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Very Good

#644 of 2,846 schools in PA

Top 23% in state

Halifax Area HS

High School · Halifax Area Sd · Halifax, PA

A Halifax Area Sd high school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.

3940 Peters Mountain Rd, Halifax, PA 17032

  • Math 49% vs PA 42% (2024)
  • Reading 63% vs PA 64% (2024)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.5Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.2 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics6.8Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency49.1% (2024 PSSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency62.5% (2024 PSSA)
Math vs. State Avg+7.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-1.5 pts
Overall Proficiency56% (2024 PSSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2024 PSSA)
vs. Expected-3.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile53th
College Readiness6.3Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation11.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.5Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.3:1
District spending per student$20,824
Chronic Absenteeism23.1%

Students at Halifax Area HS score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 PSSA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.

Math Proficiency49%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
42%(2024 PSSA)
ELA Proficiency63%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
64%(2024 PSSA)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 19 points since 2019, to 56% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
47%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
67%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
62%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
75%
ELA
85%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
72%
2018
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2019
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2020*
Math
55%
2021*
Math
55%
2024
Math
49%
ELA
63%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 63% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 73% (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 26 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

35.6%

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 Halifax Area 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 32Car-Dependent
  • Bike 24Somewhat Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$78,625

Median home value

$212,400

Median rent

$747/mo

College educated

20.2%

Homeownership

83.9%

Poverty rate

9.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 17032; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Athletics12sports offered
6 boys'·6 girls'·16 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses2of 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

0 from verified nearby records

No verified same-level alternatives

The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.

Halifax Area Sd

Schools in district
3
Rank in district
#1 of 3
District spending per student
$20,824NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
11.7%Census SAIPE · 2024

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

About Halifax Area HS

Halifax Area HS is a public high school in Halifax, PA, part of Halifax Area Sd, serving approximately 247 students in grades 9th-12th with a 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #644 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Halifax Area HS

What grades does Halifax Area HS serve?

Halifax Area HS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Halifax Area HS?

Halifax Area HS has an enrollment of approximately 247 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Halifax Area HS?

The student-teacher ratio at Halifax Area HS is 10.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Halifax Area HS rank in PA?

Halifax Area HS ranks #644 of 2,846 schools in PA.

What is Halifax Area HS's MySchoolScout rating?

Halifax Area HS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 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 Halifax Area HS?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Halifax Area HS has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Halifax Area HS a charter school?

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

Is Halifax Area HS a Title I school?

No, Halifax Area HS is not currently a Title I school.

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

35.6% of students at Halifax Area 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
247
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
24
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Dauphin County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.1%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 17032)
7,630
Area average commute
30.8 min
Area median age
47.3
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 17032; 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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