Below Average
#2350 of 2,846 schools in PA
California Area MS
Middle School · California Area Sd · Coal Center, PA
A California Area Sd middle school serving grades 7th – 8th.
11 Trojan Way, Coal Center, PA 15423
- Math 20% vs PA 35% (2024)
- Reading 53% vs PA 53% (2024)
- 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at California Area MS score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 11 points since 2020, to 36% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 67% (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 34 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
98%
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 California 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. Open the Pittsburgh map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 6Car-Dependent
- Bike 14Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low0/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$70,662
Median home value
$171,700
Median rent
$983/mo
College educated
24%
Homeownership
83%
Poverty rate
16.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 15423; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville Area MSEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 6–8 | 3.1 mi | 349 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
California Area Sd
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #3 of 3
- District spending per student
- $15,211NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
California Area MS is listed in California Area SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About California Area MS
California Area MS is a public middle school in Coal Center, PA, part of California Area Sd, serving approximately 147 students in grades 7th-8th with a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #2,350 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about California Area MS
What grades does California Area MS serve?
California Area MS serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend California Area MS?
California Area MS has an enrollment of approximately 147 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at California Area MS?
The student-teacher ratio at California Area MS is 13.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does California Area MS rank in PA?
California Area MS ranks #2,350 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is California Area MS's MySchoolScout rating?
California Area MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 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 California Area MS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, California Area MS has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is California Area MS a charter school?
No, California Area MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is California Area MS a Title I school?
No, California Area MS is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for California Area MS?
98.0% of students at California 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
- 147
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Washington County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 32.7%
- Phone
- (724) 785-5800
- Area population (ZIP 15423)
- 1,942
- Area average commute
- 25.8 min
- Area median age
- 40.6
Official sources & links
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 15423; 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
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