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