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#1860 of 2,846 schools in PA

Freedom HS

High School · Bethlehem Area Sd · Bethlehem, PA

A Bethlehem Area Sd high school where students score 11 points below what's typical for similar communities.

3149 Chester Ave, Bethlehem, PA 18020

  • Math 33% vs PA 42% (2024)
  • Reading 51% vs PA 64% (2024)
  • 83.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.1Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.36 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.9Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency32.8% (2024 PSSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency51.2% (2024 PSSA)
Math vs. State Avg-9.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-12.8 pts
Overall Proficiency42% (2024 PSSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)53% (model expectation from 2024 PSSA)
vs. Expected-10.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile31th
College Readiness4.6Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate83%
AP Participation14.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.6Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.8:1
District spending per student$18,564
Chronic Absenteeism21.1%

Students at Freedom HS score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 PSSA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.

Math Proficiency33%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
42%(2024 PSSA)
ELA Proficiency51%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
64%(2024 PSSA)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 7 points since 2019, to 42% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
49%
ELA
63%
2010
Math
51%
ELA
61%
2011
Math
51%
ELA
64%
2012
Math
46%
ELA
71%
2013
Math
44%
ELA
66%
2014
Math
33%
ELA
58%
2015
Math
53%
ELA
67%
2016
Math
48%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
53%
ELA
65%
2018
Math
43%
ELA
55%
2019
Math
43%
ELA
55%
2020*
Math
49%
ELA
5%
2021*
Math
49%
ELA
5%
2024
Math
33%
ELA
51%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 53% (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

52.6%

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 Freedom 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 23Car-Dependent
  • Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High1,583/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

$122,610

Median home value

$348,900

Median rent

$1,493/mo

College educated

41.8%

Homeownership

85.4%

Poverty rate

6.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 18020; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
14.5% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics26sports offered
13 boys'·13 girls'·44 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

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Bethlehem Area Vocational-technical SchoolEnrollment path unverifiedNot rated9–120.3 mi12Compare →
Bethlehem Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition8.7PK–120.5 mi217Compare →
Notre Dame High SchoolPrivate · tuition6.39–121.9 mi481Compare →
Bethlehem Christian School Upper CampusPrivate · tuition8.06–122.7 mi83Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

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

Bethlehem Area Sd

Schools in district
22
Rank in district
#11 of 22
District spending per student
$18,564NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
12.5%Census SAIPE · 2024

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

About Freedom HS

Freedom HS is a public high school in Bethlehem, PA, part of Bethlehem Area Sd, serving approximately 1,813 students in grades 9th-12th with a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,860 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Freedom HS

What grades does Freedom HS serve?

Freedom HS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Freedom HS?

Freedom HS has an enrollment of approximately 1,813 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Freedom HS?

The student-teacher ratio at Freedom HS is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Freedom HS rank in PA?

Freedom HS ranks #1,860 of 2,846 schools in PA.

What is Freedom HS's MySchoolScout rating?

Freedom HS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 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 Freedom HS?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Freedom HS has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Freedom HS a charter school?

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

Is Freedom HS a Title I school?

No, Freedom HS is not currently a Title I school.

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

52.6% of students at Freedom 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
1,813
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
115
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Northampton County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
21.1%
4-Year Graduation
83.0%
Area population (ZIP 18020)
21,144
Area average commute
26.9 min
Area median age
42.3
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 18020; 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

Related reading

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