - 83.9% (3% below basic). State - 85.3%
* 2010 - 86.3%, State - 84%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.ptd.net/~cohora/2010PSSAresults.html |title=4th Grade Math 2010 Central Pennsylvania Region |year=2010}}</ref>
* 2009 - 93.5%, State - 82%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.ptd.net/~cohora/2010PSSAresults.html |title=4th Grade Mathematics PSSA 2009 Central Susquehanna Valley IU16 Region ranking}}</ref>
* 2008 - 84.3%, State - 80%
* 2007 - 67.7%, State - 78%
{{col-end}}

; '''4th Grade Science:'''
* 2012 - 85%, (4% below basic). State - 82%
* 2011 - 85%, (3% below basic). State - 82.9%
* 2010 - 82.6%, State - 81.4%
* 2009 - 92%, State - 83%
* 2008 - 97%, State - 82%

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'''5th Grade Reading:'''
* 2012 - 77% (10% below basic). State - 65%
* 2011 - 75% (3% below basic). State - 67.3%
* 2010 - 76%, State - 64%. Ranked 9th in CSIU16 region 5th grades
* 2009 - 86.9%, State - 64%
* 2008 - 77%, State - 60%
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'''5th Grade Math:'''
* 2012 - 87% (1% below basic). State - 73%
* 2011 - 84% (3% below basic). State - 76%
* 2010 - 81.2%, State - 74%. Ranked 20th out of 31 CSIU16 region 5th grades
* 2009 - 75.3%, State - 73.6%
* 2008 - 75.4%, State - 73.2%
* 2007 - 74.2%, State - 71%
{{col-end}}

===Danville Primary School===
[[File:Danville Primary School.JPG|thumb|left|Part of the Danville Primary School building]]

Danville Primary School is located at 604 Walnut Street. In 2014, the school's enrollment declined to 536 pupils in grades [[preschool]] through second, with 33% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 10.8% of the pupils receive special education services, while none are identified as gifted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paschoolperformance.org/Profile/27548 |title=Danville Primary School Fast Facts |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school provides full day [[kindergarten]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile, Danville Primary School Fast Facts, 2013</ref> The school is a [[Title i]] school. In April 2015, the school won a contest to have a free visit from renown children's author-illustrator [[Jan Brett]] visit the school, at her expense, during the 2015-16 school year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/news/local_news/danville-primary-wins-jan-brett-visit/article_0f30ca9a-dc6b-11e4-8bc2-3757e1557358.html |title=Danville Primary wins Jan Brett visit |author=Robert Stoneback |date=April 6, 2015}}</ref>

In 2013, Danville Primary School's enrollment was 635 pupils in grades preschool through second, with 33% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 6% of the pupils receive special education services, while less than 1% are identified as gifted.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Danville Primary School Fast Facts 2013, October 4, 2013</ref> According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school provided full-day kindergarten.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The school was a Title I school.

Danville Head Start provides a taxpayer funded, preschool program that provides education, health, and social services to children and families. It serves 111 pre-school aged children throughout Montour County and the Danville Area School District in 2010.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, enrollment was 625 pupils in grades preschool through 2nd, with 202 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 44 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 14:1.<ref>National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core Data – Danville Primary School, 2011</ref>

==Special education==
In December 2015, the Danville Area School District administration reported that 372 pupils, or 15.6% of the district's pupils, received special education services, with 41.1% having specific learning disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/Public%20Reporting/2012_2013/PDF_Documents/Speced_Data_Report_SD312_Final.pdf |title=Danville Area School District Special Education report |author=Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education |year=2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822061323/http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/Public%20Reporting/2012_2013/PDF_Documents/Speced_Data_Report_SD312_Final.pdf |archivedate=2014-08-22 |df= }}</ref>

In 2012, the Danville Area School District administration reported that 310 pupils, or 13% of the district's pupils, received special education services, with 47.7% having specific learning disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/Public%20Reporting/2012_2013/PDF_Documents/Speced_Data_Report_SD312_Final.pdf |title=Danville Area School District Special Education report |author=Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education |year=2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822061323/http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/Public%20Reporting/2012_2013/PDF_Documents/Speced_Data_Report_SD312_Final.pdf |archivedate=2014-08-22 |df= }}</ref> In 2011, the Danville Area School District administration reported that 322 pupils, or 13.3% of the district's pupils, received special education services, with 47.2% having specific learning disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/Public%20Reporting/2011_2012/PDF_Documents/Speced_Data_Report_SD357_312_Final.pdf |title=Danville Area School District Special Education report |author=Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education |year=2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429052629/http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/Public%20Reporting/2011_2012/PDF_Documents/Speced_Data_Report_SD357_312_Final.pdf |archivedate=2014-04-29 |df= }}</ref> In December 2010, the district administration reported that 321 pupils, or 12.6% of the district's pupils, received special education services, with 44.5% having specific learning disabilities. In December 2009, the administration reported that 363 pupils, or 15.4% of the district's pupils, received special education services.<ref>Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education, Danville Area School District Special Education Data Report LEA Performance on State Performance Plan (SPP) Targets School Year 2008-2009, February 5, 2011</ref>

In 2007, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education [[Gerald Zahorchak]] testified before the Pennsylvania House Education Committee regarding full-day kindergarten. He claimed that districts which offered the program would see a significant decrease in special education students due to early identification and early intervention. He asserted the high cost of full-day kindergarten would be recouped by districts in lower special education costs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pakeys.org/docs/Zahorchak_testimony_5-30-07.pdf |author=Gerald L. Zahorchak, D. Ed. |title=House Education Committee Hearing on Governor's Proposed Increase for Accountability Block Grants Testimony for Gerald L. Zahorchak, D. Ed. Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 30, 2007}}</ref> Danville Area School District has seen a slight decrease in the percentage of special education students it serves, yielding minimal budget savings.

The 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. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, 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 Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. 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 Supervisor of Special Education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=310057 |title=Special Education Department - Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services |author=Danville Area School District |year=2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006074309/http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=310057 |archivedate=2011-10-06 |df= }}</ref>

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815 for special education services. This funding was in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/proposed_special_education_funding_-/539261 |title=Pennsylvania Special Education Funding |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.piccola.org/education.htm#Regulations |title=Senate Education Committee Holds Hearing on Special Education Funding & Accountability |author=Senator Patrick Browne |date=November 1, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723084225/http://www.piccola.org/education.htm |archivedate=2012-07-23 |df= }}</ref> The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education Amy Morton, Executive Deputy Secretary, Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony, November 11, 2011</ref> Overidentification 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6CAjQ6eteArX3lzTmc3a0xHNk0/view?usp=sharing |title=Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony |author=Baruch Kintisch Education Law Center |date=November 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>Amy Morton, Executive Deputy Secretary, Public Hearing:
Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony, Pennsylvania Department of Education, November 11, 2011</ref> In 2012, the Obama Administration's [[US Department of Education]] issued a directive requiring schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.<ref>US Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education Clarifies Schools' Obligation to Provide Equal Opportunity to Students with Disabilities to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics, January 25, 2013</ref>

Danville Area School District received a $1,387,004 supplement for special education services in 2010 from the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AvscmN--D7LbdEhsSW1pY3lxZnBfSWZEdnU2WE5hUWc&hl=en#gid=0 |title=Special Education Funding from Pennsylvania State_2010-2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=July 2010}}</ref> For the 2010-11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14 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 was 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.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Special Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year, 2011</ref><ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Investing in PA kids, April 2012</ref> Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The district must apply for this added funding. For 2014–15, Danville Area School District received $1,399,443 for special education. from the state along with added dollars from the federal government. IN 2015-16 the district received $1,417,674 in special education funding.

For 2016–17, Danville Area School District received an increase to $1,429,564 for special education. from the state along with added dollars from the federal government.<ref>PDE, Basic Ed Funding BEF, SEF, RTL 2016-17, 2016</ref>

===Gifted education===
The District Administration reported that 75 or 3.09% of its students were gifted in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/docs/Ad_Hoc_Gifted_0910_from_Revised_Count.pdf |title=Gifted Students as Percentage of Total Enrollment by School District/Charter School |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=July 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193200/http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/docs/Ad_Hoc_Gifted_0910_from_Revised_Count.pdf |archivedate=2016-03-04 |df= }}</ref> By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the high school have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter16/chap16toc.html |title=CHAPTER 16. Special Education For Gifted Students |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania School Board |accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref>

==Budget==
Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by 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.

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.<ref>Pennsylvania General Assembly, Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, June 27, 2006</ref>

In October 2015, Danville Area School District teachers threatened to strike again. Board negotiators agreed to a new contract two days before the announced strike. The contract covers 7 years giving teachers 21% raise of the life of the contract, with a 1% increase in teacher contributions to the rising costs of their health insurance (10% to 11%).<ref>Karen Blackledge., Danville board president: 7-year deal has 21% raises, The Daily Item, October 17, 2015</ref> Union contract negotiators requested secrecy regarding the terms of the contract. The top salary of a Danville Area School District teacher was $70,420 in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://triblive.com/teachersalaries/ |title=Top 250 Montour County Education Salaries 2013 |author=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Live |year=2013}}</ref> Danville Area School District teacher and administrator retirement benefits are equal to at least 2.00% x Final Average Salary x Total Credited Service. (Some teachers benefits utilize a 2.50% benefit factor.)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psers.state.pa.us/leavingemployment/leavingemployment.htm |title=Your PSERS Benefits & Leaving Employment |author=Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System |year=2014}}</ref> After 40 years of service, a teacher can retire with 100% of the average salary of their final 3 years of employment. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aei.org/topic/teacher-pay/ |author=American Enterprise Institute, |title=Assessing the Compensation of Public School Teachers |year=2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103074846/http://www.aei.org/topic/teacher-pay/ |archivedate=2013-01-03 |df= }}</ref> In 2014-15, Pennsylvania Public school district mandated teacher pension contribution rose to 21.40% of employee salaries and in 2015-16 it rose again to 25.84% of total salaries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.psba.org/2015/02/pension-psers-background-basics/ |title=Pension, PSERS Background Basics |author=Pennsylvania School Board Association |date=February 27, 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128142848/https://www.psba.org/2015/02/pension-psers-background-basics/ |archivedate=January 28, 2016 |df= }}</ref>

In December 2013, the teachers union voted to authorize a strike if their contract demands were not met by the school board.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/danville/x1956133221/Danville-teachers-vote-for-strike-authorization |title=Danville teachers vote for strike authorization |author=Robert Stoneback |publisher=The Daily Item |date=December 17, 2013}}</ref> The union and board had sought a state arbitrator review. The report rejected many of the Danville Area School Teachers Union's demands. In April, 2014, the Danville Teachers Union made good its threat, going out on strike for five days. This is the fifth teacher strike in Pennsylvania since 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/x360406197/Picketing-begins-at-4-Danville-schools |title=Picketing begins at 4 Danville schools |author=Robert Stoneback |publisher=The Daily Item |date=April 18, 2014}}</ref> Of nearly 140 teacher strikes that occurred nationally between 2000 and 2007, 60 percent took place in Pennsylvania, according to a report released in August 2012, by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://alleghenyinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=4&Itemid=15 |title=Teacher Strikes |author=Allegheny Institute for Public Policy |date=May 2012}}</ref> Pennsylvania is one of 13 states in which teacher strikes are legal. Pennsylvania has the highest rate of teacher strikes in the United States. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there were three teacher union strikes in 2010; one teacher union strike in 2011, one teacher union strike in 2012 and three teacher union strikes in 2013.<ref>Mary Niederberger., Laws, tax limits hinder negotiations, ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', September 5, 2013</ref> State law gives the Pennsylvania Department of Education the power to order the teachers to return so that students will complete 180 days of school by June 15.

In 2013, the average teacher salary in Danville Area School District was $54,143 a year, while the cost of the benefits Danville teachers received rose to $20,170 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $74,314.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/7234/p/1100265 |title=Investing in Pennsylvania Students |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2014}}</ref> According to a report from State Representative Fred Keller, the increase in compensation of Danville Area School District teachers has exceeded the rate of inflation over the past decade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/x1760117021/Teachers-pay-soars-above-inflation-rates |title=Teachers’ pay soars above inflation rates |author=Marcia Moore |publisher=The Daily Item |date=June 28, 2014}}</ref>

In 2012, the average teacher salary in Danville Area School District was $54,799 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $18,444 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $73,244.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/7234/p/1100265 |title=Investing in Pennsylvania Students |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2013}}</ref> The district employed 222 teachers with an average salary of $55,734 and a top salary of $125,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |title=Danville Area School District Payroll report 2012 |publisher=OpenPA Gov.org |year=2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616151944/http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |archivedate=2012-06-16 |df= }}</ref>

In May 2012, Danville Area School District eliminated 3 teaching position through attrition. The positions were eliminated due to declining enrollment. The school board and administration are wrestling with repairs to the flood damaged middle school. The school was heavily flooded in September 2011. An empty elementary school was used to provide middle school classes through the 2011-12 school year. The board has ruled out building a new building due to financial constraints.<ref>Stoneback, Robert, Flood damaged school to be repaired, The Daily Item, May 9, 2012</ref>

The Danville Area School District approved a preliminary budget that did not furlough any professional staff in 2011. There were several open teaching positions that were eliminated due to declining enorllment. The budget included $500,000 for new capital projects and a $200,000 increase technology budget. Superintendent Price reported that class sizes remain ideal and lower than other schools in the region. Seventeen class aide positions were eliminated as well as an assistant food service director. Spending on sports was reduced by $25,000.<ref>Stoneback, Robert, "No Professional staff furloughs in Danville'', The Daily Item, May 11, 2011</ref>

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Danville Area School District was $52,076 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $15,363 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $67,440.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/7234/p/1100265 |title=Investing in Pennsylvania Students |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2012}}</ref>

In 2009, Danville Area School District reported employing over 200 teachers with a salary range of $37,569 to $109,000 for 188 days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |title=Danville Area School District Payroll report |author=Commonwealth Foundation |date=February 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616151944/http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |archivedate=2012-06-16 |df= }}</ref> Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit [[pension]], [[health insurance]] employee pays 10%, dental and vision insurance, professional development reimbursement, 1 emergency day leave, 2 personal days, 3 bereavement leave, sick days, a retirement bonus and other benefits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |title=Danville Area School District Teachers Union Employment Contract 2009 |author=Danville Area School District |date=February 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616151944/http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |archivedate=2012-06-16 |df= }}</ref> According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.<ref>Legislature must act on educators' pension hole. ''The Patriot-News''. February 21, 2010</ref>

In 2007, Danville Area School District employed 191 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $51,084 for 180 days worked.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://projects.mcall.com/teacher_pay/county/MONTOUR/ave_salary/1/ |author=Fenton, Jacob, |title=Average classroom teacher salary in Montour County, 2006-07. |website=The Morning Call |date=March 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430115428/http://projects.mcall.com/teacher_pay/county/MONTOUR/ave_salary/1/ |archivedate=2012-04-30 |df= }}</ref> 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.<ref>Teachers need to know enough is enough, ''PaDelcoTimes'', April 20, 2010.</ref>

'''Per-pupil spending''' District administration reported that in 2008 the its per-pupil spending was $12,124, which ranked 261st among Pennsylvania public schools.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Per Pupil Spending in Pennsylvania Public Schools in 2008 Sort Spending, February 2011</ref> In 2010, the district's per-pupil spending had increased to $12,681.46.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2009-10 Selected Data - 2009-10 Total Expenditures per ADM, 2010</ref>

In 2011, Pennsylvania's per-pupil spending was $13,467, ranking 6th in the United States.<ref>US Census Bureau, States Ranked According to Per Pupil Public Elementary-Secondary School System Finance Amounts: Fiscal Year 2011, May 2013</ref> Among the states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/pdf/cb11-94_table_11.pdf |title=States Ranked According to Per Pupil Elementary-Secondary Public School System Finance Amounts: 2008-09 |author=United States Census Bureau |year=2009}}</ref> In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d09/tables/dt09_183.asp |title=Total and current expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment in public elementary and secondary education, by function and state or jurisdiction: 2006-07 |author=US Census Bureau |year=2009}}</ref> The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.census.gov/govs/school/01fullreport.pdf |title=Public Education Finances 2000-01 Annual Survey of Local Government Finances |author=US Census Bureau |date=March 2003}}</ref>

'''Administrative costs''' Danville Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $613.26 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.<ref>Fenton, Jacob., Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?, ''The Morning Call'', February 2009</ref> The Pennsylvania School Boards Association collects and maintains statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent, for the 2007-08 school year, was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/school-salaries/ |title=Public School Salaries 11th Annual |author=Pennsylvania School Board Association |date=October 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005202521/http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/school-salaries/ |archivedate=2008-10-05 |df= }}</ref> According to PSBA, the median superintendent salary rose to over $130,000 in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/school-salaries/school-management-salaries.asp |title=School Management Salaries Report |author=Pennsylvania School Board Association |work=School Leader News |date=June 22, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921192937/http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/school-salaries/school-management-salaries.asp |archivedate=2013-09-21 |df= }}</ref> In June 2011, the Danville Area School District School Board voted to hire Cheryl Latoore as superintendent, awarding her a 5-year contract with a beginning salary of $125,000 plus an extensive benefits package. At the time of hiring, Latorre was the Superintendent of neighboring [[Mount Carmel Area School District]].<ref>Stoneback, Robert, Board under Fire over Contract, The Daily Item, June 14, 2011</ref> In 2007, the board hired Dr. Susan Bickford as superintendent at an annual salary of $109,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/x691269404/School-chief-hired-in-Danville |title=School Chief Hired |author=Karen Blackledge |publisher=The Daily Item |date=August 15, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://int.danville.k12.pa.us/board/document/aug1407.pdf |title=Danville Area School Board Meeting minutes August 14, 2007 |author=Danville Area School Board Secretary |date=August 14, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429045050/http://int.danville.k12.pa.us/board/document/aug1407.pdf |archivedate=April 29, 2014 |df= }}</ref> Dr. Bickford resigned on August 20, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wqkx.com/1070_WKOK/NEWS_ARCHIVES/063010.htm |title=News archive Warrior Run superintendent retiring |author=WKOK.com |date=June 30, 2010}}</ref>

'''Interest swap scheme loan''' In May 2011, the board took out a $8.4 million loan in order to buy out of an interest swap deal that was losing money. The board ended the employment of its business manager who had entered into the interest gambling swap contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mntop.com/documents/DanvilleASD.pdf |title=Danville Area School District General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2011 |author=Mette, Evans & Woodside |date=November 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429061812/http://mntop.com/documents/DanvilleASD.pdf |archivedate=2014-04-29 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paauditor.gov/Media/Default/Reports/schDanvilleAreaSD071013.pdf |title=Danville Area School District Performance Audit 2011 |author=PA Auditor General Office |date=July 10, 2013}}</ref>

In February 2013, the board reported a $1 million deficit in the proposed budget for 2013-14. The district reports that 45% of the budget is and 23% is the cost of the teachers' benefits. Additionally, student transportation costs $11,000 a day.<ref>Stoneback, Robert,. Danville board faces $1 million deficit, The Daily Item, February 13, 2013</ref>

'''Reserves''' In 2008, Danville Area School District reported a balance of zero in its unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $2,828,446.
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/summaries_of_annual_financial_report_data/7673/other_financial_information/509049 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Fund Balances by Local Education Agency 1997 to 2008}}</ref> In 2010, Danville Area School District Administration reported an increase to $3,153,083.00 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The district reported zero 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. By law the state limits the total unreserved-undesignated fund balance at 8% of the annual budget for school districts that have budgets over $19 million a year. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.<ref>Murphy, Jan., Pennsylvania's public schools boost reserves, CentreDaily Times, September 22, 2010</ref>

'''Audit''' In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The results were provided to the board and administration.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Reports/School.html#Montour |title=DANVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT MONTOUR COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT |date=January 2010}}</ref> In July 2013, the district was audited again. One significant finding was that the departing superintendent was over compensated. Based on the superintendent's per diem rate at retirement of $417.62, the district made payments to the superintendent totaling $10,858. However, according to her contract and the Act 93 agreement, she was not required to receive payment for unused vacation days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Reports/School/schDanvilleAreaSD071013.pdf |title=DANVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT MONTOUR COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PERFORMANCE AUDIT REPORT 2013 |author=Auditor General DiPasquale |date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> The report also noted that on August 21, 2007, Danville Area School District entered into a swap agreement related to its issuance of $7,000,000 of bonds. The district terminated the swap agreement effective
May 25, 2011. The termination fee resulted in the district jeopardizing $1,342,040 of taxpayer dollars.

'''Tuition''' Students who live in the Danville 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 Danville 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 Danville Area School District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $8,934, High School - $9,808.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=509670&mode=2 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Pennsylvania Public School District Tuition Rates |date=May 2012}}</ref>

'''Building upgrades''' In the summer of 2014, the Danville Area School Board spent over $1 million to upgrade the former Danville Elementary School building. Upgrades included lighting and HVAC changes. The district plans to use the building for its e-Learning Cyber Academy. It is renting the second floor to a local company, Behavioral Specialists Inc. and is looking for a tenant for the third floor space.<ref>Robert Stonebeck, Ex-school gets $1 million makeover, The Daily Item, July 11, 2014</ref>

Danville Area School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 1.15%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. 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 income level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/personal_income_tax/11409 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Revenue |title=Income Taxation Guidelines |date=April 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213001542/http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/personal_income_tax/11409 |archivedate=2009-12-13 |df= }}</ref> The average Pennsylvania public school teacher pension in 2011 exceeds $60,000 a year plus they receive federal Social Security benefits: both are free of Pennsylvania state income tax and local income tax which funds the local public schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x2094920476/Pa-teachers-may-take-big-pension-hit |title=PA teachers pensions |author=John Finnerty |work=CNHI Harrisburg Bureau |year=2013}}</ref>

===State basic education funding===
According to a report from Representative [[Todd Stephens (politician)|Todd Stephens]] office, Danville Area School District receives 36.7% of its annual revenue from the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reptoddstephens.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=19643 |author=Pennsylvania Representative Todd Stephens |title=LEEF Funding Chart 2014 |date=January 23, 2014}}</ref>

'''For the 2017-18 school year''', Danville Area School District received an increase to $7,254,588 in Basic Education Funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyitem.com/news/local_news/spending-plan-heads-to-governor-but-fight-over-funding-remains/article_84576f80-81c7-577b-8d1d-e89380ac3087.html |author=Finnerty, John |title=Spending plan heads to Wolf, but fight over funding remains |publisher=The Daily Item |date=July 1, 2017}}</ref> Pennsylvania again increased its public education spending to a record high of $5.995 billion. It was a $100 million increase, 1.7% increase over the 2016-17 state education appropriation.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Education Budget 2017-18, July 2017</ref> Additionally, the state continued to fund its Ready to Learn grants at $250 million and Special Education funding received a $25 million increase to $1.121 billion.<ref>PDE, Special Education Funding fiscal year 2017-18, July 2017</ref> The state also paid $529,5 million to the school employee social security fund and another $2.304 billion to the teacher’s pension fund, an increase of 7.6% over the state’s 2016-17 payment. The state maintained its $100 million reimbursement to school districts for transportation costs. Governor Wolf had proposed cutting the funding by 50% shifting the costs on to local taxpayers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.budget.pa.gov/PublicationsAndReports/CommonwealthBudget/Documents/2017-18%20Proposed%20Budget/2017-18%20Web%20Tracking%20Run.pdf |author=PA Office of Budget |title=Commonwealth 2016-17 Enacted Budget Line-Item Appropriations |date=July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/06/pennsylvania_senate_passes_32.html |title=Pennsylvania state lawmakers start chewing into $32 billion, agreed-to budget proposal |author=Charles Thompson |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=June 30, 2017}}</ref>

'''For the 2016-17 school year''', Danville Area School District received $7,209,157 in Basic Education Funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is a 2.6% increase over 2015-16 funding to the district. The district also received Ready to Learn grant of $279,308 and an increase in special education funding from the state. For the 2016-17 school year, Pennsylvania increased its public education spending to a record high of $5,895 billion. It was a $200 million increase, 3.51% increase over the 2015-16 appropriation.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Education Budget 2016-17, July 2016</ref> The state also funded Ready to Learn grants at $250 million and Special Education funding received a $20 million increase.<ref>PDE, Special Education Funding fiscal year 2016-17, July 2017</ref> The state also paid $492 million to the school employee social security fund and another $2.064 billion to the teacher’s pension fund.<ref>PA Office of Budget, Commonwealth 2016-17 Enacted Budget Line-Item Appropriations, July 2016</ref>

'''For the 2015-16 school year''', Governor [[Tom Wolf (politician)|Tom Wolf]] released a partial Basic Education Funding of $3,391,565 to Danville Area School District, in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/heres_the_payout_your_school_d.html |title=Here's the payout your school district gets from the partial 2015-16 state budget |author=Jan Murphey |publisher=Pennlive.com |date=January 4, 2016}}</ref> This was part of $10.3 billion in school funding withheld from the public school, by the Governor since the summer of 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wkok.com/harrisburg-releases-3-3-billion-in-delayed-funds/#more-339501 |title=Harrisburg releases $3.3 billion in delayed funds |author=Jennifer Wakeman |date=January 4, 2016}}</ref> The dispersment did not follow the newly Basic Education Funiding formula which had been established by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://basiceducationfundingcommission.pasenategop.com/ |title=Basic Education Funding Commission |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly |date=June 26, 2015}}</ref>

'''For the 2014-15 school year''', Danville Area School District received $6,892,411 in State Basic Education funding. The district also received $226,115 in new Ready To Learn Block grant and another $97,874 in Student-Focused Funding Supplement. The State's enacted Education Budget includes $5,526,129,000 for the 2014-2015 Basic Education Funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/news_and_media/7234/p/1174642 |title=Enacted Education Budget 2014-2015 |author=PDE |date=July 7, 2014}}</ref> The Education budget also includes Accountability Block Grant funding at $100 million and $241 million in new Ready to Learn funding for public schools that focus on student achievement and academic success. The State is paying $500.8 million to Social Security on the school employees behalf and another $1.16 billion to the state teachers pension system (PSERS). In total, Pennsylvania's Education budget for K-12 public schools is $10 billion. This was a $305 million increase over 2013-2014 state spending and the greatest amount ever allotted by the Commonwealth for its public schools.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2014-15 Enacted Education Budget Fast Facts, July 14, 2014</ref>

'''For the 2013-14 school year''', the Danville Area School District received a 1.6% increase or $6,898,927 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $110,987 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the district. Additionally, Danville Area School District received $128,241 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the school districts in Montour County, Danville Area School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF. The district has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth's budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to [[Austin Area School District]] which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding.<ref>Democrat Appropriations Committee, Report on Education funding by LEA, July 2, 2013</ref> The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.<ref>Pennsylvania Office of the Budget, 2013-14 State Budget Highlights, 2013</ref>

'''For the 2012-13 school year''', Danville Area School District received $6,916,181.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jakecorman.com/PDF/2012/Basic-Education-Funding.pdf |title=Pennsylvania Education funding by Local School District |author=Senator Jake Corman |date=June 28, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730203420/http://www.jakecorman.com/PDF/2012/Basic-Education-Funding.pdf |archivedate=2012-07-30 |df= }}</ref> 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 (ABG) program. Danville Area School District received $128,241 in ABG funding. The district also received special education funding from the state and federal government and transportation funding from the state.

'''In the 2011-12 school year''', Danville Area School District received $6,787,940 in state Basic Education Funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/58929810/PA-Senate-Appropriations-Committee-Report-School-District-2011-12 |author=PA Senate Appropriations Committee |title=School District 2011-12 funding Report |date=June 28, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008043302/https://www.scribd.com/doc/58929810/PA-Senate-Appropriations-Committee-Report-School-District-2011-12 |archivedate=October 8, 2014 |df= }}</ref> Additionally, the district will receive $128,241 in Accountability Block Grant funding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jakecorman.com/appropriations.htm |title=Senate Budget Hearings 2011-2012 School District funding for 2011-2012 |author=Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee |date=June 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127194854/http://jakecorman.com/appropriations.htm |archivedate=2012-01-27 |df= }}</ref> The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259 |title=Basic Education Funding |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=June 30, 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259 |title=Basic Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=June 30, 2011}}</ref>

'''For the 2010-11 school year''', the state gave a 3.22% increase in basic education funding to the Danville Area School District for $7,193,508. In the Commonwealth, the highest increase in state funding went to [[Kennett Consolidated School District]] which received a 23.65% increase. Among the 500 Pennsylvania public school district, 150 received the base 2% increase in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/40153192/PA-Basic-Education-Funding-Printout2-2010-2011 |title=Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding 2010-11 |author=Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee |date=August 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008115826/https://www.scribd.com/doc/40153192/PA-Basic-Education-Funding-Printout2-2010-2011 |archivedate=2014-10-08 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.budget.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/past_budgets/4571 |title=Governor's Budget Proposal 2010, |author=Office of Budget, |date=February 2010}}</ref> The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where a district received at least the same amount as the year before, even where 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.

'''In the 2009-2010 budget year''', the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.67% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $6,969,142. The Pennsylvania Department of Education gave 15 school districts an increase of Basic Education Funding of over 10% in the 2009-10 budget.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education Basic Education Funding report October 2009</ref> [[Mount Carmel Area School District]] received 6.23% which was the highest increase in [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland County]] in 2009. In [[Pennsylvania]], ninety school districts were allotted the base increase of 2%. [[Muhlenberg School District]] in [[Berks County]] received an increase of 22.31%. Fifteen school districts received Basic Education increases in excess of 10%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/25369559/Pennsylvania-Public-School-Basic-Education-Funding-2009-2010-Oct-2009 |title=Pennsylvania Department of Education report on School District Funding 2009-10 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=October 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008112637/https://www.scribd.com/doc/25369559/Pennsylvania-Public-School-Basic-Education-Funding-2009-2010-Oct-2009 |archivedate=2014-10-08 |df= }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.budget.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4566&&level=1&css=L1&mode=2 |title=Governor's Budget Proposal 2009 Pennsylvania Department of Education Budget Proposal 2009 |author=Pennsylvania Office of Budget |date=February 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224004249/http://www.budget.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4566&&level=1&css=L1&mode=2 |archivedate=2009-12-24 |df= }}</ref>

The state Basic Education Funding to Danville Area School District in 2008-09 was $6,787,940.04. The Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that, in the 2007-08 school year, 749 students received a free or reduced-price lunch due to low family income.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on School District Funding 2009-10, October 2009</ref>

====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 Kindergarten-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 Danville Area School District applied for and received $348,078 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to increase instructional time and to provide full-day kindergarten for the 7th year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/pa_accountability_grants/604468 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Accountability Block Grant report 2010, Grantee list 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/23322599/ACCOUNTABILITY-BLOCK-GRANT-Awards |title=Accountability Block Grant Mid Year report |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015180928/http://www.scribd.com/doc/23322599/ACCOUNTABILITY-BLOCK-GRANT-Awards |archivedate=2013-10-15 |df= }}</ref>

====Ready to Learn grant====
Beginning in the 2014-15 budget, the State funded a new Ready to Learn Grant for public schools. A total of $100 million is allocated through a formula to districts based on the number of students, level of poverty of community as calculated by its market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) and the number of English language learners. Ready to Learn Block Grant funds may be used by the districts for: school safety; Ready by 3 early childhood intervention programs; individualized learning programs; and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/2014-15_passport_for_learning_block_grant/1427535 |title=Passport for Learning Block Grant |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2013}}</ref> In 2014-15, Danville Area School District received $226,115 in Ready to Learn Grant dollars in addition to State Basic Education funding, Special Education funding, PreK Counts funding, reimbursement for Social Security payments for employees and other state grants which the district must apply to receive.

In 2016-17, the Danville Area School District received an increased Ready to Learn grant of $279,308 from the Commonwealth.

====Education Assistance grant====
The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. For 2010-11, Danville Area School District received $76,123.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Educational Assistance Program Funding 2010-2011 Fiscal Year, July 2010</ref>

====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), along with other specialized equipment and provided funding for teacher training to optimize the use of the computers. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Danville Area School District received $167,949 in 2006-07 and another $300,000 in 2007-08. The district did not apply for funding in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6CAjQ6eteArNGxCcTJMbm1xQmM/view?usp=sharing |author=Pennsylvania Auditor General |title=Classrooms for the Future grants audit |date=December 22, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governor-rendell-announces-classrooms-for-the-future-schools-58631482.html |title=Governor Rendell Announces 'Classrooms for the Future' Schools |author=Pennsylvania Office of the Governor press release |date=August 30, 2007}}</ref> The highest funding statewide was awarded to [[Philadelphia City School District]] in [[Philadelphia County]] - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.

====PreK Counts grant====
Danville Area School District receives state funding to provide taxpayer-funded preschool at the primary school. For the 2013-14 school year, Danville Area received a Pre K Counts grant of $133,620.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania 2013-14 Pre-K Counts Grantees 2013-13, August 2013</ref> For the 2011-12 school year, Danville Area School District received $134,300 to provide preschool to 17 children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pre_k_counts/8742 |title=Pre-K Counts Report on Program Operations For Fiscal Year 2011-12 |author=Office of Child Development and Early Learning |year=2012}}</ref> The district was not identified as a high priority for funding due to less than 48% poverty level of children in the district's attendance area. Poverty rate of children was reported as 27%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education Early Childhood Advisor, Poverty Level by School District, 2007</ref><ref>Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Pre-K Counts Grantees, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakeys.org/docs/New_LOI_Contact_List_FY_08-09.pdf |title=Applicants of PA Pre-K Counts for FY 2008-2009 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education - Office of Child Development and Early Learning |year=2008}}</ref> Enrollment for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is targeted to children living in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

In 2013, the state's PreK Counts program received $87,284,000. In 2010, the PreK Counts program received $83.6 million statewide in Governor Corbett's education budget. In 2007-08, the state funded Pre-K Counts at $75 million. Danville Area Head Start received funding in 2007-08.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governor-rendell-announces-grants-for-pre-k-counts-early-childhood-initiative-58022097.html |title=Governor Rendell Announces Grants for 'Pre-K Counts' Early Childhood Initiative |author=Governor's Press Office |date=August 10, 2007}}</ref> In 2009-10, the district received $134,300 to provide preschool to 17 children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedContent/Docs/PA%20PKC%20end%20of%20year%20report%2009-10.pdf |title=Pennsylvania PreK Counts End of Year Report 2009-10 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=Programs_PreK_Resources |title=Early Childhood Programs - PreK Counts |author=Office of Child Development and Early Learning |year=2009}}</ref>

In addition to PreK Counts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also supplements the federal Head Start preschool program with an additional funding on an annual basis. The program is available to low-income children residing within the district through private providers. In 2013, Pennsylvania contributed $39,178,000 to Head Start. In 2010, Head Start received $37.6 million in Pennsylvania state education dollars. Since 2003, Pennsylvania has more than doubled the number of preschoolers in publicly funded pre-kindergarten through a mulipronged system including: school-based pre-kindergarten, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts through private providers, Early Intervention, Head Start and Head Start Supplemental, and the school district's use of Accountability Block Grants. Over 100,000 Pennsylvania preschoolers participate in state taxpayer funded pre-kindergarten programs. In 2013, the federal government spends $8 billion for preschool programs nationwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/2014/04/22/304563233/what-exactly-is-high-quality-preschool |title=What Exactly Is 'High-Quality' Preschool? |author=Claudio Sanchez |publisher=NPR.org|date=April 22, 2014}}</ref> In 2013, Pennsylvania was awarded a $51.7 million federal grant to fund early learning programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/12/corbett_what_pa_does_with_517.html |title=Corbett: What Pa. will do with $51.7 million early learning grant "nothing short of amazing" |author=Jan Murphy |website=The Patriot-News |date=December 19, 2013}}</ref> The funding will be used to create 50 Early Childhood Education Community Innovation Zones in areas where the lowest-performing public schools, including charter schools, exist. The federal dollars will not be used to provide seats for children in preschools. Instead, the money will be used to build bureaucray and added training for teachers/providers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/six-states-awarded-race-top-early-learning-challenge-rtt-elc-grants-build-statew |title=Six States Awarded Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) Grants to Build Statewide Systems of High-Quality Early Learning |author=US Department of Education |date=December 19, 2013}}</ref>

====Safe Schools grant====
In 2013, Danville Area School District was awarded $25,000 in a state Safe Schools Targeted Grant. The maximum of $25,000 grants were awarded through a competitive application process.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7234&PageID=1005857&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/single_web/no_workflow_requried/news_and_media/articles/acting_secretary_of_education_announces__2_6_million_in_safe_schools_targeted_grants.html |title=Acting Secretary of Education Announces $2.6 Million in Safe Schools Targeted Grants |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=February 21, 2014}}</ref> The funds must be used for research based interventions, like: peer mediation, staff training in managing behavioral issues and creating a positive school climate. The administrations did not participate in the School Resource Officer and Police Officer grant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/office_of_elementary_secondary_education/7209/p/1630278 |title=
School Police Officer/School Resource Officer Targeted Grant |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2013}}</ref>

====Other grants====
Danville Area School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education grants, PA Science Its Elementary grants,<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Science: It's Elementary Grantees Students in 143 Schools Benefit from Intensive Science Curriculum, July 22, 2008</ref> 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7234&PageID=1005857&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/single_web/no_workflow_requried/news_and_media/articles/pennsylvania_awards__36_1_million_to_strengthen_literacy_programs.html |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Pennsylvania Awards $36.1 Million to Strengthen Literacy Programs |date=May 23, 2012}}</ref> 2012 and 2013 [[Blended learning|Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning]] Grants<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7234&PageID=1005857&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/single_web/no_workflow_requried/news_and_media/articles/acting_secretary_of_education_says_hybrid_learning_benefits_students__highlights_success_of_first_year_pilot_program.html#sthash.xlozupOE.dpuf |title=Acting Secretary of Education Says Hybrid Learning Benefits Students; Highlights Success of First-Year Pilot Program |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education Press Office |date=October 17, 2013}}</ref> nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

===America's Farmers Grow Rural Education grant===
In August 2012, Danville Area School District received a $25,000 grant for The America's Farmers Grow Rural Education program. The grant is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, which provided $2.3 million in rural schools across the United States for the 2012-2013 school year. Danville was one of 8 Pennsylvania public school districts to receive an award.<ref>United Business Media, Rural School Districts Receive Grants Of Up To $25,000, August 2012</ref> Districts were nominated by local farmers. The district completed an application process which was reviewed by other school districts. There were 176 school districts in 35 states that received grants. The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the [[Monsanto Company]], is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the farm communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work.

===Federal grants===
Danville Area School District received an extra $1,543,773 in [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|ARRA]] - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recovery.pa.gov/ |title=Montour County ARRA FUNDING |author=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |year=2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307134051/http://www.recovery.pa.gov/ |archivedate=2011-03-07 |df= }}</ref> The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09071/954967-298.stm |title=School stimulus money |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=March 12, 2009}}</ref> Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised 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====
Danville Area School District officials did not apply for the [[Race to the Top]] federal grant. When approved for the grant, the district would receive hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.<ref>[http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=7201&PageID=510952&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/global/news_releases/governor_s_office/news_releases/pennsylvania_s__race_to_the_top__fueled_by_effective_reforms__strong_local_support.html Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support], education.state.pa.us</ref> 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.<ref>Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support, Governor's Press Office release January 21, 2010</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html |title=Race to the Top Fund, |author=U.S. Department of Education |date=March 29, 2010}}</ref>

====Title II grants====
The Federal government provides annual grants to schools to be used to improve the quality of teacher instructions to pupils. The goal is to provide each child in public schools with "Highly Quality" teachers and principals as defined by the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Federal%20Programs/Pages/Title%20Information/Title-II.aspx#.VmqPLyh1PzI |title=TITLE II, PART A - TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL TRAINING & RECRUITING |author=PDE |year=2015}}</ref> The funds are sent to the state Department of Education which distributes them to each school district and charter school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Federal%20Programs/Pages/Allocations/2014-2015.aspx#.VmqQoCh1PzJ |title=Federal Programs |author=PDE |year=2015}}</ref> Beginning in 2002, the federal funding committed to Title II was $3,175,000,000.

Public school district administrations must apply to the state annually for the Title II funds. In 2012-13, Danville Area School District received $121,657 in federal Title II funding.<ref>PDE, Title IIA egrants 2012-13, 2012</ref> In 2014-15, Danville Area School District applied for and received $116,742.<ref>PDE, Title IIA egrants 2014-15, 2014</ref>

====English language learners grant====
The Federal government provides annual grants to schools to assist in educating immigrant children and children who are identified as limited English proficient.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg39.html |title=Title III — Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students |author=US Department of Education |date=September 15, 2004}}</ref> Upon registering for school a language survey is done for all new enrollment pupils, typically in kindergarten or preschool. They identify the primary language spoken at home. This data is collected and submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which in turn notifies the federal government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/english_as_a_second_language/7529 |title=English As A Second Language (ESL) |author=PDE |year=2015}}</ref>

In 2012-13 - Danville Area School District received $1,901 in [[Title III]] funding for English language learners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/english_as_a_second_language/7529/title_iii_supplemental_program/1905184 |title=Title III Supplemental Program |author=PDE |year=2015}}</ref>

===Common Cents state initiative===
The Danville School Board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. 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.<ref>[http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/common_cents/8781 Common Cents program - Making Every Dollar Count]</ref> After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

===Real estate taxes===
In 2017-18, Danville Area School Board set property tax rates at: residents who live in Montour County 13.9173 mills and in Northumberland County - 13.9173 mills.<ref name="WKOK 1070AM">{{cite web |url=http://wkok.com/danville-area-school-board-says-no-new-taxes/ |title=Danville Area School Board says "No new taxes" |author=WKOK 1070AM |date=June 14, 2017}}</ref> In 2016-17, the board used its exception to raise taxes above the Act 1 Index, due to the high costs of the teachers' pesion payments. 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. 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 all government property (local, state and federal). Additionally, service-related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Unlike other states, under Pennsylvania state tax policy, natural gas and oil pipelines are exempted from property taxes.<ref name="Katie Colaneri">{{cite web |url=https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/06/11/new-pipeline-could-mean-tax-bonanza-for-nj-towns-but-for-pa-not-so-much/ |title=New pipeline could mean tax bonanza for NJ towns, but for Pa.? Not so much |author=Katie Colaneri |publisher=State Impact NPR.org |date= June 11, 2015}}</ref> Unlike other states, under Pennsylvania state tax policy, natural gas and oil pipelines are exempted from property taxes.<ref name="Katie Colaneri"/> Pipeline companies prohibit development within the 100-foot-wide right-of-way, there by limiting future development options for the landowner. This limits future potential property tax revenues for the school district, by constraining future land development.<ref>The Nature Conservancy – Pennsylvania Chapter, Natural Gas Pipelines Pennsylvania Energy Impacts Assessment, December 16, 2011</ref><ref>The Nature Conservancy, Marcellus Shale Gas Development in Bradford County, December 16, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_771463.html |title=Shale gas pipelines pose challenges to state's forests, wildlife |author=TIMOTHY PUKO |publisher=TribLive.com |date=December 11, 2011}}</ref>

When a Pennsylvania public school district includes municipalities in two counties, as Danville Area does, each county of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steb.state.pa.us/aboutusmain.asp |title=State Tax Equalization Board About US |author=State Tax Equalization Board |year=2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114000816/http://www.steb.state.pa.us/aboutusmain.asp |archivedate=2012-11-14 |df= }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/performance/special/spesteb021011.pdf |title=A Special Performance Audit of the Pennsylvania State Tax Equalization Boards |author=Pennsylvania Auditor General office - Bureau of Audits |date=February 2011}}</ref>

On the local level, Pennsylvania district revenues are dominated by two main sources: Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues and Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/summaries_of_annual_financial_report_data/7673/afr_excel_data_files/509047 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education, |title=Act 511 Tax Report, |year=2004}}</ref>

*2016-17 - Montour County residents 13.9173 mills and in Northumberland County - 13.9173 mills.<ref>Joe Sylvester., Board: No Tax increase, The Daily Item, June 15, 2016</ref>
*2015-16 - Montour County residents - 14.4808 mills and Northumberland County - 14.4808 mills<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/files/511413/doc01936920150610135527.pdf |title=Tax Millage Rate Information |author=Danville Area School District Business Manager |year=2015 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*2014-15 - Montour County residents - 14.3857 mills and Northumberland County - 14.3857 mills
*2013-14 - Montour County - 14.7128 mills and Northumberland County - 14.7128 mills<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/files/511413/millage.pdf |author=Danville Area SD Administration |title=Millage rates |year=2014 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>Rovert Stoneback., Danville increases millage, The Daily Item, June 19, 2013</ref>
*2012-13 - Montour County - 14.1545 mills and Northumberland County - 14.1545 mills<ref>Danville Area School Board, Public Notice - Danville Area School District budget and taxes 2013-14, May 2013</ref>
*2011-12 - Montour County - 14.1545 mills and Northumberland County - 14.8961 mills <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Rates by School District 2012-13 Real Estate Mills |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2012}}</ref>
*2010-11 - Montour County and Northumberland County - 14.8961 mills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Rates by School District 2011-12 Real Estate Mills |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref>
*2009-10 - Montour County residents 16.2164 mills. Millage for Northumberland County 16.2164 mills.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/40000011/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Finances-Real-Estate-Tax-Rates-2010-11 |title=Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education. |year=2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015160443/http://www.scribd.com/doc/40000011/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Finances-Real-Estate-Tax-Rates-2010-11 |archivedate=2013-10-15 |df= }}</ref> For the real estate tax levied by the school district, other than interim real estate tax, taxpayers may elect an installment payment option.
*2008-09 - Montour County residents 9.0380 mills and Northumberland County residents 55.3220 mills.<ref>Real Estate Tax Millage by School District 2008-09, Pennsylvania Department of Finance. 2009</ref>
*2007-08 - 8.9010 mills Montour County and 52.4660 mills Northumberland County.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2008}}</ref>
*2006-07 - 8.5250 mills Montour County and 51.6190 mills Northumberland County <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2006}}</ref>

The average yearly property tax paid by Montour County residents amounts to about 2.86% of their yearly income. Montour County ranked 689th of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.<ref>Tax-rates.org., The 2013 Tax Resource County Property Taxes 2012, 2012</ref> 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.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania School Finances - Summaries of Annual Financial Report Data 2010-11, 2011</ref> 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%).<ref>New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners, Tax Foundation, September 22, 2009.</ref>

====Property tax relief====
In 2016, the property tax relief for 4,991 homestead property owners of Danville Area School District remained $111.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=52 |author=Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board |title=Gaming Report 2016, 2016 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626164456/http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=52 |archivedate=2015-06-26 |df= }}</ref>

In 2013, the property tax relief for residents of Danville Area School District was set $111 for 4,989 approved homesteads and farmsteads. The amount declined due to more residents participating and declining tax revenue from table gaming.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=52 |author=Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board |title=Gaming Report 2013, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626164456/http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?p=52 |archivedate=2015-06-26 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452/property_tax_reduction_allocations/510335 |title=2013-14 Property Tax Reduction Allocations |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 1, 2013}}</ref> In 2011, the property tax relief for residents of Danville Area School District was set $114 for 4,842 approved homesteads and farmsteads.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief_data/20242/montour_county/957844 |title=Montour County 2011-2012 Property Tax Relief Information |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 1, 2011}}</ref>

In 2010, the property tax relief for residents of Danville Area School District was $115.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452/property_tax_reduction_allocations/510335 |title=Tax Relief per Homestead, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education, |date=May 1, 2010}}</ref> In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Danville Area School District was $118 per approved permanent primary residence. This was among the lowest amounts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the district, 4665 property owners applied for the tax relief. 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 {{convert|10|acre|m2|adj=pre|contiguous}} and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the homestead owners of [[Chester Upland School District]] of [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County]] who received $632 per approved homestead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452/property_tax_reduction_allocations/510335 |title=Tax Relief per Homestead 2009, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education Report |date=May 1, 2009}}</ref>

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Danville Area aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate.

====Act 1 Index====
The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but it can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increasing rising health care costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or declining local 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/referendum_exceptions/7456 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Act 1 of 2006 Referendum Exception Guidelines 2011-12 |date=January 19, 2011}}</ref>

The School District Adjusted Index for the Danville Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AqCAjQ6eteArdFFCaWRjMUhzSkl5RTYxMjNJN1RQemc&hl=en#gid=0 |title=Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006-2007 through 2010-2011, |author= Pennsylvania Department of Education, May 2010}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-2}}
*2006-07 - 4.9%, Base 3.9%
*2007-08 - 4.3%, Base 3.4%
*2008-09 - 5.5%, Base 4.4%
*2009-10 - 5.1%, Base 4.1%
*2010-11 - 3.6%, Base 2.9%
*2011-12 - 1.7%, Base 1.4%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-38/1760.html |title=Index Calculation Required by the Taxpayer Relief Act |date=Sep 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Financial Data Elements}}</ref>
*2012-13 - 2.0%, Base 1.7%
{{col-2-of-2}}
*2013-14 - 2.0%, Base 1.7% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2013-2014 School District Adjusted Index, May 2012</ref>
*2014-15 - 2.5%, Base 2.1% <ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2014-2015 School District Adjusted Index, September 2013</ref>
*2015-16 - 1.9%, Base 1.9%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2015-2016 School District Adjusted Index, September 2014</ref>
*2016-17 - 2.8%, Base 2.4%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol45/45-36/1619.html |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=2016-2017 School District Adjusted Index, September 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/Pages/default.aspx#.ViS0tih1PzI |title=Property Tax Relief |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2015}}</ref>
*2018-19 - 2.8%, Base - 2.4%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol46/46-37/1557.html |title=Index Calculation Required by Special Session Act 1 of 2006 |author=PA Department of Education |date=September 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/teachers%20-%20administrators/property%20tax%20relief/pages/default.aspx |title=2018-19 School District Adjusted Index Listing |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2017}}</ref>
{{col-end}}

'''For the 2017-18 budget year''', Danville Area School Board once again did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the District's Act 1 Index limit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/Pages/Referendum-Exceptions.aspx |title=Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2016-2017 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2016}}</ref> Statewide 356 school districts adopted a resolution to not exceed their Act I index in 2017-18. In 2017-18, all Pennsylvania public school districts were required to make a 32.85% of payroll payment to the teacher’s pension fund (PSERS).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psers.state.pa.us/content/pfr/resources/FY%202016-2017%20ECR%20fact%20sheet%20FINAL%2012082015.pdf |title=Fiscal Year 2016/2017 Employer Contribution Rate |author=PSERS |date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> This was in addition to the 6.2% social security employer match payment and the Medicare match of 1.45%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/understanding-employment-taxes |title=Understanding Employment Taxes |author=USA IRS |date=December 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psers.pa.gov/About/Documents/News/2017%2002%2022/PSERS%20-%20Final%20House%20with%20Cover.pdf |title=PSERS Budget Report 2017-18 |author=Pennsylvania School Employee Retirement System |year=2017}}</ref>

'''For the 2016-17 budget year''', Danville Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the district's Act 1 Index limit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Teachers-Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/SSAct1%20RefExcReport%202016-17%20Apr2016.pdf |title=Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2016-2017 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2016 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630220904/http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Teachers-Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/SSAct1%20RefExcReport%202016-17%20Apr2016.pdf |archivedate=2016-06-30 |df= }}</ref> Statewide 299 school districts adopted a resolution to not exceed their Act I index in 2016-17.

'''For the 2015-16 budget year''', Danville Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget 2015-16, 310 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above its Act 1 Index limit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Teachers-Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/2015-16%20Report%20on%20Referendum%20Exceptions.pdf |title=Taxpayer Relief Act Special Session Act 1 of 2006 Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2015-2016 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191523/http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Teachers-Administrators/Property%20Tax%20Relief/2015-16%20Report%20on%20Referendum%20Exceptions.pdf |archivedate=2016-03-04 |df= }}</ref>

'''For the 2014-15 budget year''', Danville Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. In 2014-15, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 21.4% of payroll payment to the teacher's pension fund (PSERS).<ref>Pennsylvania School Employees, Retirement System, PSERS Chart showing payment mandates 2007-2020, 2014</ref> For the school budget 2014-15, 316 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above its Act 1 Index limit. Another 181 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeding the Index limit. Districts may apply for multiple exceptions each year. For the pension costs exception, 163 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full, while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 104 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. Seven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for the grandfathered construction debts exception.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/referendum_exceptions/7456/report_on_referendum_exceptions/510336 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2014-2015 |date=April 30, 2014}}</ref>

'''For the 2013-14 budget year''', Danville Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index due to the high cost of teacher pensions. In 2012-13, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 12.36% of payroll payment to the teacher's pension fund (PSERS). For 2013-2014, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit. For the exception for pension costs, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.<ref name="Education 2013">Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2012-2013, March 30, 2012</ref>

'''For the 2012-13 budget year''', Danville Area School Board did not apply for an exception 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.<ref name="Education 2013"/>

'''For the 2011-12 school year''', the Danville Area School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. In 2011-12, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make an 8.65% of payroll payment to the teacher's pension fund. Each year, the Danville Area School Board has the option of adopting either; a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452 |title=Special Session Act 1 of 2006 the Taxpayer Relief Act information |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2011}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/referendum_exceptions/7456/report_on_referendum_exceptions/510336 |title=Report on Exceptions |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2011}}</ref>

Danville Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2010-11.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/40402981/Pennsylvania-SSAct1-Act1-Exceptions-Report-2010-2011-April-2010 |title=Pennsylvania SSAct1_Act1 Exceptions Report 2010-2011 April 2010 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008043153/https://www.scribd.com/doc/40402981/Pennsylvania-SSAct1-Act1-Exceptions-Report-2010-2011-April-2010 |archivedate=8 October 2014 |df= }}</ref> In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailyitem.com/0100_news/x1174308659/Local-school-tax-assessments-exceed-state-averages |author1=Scarcella, Frank |author2=Pursell, Tricia |title=Local school tax assessments exceed state averages |publisher=The Daily Item |date=May 25, 2010}}</ref>

==Wellness policy==
Danville Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246.<ref>Danville Area School Board Policy Manual</ref> 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 [[National School Lunch Act|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 hat are aligned with the [http://www.pdesas.org/Standard/StandardsDownloads Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education], 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/cms/lib/PA01100449/Centricity/Domain/82/Nutrition%20Standards%20for%20Competitive%20Foods%20in%20Pennsylvania%20Schoolsrev8-2009.pdf |title=Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools for the School Nutrition Incentive, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education — Division of Food and Nutrition |date=July 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012075336/http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/cms/lib/PA01100449/Centricity/Domain/82/Nutrition%20Standards%20for%20Competitive%20Foods%20in%20Pennsylvania%20Schoolsrev8-2009.pdf |archivedate=2016-10-12 |df= }}</ref> The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for its approval.

The district offers a free school breakfast and 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.<ref>USDA, Child Nutrition Programs - Eligibility Manual for School Meals, 2012</ref> The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the [[United States Department of Agriculture]].<ref>Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center, The Pennsylvania School Breakfast Report Card, 2009</ref>

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]].<ref>USDA, Child Nutrition Programs, June 27, 2013</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/legislation/Pricing_Equity_Facts.pdf |title=Food and Nutrition Service Equity in School Lunch Pricing Fact Sheet |author=United States Department of Agriculture |year=2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922174202/http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/legislation/Pricing_Equity_Facts.pdf |archivedate=2013-09-22 |df= }}</ref>

Danville Area School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-22/984.html |title=Pennsylvania Bulletin Doc. No. 10-984 School Immunizations; Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases |author=Pennsylvania State Department of Health |year=2010}}</ref> Nurses also monitor each child's weight.

In 2016, the [[Pennsylvania Department of Health]] distributed to each Pennsylvania high school the [[heroin]] overdose antidote drug [[naloxone]] in a nasal spray. School nurses were also provided with educational materials and training developed by the [[National Association of School Nurses]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/education/2016/02/04/all-pa-high-schools-receive-donated-naloxone-kits/79834614/ |title=All PA high schools to receive donated naloxone kits |author=York Dispatch |date=February 4, 2016}}</ref> The cost was covered by a grant from a private foundation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.witf.org/news/2016/02/pa-to-put-drug-that-reverses-overdoses-in-schools-for-free.php |title=Pa. to put drug that reverses overdoses in schools for free |author=Ben Allen |publisher=WITF |date=February 2, 2016}}</ref>

===Highmark Healthy High 5 grant===
In 2009, 1 school at Danville Area School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Danville Area High School received $4,000 which was used to purchase additional bikes and supplies for the Mountain Bike for Life program which was started in 2008 with the help of another School Challenge grant.<ref>Highmark Foundation, 2011 School Challenge Grants, 2011</ref> Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5-year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools.


==Extracurriculars==
==Extracurriculars==
The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/files/511413/budget%20%2012-13.pdf |title=Danville Area School District Budget 2012-13 |author=Danville Area School Board |date=June 12, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Danville Area School District is a member of the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_139203100.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728140838/http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_139203100.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-28 |title=Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference |author=Todd Stanford |publisher=The Daily Item }}</ref> for all athletics and participates under the rules and guidelines of the [[Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phacathletics.org/ |title=Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference School list |year=2012}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvania-governor-rendell-says-home-schooled-children-can-participate-in-school-district-extracurricular-activities-55536207.html |title=Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities |author=Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release |date=November 10, 2005}}</ref> Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=309637 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20140428110900/http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=309637 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=April 28, 2014 |title=Interscholastic/Intramural Athletics Policy 123 |author=Danville Area School Board |date=November 11, 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=309637 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20140428110900/http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/district.cfm?subpage=309637 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=April 28, 2014 |title=Extracurricular Activities Policy 122 |author=Danville Area School Board |date=November 11, 2003 }}</ref>

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, sports program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danville.k12.pa.us/files/511413/budget%20%2012-13.pdf |title=Danville Area School District Budget 2012-13 |author=Danville Area School Board |date=June 12, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Danville Area School District is a member of the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_139203100.html |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120728140838/http://www.dailyitem.com/archivesearch/local_story_139203100.html |dead-url=yes |archive-date=2012-07-28 |title=Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference |author=Todd Stanford |publisher=The Daily Item }}</ref> for all athletics and participates under the rules and guidelines of the [[Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association]]. The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phacathletics.org/ |title=Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference School list |year=2012}}</ref>


The high school is also well known for its [[Public speaking|Forensics]] Team, which competes in the [[National Forensics League]], [[National Catholic Forensics League]], and [[Pennsylvania High School Speech League]]. Other high school groups include the student council (a member of the [[Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils]]), the Danville chapter of the [[Future Farmers of America]], [[Students Against Destructive Decisions]], the Spanish Club, Ski Club, the literary magazine, the [[Key Club]], and yearbook club.
The high school is also well known for its [[Public speaking|Forensics]] Team, which competes in the [[National Forensics League]], [[National Catholic Forensics League]], and [[Pennsylvania High School Speech League]]. Other high school groups include the student council (a member of the [[Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils]]), the Danville chapter of the [[Future Farmers of America]], [[Students Against Destructive Decisions]], the Spanish Club, Ski Club, the literary magazine, the [[Key Club]], and yearbook club.

According to PA Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Act 126 of 2014, all volunteer coaches and all those who assist in student activities, must have criminal background checks. Like all school district employees, they must also attend an anti child abuse training once every three years.<ref>Eleanor Chute., New Pa. law expands clearance requirements for school volunteers, employees, ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', December 15, 2014</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/office_of_elementary_secondary_education/7209/office_for_safe_schools/1423046 |title=ACT 126 – Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Act |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly |year=2014}}</ref><ref>Ali Stevens., Child Protective Services Law impacts schools, WKOK.com 1070AM, January 6, 2015</ref>


===Sports===
===Sports===
In 2017, the board reported spending $1.8 million to upgrade the football stadium and track. The stadium will now have plastic grass turf.<ref>Karen Blackledge., Artificial Turf expected to be completed by Sunday, August 24, 2017</ref> Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.<ref>Danville Area School Board, Danville Area School District Teacher Union Contract, 2012</ref> The compensation enhances the employee's pension benefits.

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2011/0/0101..HTM |author1=PA General Assembly |title=Senate Bill 200 of Session 2011 Safety in Youth Sports Act |date= July 1, 2012}}</ref>

The district funds:
The district funds:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
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*Lacrosse - AA
*Lacrosse - AA
*Soccer - AA
*Soccer - AA
*[[Swimming (sport)|Swimming]] and [[Diving]] - Class AA
*[[Swimming (sport)|Swimming]] and [[Diving (sport)|Diving]] - Class AA
*[[Tennis]] - AA
*[[Tennis]] - AA
*[[Track and Field]] - AA
*[[Track and Field]] - AA
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*Golf - AA
*Golf - AA
*Indoor Track and Field - AAAA
*Indoor Track and Field - AAAA
*[[Lacrosse]] (Spring) - AA <ref>{{cite web |url=http://danvilleironmen.bigteams.com/ |author=Danville Area School District Athletics Department |title=Danville Area School District Teams |date=April 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/danville-ironmen-(danville,pa)/lacrosse/home.htm |title=Danville High School Lacrosse Schedule and Scores |author=MaxPreps.com |year=2014}}</ref>
*[[Lacrosse]] (Spring) - AA <ref>{{cite web |url=http://danvilleironmen.bigteams.com/ |author=Danville Area School District Athletics Department |title=Danville Area School District Teams |date=April 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/danville-ironmen-(danville, pa)/lacrosse/home.htm |title=Danville High School Lacrosse Schedule and Scores |author=MaxPreps.com |year=2014 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*Soccer (Fall) - AA
*Soccer (Fall) - AA
*Softball - AAA
*Softball - AAA
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{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


;Middle School Sports:
;Middle School Sports
{{col-begin}}
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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235927/http://www.csiu.org/ Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit CSIU16]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235927/http://www.csiu.org/ Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit CSIU16]
*[http://www.cmvt.tec.pa.us/ Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School]
*[http://www.cmvt.tec.pa.us/ Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625135607/http://www.cmvt.tec.pa.us/ |date=2012-06-25 }}
*[http://susqcyber.org/ SusQCyber Charter School]
*[http://susqcyber.org/ SusQCyber Charter School]


{{Northumberland County, Pennsylvania School Districts}}
{{Northumberland County, Pennsylvania School Districts}}
{{Montour County, Pennsylvania School Districts}}
{{Montour County, Pennsylvania School Districts}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:School districts in Montour County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:School districts in Montour County, Pennsylvania]]
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[[Category:School districts established in 1900]]
[[Category:School districts established in 1900]]
[[Category:1900 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1900 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:School districts established in 1957]]
[[Category:1957 establishments in Pennsylvania]]

Latest revision as of 04:42, 15 July 2024

Danville Area School District
Address
733 Ironmen Lane
Danville
, Montour County and Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, 17821
United States
District information
TypePublic
GradesPreK-12
SuperintendentDr. Molly Nied
NCES District ID4207320
Students and staff
Students2,162 (2022-23) [1]
Teachers171.00 (FTE) [1]
Student–teacher ratio12.64 [1]
District mascotIronman
ColorsOrange and purple
Other information
State ClassificationDistrict of the 3rd class due to district population between 5,000 and 30,000 people[2]
Websitehttps://www.danvillesd.org/
Map of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

The Danville Area School District is a midsized, rural, public school district which spans portions of two counties in Pennsylvania. In Montour County it covers the Boroughs of Danville and Washingtonville and Cooper Township, Derry Township, Liberty Township, Mahoning Township, Mayberry Township, Valley Township and West Hemlock Township. In Northumberland County it covers the Borough of Riverside and Rush Township. The district encompasses approximately 120 square miles (310 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it served a resident population of 18,894. By 2010, the district's population declined to 18,765 people.[3] The educational attainment levels for the Danville Area School District population (25 years old and over) were 89.8% high school graduates and 27.4% college graduates.[4]

According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, 28.8% of the district's pupils lived at 185% or below the Federal Poverty level as shown by their eligibility for the federal free or reduced price school meal programs in 2012.[5] In 2009, the residents' per capita income was $20,247, while the median family income was $46,435.[6] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[7] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[8] In Montour County, the median household income was $45,255.[9] By 2013, the median household income in the United States rose to $52,100.[10]

Mascot and Colors

The district's school colors are Orange and Purple and its mascot is the Ironman. The Orange and Purple represent the colors of hot iron. Iron turns orange at forging temperatures and purple at even hotter casting temperatures. This is due to the historical significance of an iron refinery in downtown Danville. Danville Area was commissioned in 1900, within a few years of when the mill closed. The refinery stood idle for decades, but it was finally demolished in the 1930s.

Schools

[edit]
  • Danville Area High School (Grades 9-12)
  • Danville Middle School (Grades 6-8)
  • Liberty Valley Intermediate Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
  • Danville Area Primary Elementary School (Grades K-2)

Of the 4 elementary schools formerly operated by the district until June 2011, only Liberty Valley remains open today. Danville Elementary School, Riverside Elementary School, and Mahoning Cooper Elementary School all closed in the 2011 consolidation of the new Danville Area Primary Elementary School. [1] The district provides an online learning option called Danville eLearning Cyber Academy.[11]

History

[edit]

Shortly before the turn of the 20th century, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania called for special districts acting as their own local government units to run the state's public school system, whereas counties, boroughs, townships, towns, and cities had previously been allowed to run schools. In 1900, the legislature commissioned Danville School District. Originally, the district covered only Danville, but it was granted an increasing geographical region as the state decommissioned surrounding districts. It expanded to cover all but the very northernmost townships of Montour County. Later, with the decommission and annexation of South Danville School District, it took up part of Northumberland County as well. In 1957, Danville School District was awarded the designation of "Area" in its name. In 2007, a U.S. News & World Report study rated Danville High School in the top 5% as one of the best public high schools in the United States of America. In 2010, the high school was no longer listed in the Top US Schools Listing.[12]

Extracurriculars

[edit]

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program.[13] Danville Area School District is a member of the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference[14] for all athletics and participates under the rules and guidelines of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference is a voluntary association of 25 PIAA High Schools within the central Pennsylvania region.[15]

The high school is also well known for its Forensics Team, which competes in the National Forensics League, National Catholic Forensics League, and Pennsylvania High School Speech League. Other high school groups include the student council (a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils), the Danville chapter of the Future Farmers of America, Students Against Destructive Decisions, the Spanish Club, Ski Club, the literary magazine, the Key Club, and yearbook club.

Sports

[edit]

The district funds:

Middle School Sports
  • According to PIAA directory July 2012 [18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Danville Area SD". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Pennsylvania General Assembly, Public School Code of 1949 - Section 202 Classification, 2017
  3. ^ US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Poverty Data by Local Education Agency, 2011
  4. ^ Proximityone (2014). "School District Comparative Analysis Profiles".
  5. ^ Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, Education Facts Student Poverty Concentration by LEA, 2012
  6. ^ American Fact Finder, US Census Bureau, 2010
  7. ^ US Census Bureau (2010). "American Fact Finder, State and County quick facts". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
  8. ^ US Census Bureau (September 2011). "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010" (PDF).
  9. ^ US Census Bureau (2014). "Pennsylvania Median household income, 2006-2010 by County".
  10. ^ Michael Sauter; Alexander E.M. Hess (August 31, 2013). "America's most popular six-figure jobs". USA Today.
  11. ^ Justin Strawser., Districts go Digital Six offer their own online classes, The Daily Item, January 31, 2016
  12. ^ "U.S. News & World Report – Pennsylvania – Best High Schools 2010". Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  13. ^ Danville Area School Board (June 12, 2012). "Danville Area School District Budget 2012-13" (PDF).[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ Todd Stanford. "Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference". The Daily Item. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28.
  15. ^ "Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference School list". 2012.
  16. ^ Danville Area School District Athletics Department (April 28, 2014). "Danville Area School District Teams".
  17. ^ MaxPreps.com (2014). pa)/lacrosse/home.htm "Danville High School Lacrosse Schedule and Scores". {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association (2012). "PIAA School Directory".
[edit]

40°57′36″N 76°36′25″W / 40.95990°N 76.60702°W / 40.95990; -76.60702

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