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Lancaster Central School District

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High School Profile

LANCASTER HIGH SCHOOL
1 Forton Drive,  Lancaster, New York  14086
(716) 686-3255
www.lancasterschools.org    school code  332765

Accreditation

Lancaster Central High School is fully accredited by the New York State Board of Regents and the Middle Atlantic States.

Community

The Lancaster Central School District is situated in the north-central portion of Erie County about 10 miles east of Buffalo, New York.  The District encompasses approximately 40 square miles, and is located within the Town and Village of Lancaster, the Town of Cheektowaga, the Town of Elma, and the Village of Depew.  The character of the District is primarily suburban/rural.

Lancaster Schools

The Lancaster Central School District was centralized in 1954, and presently has four K-3 elementary schools, one 4-6 elementary school, one 7-8 middle school, and one 9-12 high school. Enrollment is approximately 6,300 students, with an additional 1,200 school district children at area parochial schools.  Lancaster High School has approximately 1900 students.

Curriculum

Lancaster High School’s program of studies is comprehensive in nature with extensive educational facilities available to serve those programs.  Students take courses at the Regents level in English, Social Studies, Math, Science, and Foreign Language.  There are approximately 250 course offerings within 16 departments.  The academic courses cover a wide variety of offerings in Advanced Placement, career academies, college preparatory, two-year and technical school preparatory courses, as well as small group remediation as needed.  Our occupational programs are enhanced by a wide variety of two-year courses at a separate occupational center serving juniors and seniors.  Classes are 40 minutes in length and meet five times per week.

Academies

Lancaster High School offers several competitive school-within-a-school Academies. 

•  Academy of Finance (AOF): Success Strategies, Principles of Finance, Microsoft Office, Accounting, Internship & Ethics, School Credit Union, Financial Services, and Financial Planning. 

• Project Lead the Way (PLTW): DDP Engineering Honors, Digital Electronics, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Principles of Engineering, and Engineering Design & Development. 

• Health Careers Academy (HCA): Intro to Health Careers, Human Anatomy/Physiology I & II.  

• Academy of Visual & Performing Arts (AVPA): Seminar, Internship, Portfolio/Theory & AP Theory, Academy Senior Project.

• Leadership Academy (LLA):  Effective Communication for Leaders, Processes of Leadership, Leadership in Action, Leadership Internship/Mentoring Program.

• Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT):  Success Strategies, Principles of Hospitality, Marketing & Tourism, Intro to Food, Beverage & Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Information Systems, Geography & World Cultures, Entrepreneurship, Advanced Food & Beverage, Event Management & Planning, Internship Practical, in association with the Russell Salvatore School of Hospitality at Trocaire College.

• Manufacturing & Construction Skilled Trades Academy.

Advanced Placement

• Government & Politics (US)      • US History

• Computer Science Principles    • Calculus AB

• Computer Science A                  • Chemistry

• Economics (macro)                    • Psychology

• English Language & Comp        • Biology

• English Literature & Comp         • Music Theory

• Environmental Science              • Statistics

• French Language                       •World History

• Physics C: Mechanics                • Spanish

• Studio Art: Drawing                                    

• Studio Art: 2D Design

In 2023-24, 562 AP examinations were administered to 342 students.  A total of 96 AP Scholars were named, including 32 AP Scholars, 31 AP Scholars with Honors, and 33 AP Scholars with Distinction.

Instructional Response during COVID 19 Pandemic

2019-20 – fully remote learning from March 13, 2020 through June. Grades for MP 1, 2 and 3 were numeric; grading for MP 4 was a statement of Pass or Needs Improvement, supplemented by teacher comments reflecting performance.  Final course grade was calculated on the average of MP 1, 2 and 3.  Course credit was awarded for average of 55+ and Pass.

2020-21 – student choice of hybrid (attend in person on alternating days) or fully remote learning models.  In a 10-day period, all students received five days of direct teacher instruction and five days of asynchronous learning via Google Classroom.  The standard LCSD grading policy was in place for both learning models.

2021-22 & 2022-23 – fully in-person every day, standard LCSD grading policy

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 22 credits, including the following:

4 credits of English (9-12)                             4 credits of Social Studies (9-12)                               3 credits of Science

3 credits of Math                                            2 credits of Physical Education                                  ½ credit of Health

1 credit of Art or Music                                  1 credit in a World Language

Students must also pass New York State Regents or Common Core examinations in Global Studies, US History and Government, English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. 

Grading System, Rank in Class, Levels & Weighting

•  The final average of a course is based on 80% marking period grades and 20% final exam.  The final course average appears on the transcript as an unweighted grade. 

•   The highest Regents exam grade appears on the transcript.  New and re-averaged grades are calculated and posted on transcripts following the semester in which the student completed the course.

•    All credit-bearing courses are used for class rank.  The preliminary rank in class is computed in September of the senior year using the cumulative weighted average for grades 9, 10 and 11.  Final rank is determined by including the seventh semester and is completed in February of the senior year. 

•    Course levels and weighting include:

•     Local courses have a locally developed curriculum and students take a teacher-prepared final exam.

•     Regents courses are college-preparatory in nature and follow the New York State curriculum.  Students take the New York State Regents exam in the course where offered. 

•     Honors courses follow the New York State Regents curriculum with enrichment.  Students take the New York State Regents exam where offered. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, Honors courses are weighted by a factor of 1.04.

•     Advanced Placement courses are enhanced by the College Board curriculum.  Students take the New York State Regents exam where offered.  Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, AP courses are weighted by a factor of 1.07.

Profile -- Class of 2024

411 students completed diploma requirements

65.8% received a NYS Advanced Regents diploma                             

34.5% received a NYS Regents diploma

94 students were also awarded the Honors diploma designation

Post High School Choices

 82.7% of the class of 2024 chose to continue their education after high school                   

 1.5% entered the military

 56.7% -- attending 4-year schools           

 19.2% -- attending 2-year schools                                                           

 5.3% -- attending vocational and trade schools

SAT Average Score

                                                     23-24     22-23     21-22     20-21

Number of LHS test-takers           167         192         226         172

 

EVIDENCE-BASED READING & WRITING

College & Career Readiness Benchmark - 480

                      23-24     22-23     21-22     20-21

Lancaster       580         562         560         569        

NYS               522         534         528         526        

MATH

College & Career Readiness Benchmark - 530

                      23-24     22-23     21-22     20-21

Lancaster        570         571         569         588        

NYS                 513         533         530         531

ACT Composite Average Scores

                                23-24     22-23     21-22     20-21

Number of LHS test-takers

                                  36           48           63           64          

Lancaster                 23.6        24.6        24.6        23.8       

NYS                                        25.3        24.9        24.9       

National                                  19.5        20.3        20.6

$9.1 million in scholarships and awards were accepted by graduates of the Class of 2024

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

Dr. Michael Vallely         (716) 686-3201

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Mr. Michael Candella    (716) 686-3251

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS

Mrs. Kimberly Muth       (716) 686-3296

Mr. Jamie Pernick         (716) 686-3862

Mrs. Kimberly Louttit     (716) 686-3254

SCHOOL COUNSELORS

A-Cra       Mrs. Megan Hewett          (716) 686-3229

Crb-Gra   Mrs. Rebecca O’Connor   (716) 686-3265

Grb-Kro   Mrs. Nancy Hejaily            (716) 686-3264

Krp-Neu   Mrs. Jodi Coleman           (716) 686-3263

Nev-Pl      Department Chair, Mr. Don Marchese   (716) 686-3853

Pm-Stam  Ms. Chelsea Rinow          (716) 686-3399

Stan-Z      Mrs. Danielle Len             (716) 686-3261

Counseling Center                            (716) 686-3258/59

Counseling Center Fax                     (716) 686-3397