Very Good
#675 of 2,846 schools in PA
Top 24% in state
Benton Area MS
Middle School · Benton Area Sd · Benton, PA
A Benton Area Sd middle school where students score 13 points above what's typical for similar communities.
400 Park St, Benton, PA 17814
- Math 29% vs PA 35% (2024)
- Reading 67% vs PA 53% (2024)
- 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Benton Area MS score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 7-year record (2018–2024), then recovered 16 points since 2020, reaching 48% in 2024.
Show all 6 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 26% (multi-year average, 2018-2024) · reading/ELA 61% (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 16 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
97.3%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Benton Area MS 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 by
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
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
- #1 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 MS is listed in Benton Area SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Benton Area MS
Benton Area MS is a public middle school in Benton, PA, part of Benton Area Sd, serving approximately 113 students in grades 7th-8th with a 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #675 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2024) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Benton Area MS
What grades does Benton Area MS serve?
Benton Area MS serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Benton Area MS?
Benton Area MS has an enrollment of approximately 113 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benton Area MS?
The student-teacher ratio at Benton Area MS is 14.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Benton Area MS rank in PA?
Benton Area MS ranks #675 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Benton Area MS's MySchoolScout rating?
Benton Area MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 MS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Benton Area MS has 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2024) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2024).
Is Benton Area MS a charter school?
No, Benton Area MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Benton Area MS a Title I school?
No, Benton Area MS is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Benton Area MS?
97.3% of students at Benton Area MS 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
- 7th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 113
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 8
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Columbia County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.2%
- Phone
- (570) 925-2651
- 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
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.