Is Hershey High School a good school?

Yes. Hershey High School ranks in the top 6.4% of Pennsylvania high schools.

How many students attend Hershey High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,079 students attended Hershey High School.

What is the racial makeup of Hershey High School?

Students at Hershey High School are 68% White, 16% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 4% African American, 4% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Hershey High School?

Hershey High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Hershey Early Childhood Center Elementary : Hershey Intrmd Elementary School Elementary : Hershey Primary Elementary School Middle : Hershey Middle School

Hershey High School

Summary:

Hershey High School is a public high school located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,093 students. The school is part of the Derry Township School District, which is ranked 29th out of 610 districts in Pennsylvania and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Hershey High School consistently ranks among the top high schools in Pennsylvania, with a statewide ranking between 18th and 64th over the past 10 years. The school has maintained a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for most of this period, indicating exceptional academic performance. Hershey High School performs exceptionally well across various student subgroups, ranking in the top 50 in Pennsylvania for female, male, Hispanic, and white students, as well as for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and students with disabilities. The school's Keystone Exam proficiency rates are significantly higher than those of nearby schools like Steelton-Highspire High School, Elizabethtown Area Senior High School, Annville-Cleona High School, and the Central Dauphin schools.

Hershey High School has maintained a high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 87.0% to 92.0% over the past few years, which is on par with or better than the nearby schools. The school's dropout rate is also low, ranging from 0.5% to 1.6% during the same period. Additionally, Hershey High School has a relatively low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 21.84% to 22.7% over the past three years, which is lower than many of the nearby schools. The school's student-teacher ratio is also relatively low, ranging from 13.3 to 14.4 over the past three years, which may contribute to its strong academic performance. Notably, Hershey High School's ranking for disabled students is particularly noteworthy, as the school ranked 39th out of 513 Pennsylvania high schools in 2023-2024, indicating that the school is providing exceptional support and resources for this student population.

Detail:

Public 9-12

550 Homestead Rd
Hershey, PA 17033-0898

(717) 531-2244

District: Derry Township School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
44^th of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,715

Feeder schools for Hershey High School:

Elementary:	Hershey Early Childhood Center
	Hershey Intrmd Elementary School
	Hershey Primary Elementary School
Middle:	Hershey Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.0

Number of students: 1,079

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.6%

Asian:

15.7%

Hispanic:

8.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 24.3%

See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

Compare Hershey High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Hershey High School ranks better than 93.6% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 90.93. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Hershey High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (67.6%), Asian (15.7%), Hispanic (8.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 24.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Hershey High School is 13. (See more...)

Compare Hershey High School employs 83 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Hershey High School is $20,715.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Hershey High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Hershey High School 44^th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Hershey High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Asian students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Derry Township School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Derry Township School District 29^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Hershey High School.

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Your rating for Hershey High School?

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Rank History for Hershey High School

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Rank History for all students at Hershey High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	89.10	36^th	583	93.8%
2004	94.12	10^th	590	98.3%
2005	90.99	14^th	593	97.6%
2006	90.08	11^th	604	98.2%
2007	86.21	34^th	615	94.5%
2008	91.19	16^th	621	97.4%
2009	81.02	76^th	632	88.0%
2010	74.20	143^rd	649	78.0%
2011	89.16	22^nd	660	96.7%
2012	86.11	36^th	664	94.6%
2013	83.54	60^th	591	89.8%
2014	84.40	55^th	580	90.5%
2015	83.16	73^rd	680	89.3%
2016	87.04	27^th	677	96.0%
2017	88.46	24^th	663	96.4%
2018	89.60	18^th	673	97.3%
2019	88.03	38^th	693	94.5%
2021	89.24	18^th	537	96.6%
2022	85.03	64^th	634	89.9%
2023	92.00	26^th	674	96.1%
2024	90.93	44^th	686	93.6%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Hershey High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	78.75	111^th	652	83.0%
2024	88.36	44^th	664	93.4%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Hershey High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	89.11	45^th	665	93.2%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Hershey High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	39.81	273^rd	502	45.6%
2024	91.33	39^th	513	92.4%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Hershey High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	91.06	45^th	662	93.2%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Hershey High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	83.60	14^th	112	87.5%
2024	66.80	49^th	121	59.5%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Hershey High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	70.81	62^nd	252	75.4%
2024	84.97	36^th	274	86.9%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Hershey High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	90.23	32^nd	577	94.5%
2024	88.99	50^th	595	91.6%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Hershey High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	762	13	23	4	1	n/a	n/a	803
1989	706	10	27	4	0	n/a	n/a	747
1990	685	6	22	3	0	n/a	n/a	716
1991	640	8	24	2	1	n/a	n/a	675
1992	641	7	29	2	1	n/a	n/a	680
1993	661	8	30	4	0	n/a	n/a	703
1994	672	8	22	5	0	n/a	n/a	707
1995	743	10	22	3	1	n/a	n/a	779
1996	743	10	22	3	1	n/a	n/a	779
1997	780	8	24	4	1	n/a	n/a	817
1998	841	6	35	4	2	n/a	n/a	888
1999	874	6	40	6	2	n/a	n/a	928
2000	934	7	29	5	3	n/a	n/a	978
2001	975	13	30	9	4	n/a	n/a	1031
2002	1046	22	44	16	6	n/a	n/a	1134
2003	1046	22	44	16	6	n/a	n/a	1134
2004	1004	22	46	52	1	n/a	n/a	1125
2005	1021	37	52	18	0	n/a	n/a	1128
2006	1073	38	68	22	0	n/a	n/a	1201
2007	1022	40	86	18	1	n/a	n/a	1167
2008	1029	40	86	21	3	n/a	n/a	1179
2009	993	45	93	25	2	n/a	n/a	1158
2010	980	51	99	30	1	n/a	n/a	1161
2011	964	43	84	45	0	0	11	1147
2012	939	43	88	59	1	0	13	1143
2013	972	43	98	61	1	0	15	1190
2014	958	38	94	51	0	0	15	1156
2015	914	43	115	56	1	0	13	1142
2016	882	44	124	58	3	1	14	1126
2017	856	53	127	53	3	1	24	1117
2018	864	66	136	69	3	2	34	1174
2019	901	59	143	81	2	2	41	1229
2020	875	60	152	87	5	1	45	1225
2021	849	58	166	82	4	0	50	1209
2022	780	54	149	92	2	1	50	1128
2023	749	43	160	91	2	1	47	1093
2024	729	42	169	95	1	2	41	1079

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Hershey High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	803	58.5	13.7	n/a
1989	747	57.0	13.1	n/a
1990	716	52.8	13.5	0
1991	675	58.0	11.6	n/a
1992	680	46.7	14.5	n/a
1993	703	43.6	16.1	n/a
1994	707	44.2	16.0	n/a
1995	779	49.0	15.9	n/a
1996	779	49.0	15.9	n/a
1997	817	52.0	15.7	n/a
1998	888	54.5	16.3	n/a
1999	928	59.8	15.5	n/a
2000	978	60.6	16.1	1.9
2001	1031	61.1	16.9	1.9
2002	1134	67.9	16.7	4.1
2003	1134	67.9	16.7	4.1
2004	1125	68.9	16.3	3.6
2005	1128	72.8	15.5	4.2
2006	1201	74.3	16.2	5.7
2007	1167	73.2	15.9	7.1
2008	1179	74.7	15.8	6.4
2009	1158	80.5	14.4	8.5
2010	1161	78.5	14.7	9.9
2011	1147	79.0	14.5	10.3
2012	1143	79.8	14.3	11
2013	1190	79.8	14.9	11.1
2014	1156	79.8	14.4	13
2015	1142	80.0	14.2	19.3
2016	1126	83.0	13.5	15.5
2017	1117	83.3	13.4	n/a
2018	1174	82.4	14.2	n/a
2019	1229	83.4	14.7	17.4
2020	1225	82.4	14.8	n/a
2021	1209	83.4	14.4	21.8
2022	1128	82.4	13.6	22.7
2023	1093	81.8	13.3	22
2024	1079	83.0	13.0	24.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Hershey High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	803	58.5	13.7	n/a
1989	747	57.0	13.1	n/a
1990	716	52.8	13.5	0
1991	675	58.0	11.6	n/a
1992	680	46.7	14.5	n/a
1993	703	43.6	16.1	n/a
1994	707	44.2	16.0	n/a
1995	779	49.0	15.9	n/a
1996	779	49.0	15.9	n/a
1997	817	52.0	15.7	n/a
1998	888	54.5	16.3	n/a
1999	928	59.8	15.5	n/a
2000	978	60.6	16.1	1.9
2001	1031	61.1	16.9	1.9
2002	1134	67.9	16.7	4.1
2003	1134	67.9	16.7	4.1
2004	1125	68.9	16.3	3.6
2005	1128	72.8	15.5	4.2
2006	1201	74.3	16.2	5.7
2007	1167	73.2	15.9	7.1
2008	1179	74.7	15.8	6.4
2009	1158	80.5	14.4	8.5
2010	1161	78.5	14.7	9.9
2011	1147	79.0	14.5	10.3
2012	1143	79.8	14.3	11
2013	1190	79.8	14.9	11.1
2014	1156	79.8	14.4	13
2015	1142	80.0	14.2	19.3
2016	1126	83.0	13.5	15.5
2017	1117	83.3	13.4	n/a
2018	1174	82.4	14.2	n/a
2019	1229	83.4	14.7	17.4
2020	1225	82.4	14.8	n/a
2021	1209	83.4	14.4	21.8
2022	1128	82.4	13.6	22.7
2023	1093	81.8	13.3	22
2024	1079	83.0	13.0	24.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Hershey High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$24 (0.2%)	$15,313 (99.8%)	$15,338
2020	$95 (0.6%)	$15,875 (99.4%)	$15,971
2021	$439 (2.7%)	$15,824 (97.3%)	$16,264
2022	$661 (3.2%)	$20,054 (96.8%)	$20,715

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Hershey High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 38^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 26^th of 674 High schools	1.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Hershey High School)	87.4	58.4	29%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Hershey High School)	85.9	79.9	6%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Hershey High School)	91.7	86.4	5.3%
11th Grade Literature (Pennsylvania)	71.5	65.3	6.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1229	1093	11.1%
African American	59	43	27.1%
American Indian	2	2
Asian	143	160	11.9%
Hispanic	81	91	12.3%
Pacific Islander	2	1	50%
White	901	749	16.9%
Two or More Races	41	47	14.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	17.4%	22%	4.5%

Schools Near Hershey High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Keystone Exams Algebra I (2024)	Keystone Exams Biology (2024)	Keystone Exams Literature (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hershey High School	Public	9-12	550 Homestead Rd	Hershey	17033	Dauphin County	Derry Township School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 531-2244	1,079	83	13.0	24.3%	729 (67.6%)	42 (3.9%)	95 (8.8%)	169 (15.7%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	41 (3.8%)	90.9	44^th of 686 public high schools	93.6%		92	26^th of 674 public high schools	96.1%	18	61.3	77.4	89.7	$20,715	$661	$20,054
Palmyra Area Senior High School	Public	9-12	1125 Park Dr	Palmyra	17078	Lebanon County	Palmyra Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 838-1331	1,195	71	16.8	28.3%	977 (81.8%)	21 (1.8%)	75 (6.3%)	76 (6.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (3.7%)	93.2	30^th of 686 public high schools	95.6%		88.9	48^th of 674 public high schools	92.9%	18	74.6	75.6	88.4	$13,007	$261	$12,746
Price	Public	6-12	101 East High Street	Hummelstown	17036	Dauphin County	Lower Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 566-5325	14	2	6.6	78.6%	11 (78.6%)	1 (7.1%)	2 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				$33,725	$18,317	$15,408
Lower Dauphin High School	Public	9-12	201 S Hanover St	Hummelstown	17036	Dauphin County	Lower Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 566-5330	1,088	84	13.0	25.7%	881 (81.0%)	17 (1.6%)	95 (8.7%)	35 (3.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (5.4%)	75.5	157^th of 686 public high schools	77.1%		86.7	66^th of 674 public high schools	90.2%	91	45.2	66.4	76.6	$16,107	$699	$15,408
Middletown Area High School	Public	9-12	1155 N Union St	Middletown	17057	Dauphin County	Middletown Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 948-3333	727	51	14.2	49.0%	390 (53.6%)	86 (11.8%)	142 (19.5%)	27 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	82 (11.3%)	45.1	427^th of 686 public high schools	37.8%		55	341^st of 674 public high schools	49.4%	86	45.6	39.6	53.8	$17,145	$1,624	$15,520
Dauphin County Technical School	Public	9-12	6001 Locust Ln	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Dauphin County Technical School	No	No	No	No	(717) 652-3170	1,175	82	14.3	99.7%	478 (40.7%)	241 (20.5%)	277 (23.6%)	134 (11.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (3.7%)	40.2	464^th of 686 public high schools	32.4%		56.9	323^rd of 674 public high schools	52.1%	141	28.1	48.0	54.8
Annville-Cleona High School	Public	9-12	500 S White Oak St	Annville	17003	Lebanon County	Annville-Cleona School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 867-7700	477	39	12.3	40.7%	387 (81.1%)	9 (1.9%)	51 (10.7%)	16 (3.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (2.3%)	48.9	393^rd of 686 public high schools	42.7%		69.5	211^th of 674 public high schools	68.7%	182	46.0	49.5	50.4	$21,259	$886	$20,373
Central Dauphin Senior High School	Public	9-12	437 Piketown Road	Harrisburg	17112	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 703-5360	1,998	125	16.0	35.9%	1,244 (62.3%)	244 (12.2%)	175 (8.8%)	188 (9.4%)	5 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	141 (7.1%)	62.8	264^th of 686 public high schools	61.5%		59.3	302^nd of 674 public high schools	55.2%	38	43.9	49.5	72.7	$13,904	$758	$13,147
Central Dauphin East Senior High School	Public	9-12	626 Rutherford Rd	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 541-1662	1,596	107	14.8	100.1%	332 (20.8%)	497 (31.1%)	331 (20.7%)	243 (15.2%)	7 (0.4%)	4 (0.3%)	182 (11.4%)	22.2	548^th of 686 public high schools	20.1%		25.5	529^th of 674 public high schools	21.5%	19	21.5	27.2	49.6	$14,002	$840	$13,162
Elizabethtown Area Senior High School	Public	9-12	600 E High St	Elizabethtown	17022	Lancaster County	Elizabethtown Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 367-1533	1,293	74	17.4	37.0%	1,094 (84.6%)	35 (2.7%)	90 (7.0%)	24 (1.9%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (3.5%)	69.4	209^th of 686 public high schools	69.5%		71.6	194^th of 674 public high schools	71.2%	15	56.1	54.4	68.4	$17,238	$492	$16,746

Hershey High School

Hershey High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Derry Township School District:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Hershey High School

Rank History for all students at Hershey High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Hershey High School

Rank History for Female students at Hershey High School

Rank History for Disabled students at Hershey High School

Rank History for Male students at Hershey High School

Rank History for Asian students at Hershey High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Hershey High School

Rank History for White students at Hershey High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Hershey High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Hershey High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Hershey High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Hershey High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Hershey High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Hershey High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Hershey High School

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