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Below Average

#756 of 872 private schools in PA

Bishop Shanahan High School

High School

220 WOODBINE RD, Downingtown, PA 19335

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 12 schools in Downingtown. Learn more

Enrollment

908

Student-Teacher

18.3:1

Score

4.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Downingtown

#2 of 2

public schools

Pennsylvania high schools

#119 of 120

Academic performance

8.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Bishop Shanahan High School

Bishop Shanahan High School serves grades 9 through 12 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, with an enrollment of 908 students. The school operates as a regular public high school in a large suburban setting, supported by 50 full-time equivalent teachers who work with students at a ratio of approximately 18 to 1. The school is currently experiencing significant academic challenges, with a MySchoolScout rating of 1.3 out of 10 and a state ranking placing it in the bottom 10th percentile among Pennsylvania schools.

This indicates the school has substantial room for academic growth and improvement across its programs and student outcomes. Families considering Bishop Shanahan should be aware that the school faces meaningful educational hurdles and may want to discuss specific support systems, academic resources, and improvement initiatives with school administrators. The substantial student-teacher ratio suggests individualized attention may be limited, which is an important factor for parents evaluating whether their child's learning needs can be adequately met.

Bishop Shanahan is located on Woodbine Road in the Downingtown area, situated within a developed suburban community in Chester County.

What Parents Should Know

As a private school, Bishop Shanahan High School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Bishop Shanahan High School compares to the 13 public schools in Downingtown, PA

Student-Teacher Ratio
18.3:1
This School
vs
13.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
908
This School
vs
724
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
4.7
This School
vs
7.3
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 88.9% vs 0%
Hispanic 4.4% vs 0%
Asian 2.3% vs 0%
Black 1.9% vs 0%
Bishop Shanahan High School Downingtown Public Avg

All Schools in Downingtown

School Rating
Bishop Shanahan High School (this school) 4.7
East Ward El Sch 6.8
Chester County Tech College HS - Brandywine Campus 6.4
Downingtown STEM Academy 8.6
Downingtown HS West Campus 7.1
Downingtown MS 7.2
Uwchlan Hills El Sch 8.1
Beaver Creek El Sch 7.8
Bradford Hgts El Sch 6.9
Lionville El Sch 7.2
Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center 6.0
Shamona Creek El Sch 7.0
West Bradford El Sch 8.0
Brandywine-Wallace El Sch 8.0

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in PA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
C 2.7 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 18.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B+ 6.5 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,174.8
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B 6.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 20%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.8 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 908
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in PA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 88.9%
Hispanic 4.4%
Asian 2.3%
Two or More 2.1%
Black 1.9%
Native American 0.3%
Pacific Islander 0.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

220 WOODBINE RD, Downingtown, PA 19335

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Bishop Shanahan High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Downingtown STEM Academy (rated 8.6/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Downingtown HS East Campus (rated 7.4/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Exton), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Downingtown HS West Campus (rated 7.1/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Downingtown, see our Downingtown schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Chester County Tech College HS - Brandywine Campus Downingtown 0.4 mi 6.4
East Ward El Sch Downingtown 0.4 mi 6.8
DEVEREUX DAY SCHOOL-CARES Downingtown 0.6 mi 8.4
Uwchlan Hills El Sch Downingtown 1.7 mi 8.1
Downingtown STEM Academy Downingtown 1.4 mi 8.6
Collegium CS Exton 1.6 mi 5.0
Downingtown HS West Campus Downingtown 1.6 mi 7.1
Bradford Hgts El Sch Downingtown 1.8 mi 6.9
Downingtown MS Downingtown 1.6 mi 7.2
Beaver Creek El Sch Downingtown 1.8 mi 7.8
Lionville El Sch Downingtown 2.5 mi 7.2
Downingtown HS East Campus Exton 2.6 mi 7.4
Mary C Howse El Sch West Chester 2.3 mi 8.6
Lionville MS Exton 3.0 mi 6.6
Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center Downingtown 3.3 mi 6.0
CREATIVE KIDS OF DOWNINGTOWN Downingtown 2.8 mi
Insight PA Cyber CS Exton 3.3 mi 3.8
Shamona Creek El Sch Downingtown 3.4 mi 7.0
East Bradford El Sch West Chester 3.7 mi 8.7
Achievement House CS Exton 3.9 mi 4.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19335 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$136,839

Median Home Value

$464,400

Median Rent

$1,647/mo

Population

52,524

College Educated

61.6%

Homeownership

80%

Avg Commute

26.6 min

Poverty Rate

3%

Median Age

40.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Bishop Shanahan High School has a median household income of $136,839. It is a well-educated community where 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $464,400, with a median rent of $1,647/month. The local poverty rate of 3.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Cranberry Area JSHS Seneca, PA 4.7
East Allegheny JSHS North Versailles, PA 4.7
Greater Nanticoke Area SHS Nanticoke, PA 4.7
Middletown Area HS Middletown, PA 4.7
St Marys Area SHS Saint Marys, PA 4.7
Chambersburg Area Career Magnet Sch Chambersburg, PA 4.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bishop Shanahan High School

What grades does Bishop Shanahan High School serve?

Bishop Shanahan High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Bishop Shanahan High School?

Bishop Shanahan High School has an enrollment of approximately 908 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bishop Shanahan High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Bishop Shanahan High School is 18.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Bishop Shanahan High School rank in PA?

Bishop Shanahan High School is ranked #756 out of 872 private schools in PA.

What is Bishop Shanahan High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Bishop Shanahan High School has a composite rating of 4.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Bishop Shanahan High School a private school?

Yes, Bishop Shanahan High School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Bishop Shanahan High School a religious school?

Bishop Shanahan High School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (2,185/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Downingtown). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
908
Gender Split
45% M / 55% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
50
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
6.6 hours
Days Per Year
178 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
CHESTER
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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