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#1148 of 2,846 schools in PA

Top 40% in state

Big Spring HS

High School · Big Spring Sd · Newville, PA

A Big Spring Sd high school where students score 18 points below what's typical for similar communities.

100 Mount Rock Rd, Newville, PA 17241

  • Math 29% vs PA 42% (2024)
  • Reading 50% vs PA 64% (2024)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.27 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.3Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency28.7% (2024 PSSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency50.3% (2024 PSSA)
Math vs. State Avg-13.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-13.7 pts
Overall Proficiency40% (2024 PSSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)58% (model expectation from 2024 PSSA)
vs. Expected-18.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile23th
College Readiness7.6Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation19.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment6.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.9:1
District spending per student$18,873
Chronic Absenteeism17.3%

Students at Big Spring HS score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 PSSA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.

Math Proficiency29%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
42%(2024 PSSA)
ELA Proficiency50%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
64%(2024 PSSA)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 24 points since 2019, to 40% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
48%
ELA
57%
2010
Math
59%
ELA
60%
2011
Math
58%
ELA
64%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
83%
2013
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2014
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2015
Math
59%
ELA
68%
2016
Math
60%
ELA
67%
2017
Math
52%
ELA
69%
2018
Math
59%
ELA
67%
2019
Math
59%
ELA
67%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
25%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
25%
2024
Math
29%
ELA
50%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

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

Based on 28 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

39.6%

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 Big Spring 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 6Car-Dependent
  • Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Average360/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Newville), 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

$75,371

Median home value

$208,400

Median rent

$978/mo

College educated

16.6%

Homeownership

79%

Poverty rate

8.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 17241; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
19.7% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics20sports offered
9 boys'·11 girls'·20 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 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

2 from a 5-mile search

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Green Spring Mennonite SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot rated1–94.7 mi28Compare →
Yellow Breeches Educational CenterPrivate · tuition7.91–124.9 mi175Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Big Spring Sd

Schools in district
5
Rank in district
#4 of 5
District spending per student
$18,873NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
12.0%Census SAIPE · 2024

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

About Big Spring HS

Big Spring HS is a public high school in Newville, PA, part of Big Spring Sd, serving approximately 752 students in grades 9th-12th with a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,148 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Big Spring HS

What grades does Big Spring HS serve?

Big Spring HS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Big Spring HS?

Big Spring HS has an enrollment of approximately 752 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Big Spring HS?

The student-teacher ratio at Big Spring HS is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Big Spring HS rank in PA?

Big Spring HS ranks #1,148 of 2,846 schools in PA.

What is Big Spring HS's MySchoolScout rating?

Big Spring HS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 Big Spring HS?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Big Spring HS has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Big Spring HS a charter school?

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

Is Big Spring HS a Title I school?

No, Big Spring HS is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Big Spring HS?

39.6% of students at Big Spring 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
752
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
54
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Cumberland County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.3%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 17241)
11,094
Area average commute
26.6 min
Area median age
41.6
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 17241; 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, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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