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High School

The high school department comprises grades nine through twelve. The high school program offers a variety of academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs that are designed to meet the learning and social-emotional needs of all students. 

Academics

There are four core subject areas which are taught in the high school, including English Language Arts ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. In addition to these core subjects, students also participate in elective classes such as Art, ASL, Deaf Studies, Film Production, Physical Education, Robotics, and a variety of dual enrollment courses offered by CCAC and RIT. Curriculum and instruction aligns with Pennsylvania’s Common Core Standards, which can be found here. 

Forbes Road Career and Technology Center (CTC)

Forbes Road Career and Technology Center (CTC) provides quality education that enables all individuals to achieve their fullest potential in pursuit of employment and/or educational skills. The goal of Forbes Road CTC goal is to provide a variety of quality learning experiences, which will enable students to compete successfully in today’s workplace. The school strives to equip students with experiences that will enable them to strengthen family foundations, positively influence the community, and participate as an enlightened and informed member of society. Forbes Road CTC provides many educational courses and programs that can help students obtain the certification and skills needed to move forward in today’s competitive job market.

The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is proud to partner with Forbes Road Career and Technology Center to provide an education that focuses on technical programs, teaches employability skills for success in the workplace and serves as a basis for further education. Students who complete an education at Forbes graduate with certifications in their program of study, which gives them an advantage in the job search process.  

Advanced Placement Courses

The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses for high school students. The College Board sponsors The Advanced Placement Program. The Advanced Placement Program (AP) gives students the opportunity to take college-level courses and exams while they are still in high school. Students may earn college credit, accelerated placement, or both for college. Students showing an interest to take an AP course must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or with the Director of Instruction’s permission.

 Students enrolled in AP courses must take the Advanced Placement test in May.

Grade weights for all College Board Advanced Placement courses will be removed if students do not complete the scheduled AP examination for any reason. Cumulative class ranks and cumulative GPA’s will be retroactively recalculated for students who do not complete the scheduled AP examination in order to remove any grade weight advantage the student may have received for the course.

 Dual Enrollment Options

RIT Project Fast Froward .  Project Fast Forward helps qualified deaf and hard-of-hearing high school students across the country get a jump start on a college degree by offering dual-credit college courses in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) areas. The ultimate goal of the program is to help deaf and hard-of-hearing students transition from high school to college and earn a college degree in a STEM field. 

The dual-credit courses are offered by Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf. The courses are taught at the students’ high schools, by their own teachers, during regular school hours. Courses are offered in schools for the deaf as well as public high schools with programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The credits earned by students can be used toward a degree at RIT/NTID or any other college across the country that accepts the credit.

Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC).  Courses offered at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in partnership the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) include Film Production I and II and ASL I for dual credit (college and high school credits are earned). Students are also able to take courses at CCAC, but must complete admissions requirements set forth by CCAC. 

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf uses a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) approach in supporting and developing the whole child. The MTSS approach focuses on identifying areas of challenges, developing, and implementing interventions to overcome such challenges. Areas of focus include academic, behavior, social and emotional, and attendance. 

Response to Intervention

Using data from classroom and school-wide assessments, interventions are provided in the classroom to address the unique learning needs of each student. Such interventions include small groups, 1:1 instruction, or after school tutoring. 

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a school-wide system focused on establishing positive student culture and individualized behavior supports necessary to create a safe and effective learning environment for all students. The positive school-wide expectations for WPSD are: Ready, Organized, Accountable, Respectful, and Safe (ROARS). 

Social-Emotional Learning

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is an integral part of human development as it supports students in developing knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The Counseling and Evaluation team works in collaboration with the middle school teachers in providing instruction in SEL using CharacterStrong. 

Athletics

High school students are invited to participate in the following athletic programs offered by WPSD: 

  • Fall: Soccer or Volleyball
  • Winter: Basketball or Cheerleading
  • Spring: Track and Field

Students participating in athletics must have completed a physical and must be a student in good academic and behavioral standing. 

Extracurricular Activities

High school students can participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including but not limited to: 

  • Academic Bowl
  • Chess
  • Class of 20xx 
  • Girls Athletic Association (GAA)
  • Junior National Association of the Deaf (Junior NAD)
  • Student Body Government (SBG)
  • Varsity Letter Club (VLC)

Extracurricular activities have been designed to support student’s leadership development and to meet the interests of students. 

For more information, contact:

Greg Mendenhall, M.A., M.Ed.
Principal, Middle School and High School
412.371.7000 (Ext. 214)