Valley Junior/Senior High School is a
public school in
New Kensington
New Kensington, known locally as New Ken, is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It is situated along the Allegheny River, northeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 12,170 at the 2010 census.
History
Like much of Westmoreland Co ...
,
Westmoreland County in the
state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State
* ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
* ''Our S ...
of
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
. According to the
National Center for Education Statistics, in the 2018–2019 school year, the School reported an enrollment of 792 pupils in grades 9th through 12th.
[
]
Demographics of student body
As of 2009.
Alternative education
Valley High School has an alternative education program for students with behavioral issues, those who have been chronically truant or are expelled from the traditional school programs. Students work toward graduation under the supervision of a teacher using online OdysseyWare software.
Awards and recognition
Valley High School's Junior ROTC
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC -- commonly pronounced "JAY-rotsee") is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools across the United States and at US military ...
program was named an Honor Unit with Distinction in 2006 and 2009, scoring in the 96th percentile in an inspection held once every three years.
In 1998, a team of students representing Valley High School tied for third place in an international Space Settlement Design contest sponsored by NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil List of government space agencies, space program ...
, for their research project, entitled "Space Colonies, A Design Study."
Ten Commandments controversy
On March 20, 2012, the Freedom From Religion Foundation
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is an American nonprofit organization, which advocates for atheists, agnostics, and nontheists. Formed in 1976, FFRF promotes the separation of church and state, and challenges the legitimacy of many ...
(FFRF) sent a letter of complaint about a large granite monument with 10 Commandments predominantly displayed near the main entrance to the school, citing that the school is in violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
On October 13, 2012, approximately 50 people attended a rally in support of keeping the monument at Valley High School.
On September 14, 2012, the FFRF and four New Kensington residents filed suit against the school district seeking a declaration that the monument is unconstitutional, a permanent injunction directing its removal, nominal damages and costs and attorneys’ fees. The Judge, Terrance McVerry ruled on Dec. 19, 2012 allowing the plaintiffs the right to use pseudonyms. On Jan. 22, 2013 he denied the motion to dismiss, allowing the case to continue.
On July 27, 2015, the District Court ruled that the Plaintiffs did not have standing.
On August 9, 2016 the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Plaintiff Marie Schaub had standing and remanded the case back to Judge Terrance McVerry to be heard on its merits. On February 21, 2017, the lawsuit came to an end when the school district agreed to remove the monument from in front of the school and for the school district, through their insurance company, to pay $163,500 in legal fees, including more than $40,000 to the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In accord with the agreement, the monument was removed on March 21, 2017. It was donated to a local elementary Catholic school, Mary Queen of Apostles, where it currently resides.
Extracurriculars
New Kensington-Arnold School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program.
Athletics
Vocational–technical education
Students in grades 10–12 may attend the Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center part-time, if elected.
Notable alumni
* Chipper Harris
Chester E. "Chipper" Harris Jr. (August 30, 1962 – May 26, 2018) was an American basketball player, best known for his college career at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania, where he was the Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Player of t ...
, basketball player.
* Willie Thrower, the first African-American quarterback to play for the NFL, playing for the 1953 Chicago Bears.
References
External links
*
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Schools in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Public high schools in Pennsylvania
Education in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area
New Kensington, Pennsylvania