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Below Average

#2265 of 2,846 schools in PA

Benton Area HS

High School · Benton Area Sd · Benton, PA

A Benton Area Sd high school where students score 12 points above what's typical for similar communities.

400 Park St, Benton, PA 17814

  • Math 34% vs PA 42% (2024)
  • Reading 58% vs PA 64% (2024)
  • 90%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress1.1Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data5
Annual Change-6.76 pts/yr
Data Period2018–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.1Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency34.3% (2024 PSSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency58.3% (2024 PSSA)
Math vs. State Avg-7.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-5.7 pts
Overall Proficiency46% (2024 PSSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)34% (model expectation from 2024 PSSA)
vs. Expected+12.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile58th
College Readiness5.3Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate90%+
AP Participation1.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.8Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.4:1
District spending per student$21,360
Chronic Absenteeism36.1%

Students at Benton Area HS score 46% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 PSSA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.

Math Proficiency34%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
42%(2024 PSSA)
ELA Proficiency58%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
64%(2024 PSSA)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 38 points since 2019, to 46% in 2024, across a 7-year record (2018–2024).

Show all 5 years by subject
2018
Math
85%
ELA
85%
2019
Math
85%
ELA
85%
2020*
Math
55%
2021*
Math
55%
2024
Math
34%
ELA
58%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 63% (multi-year average, 2018-2024) · reading/ELA 76% (multi-year average, 2018-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 8 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

98.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Benton Area HS sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 36Car-Dependent
  • Bike 7Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Low122/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Benton), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$62,679

Median home value

$217,000

Median rent

$919/mo

College educated

16.9%

Homeownership

83.7%

Poverty rate

12.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 17814; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs1AP course offered
1.5% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics9sports offered
5 boys'·4 girls'·9 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses3of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

0 from verified nearby records

No verified same-level alternatives

The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.

Benton Area Sd

Schools in district
3
Rank in district
#3 of 3
District spending per student
$21,360NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
11.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Benton Area HS is listed in Benton Area SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Benton Area HS

Benton Area HS is a public high school in Benton, PA, part of Benton Area Sd, serving approximately 202 students in grades 9th-12th with a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,265 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2024) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Benton Area HS

What grades does Benton Area HS serve?

Benton Area HS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Benton Area HS?

Benton Area HS has an enrollment of approximately 202 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Benton Area HS?

The student-teacher ratio at Benton Area HS is 14.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Benton Area HS rank in PA?

Benton Area HS ranks #2,265 of 2,846 schools in PA.

What is Benton Area HS's MySchoolScout rating?

Benton Area HS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Benton Area HS?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Benton Area HS has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2024) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2024).

Is Benton Area HS a charter school?

No, Benton Area HS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Benton Area HS a Title I school?

No, Benton Area HS is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Benton Area HS?

98.5% of students at Benton Area HS qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
202
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Columbia County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
36.1%
4-Year Graduation
90%+
Area population (ZIP 17814)
4,806
Area average commute
30 min
Area median age
49.7
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 17814; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2018-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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