Needs Improvement
#2541 of 2,846 schools in PA
Highland MS
Middle School · Blackhawk Sd · Beaver Falls, PA
A Blackhawk Sd middle school where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.
402 Shenango Rd, Beaver Falls, PA 15010
- Math 39% vs PA 37% (2024)
- Reading 51% vs PA 53% (2024)
- 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Highland MS score 45% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 45 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 45% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 66% (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 38 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
36.1%
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 Highland 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 8Car-Dependent
- Bike 22Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,325/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Beaver Falls), 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
$70,253
Median home value
$196,600
Median rent
$833/mo
College educated
30.6%
Homeownership
72.8%
Poverty rate
11%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 15010; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Falls MSEnrollment path unverified | 3.1 | 6–8 | 2.7 mi | 344 | Compare → |
| New Brighton Area MSEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | 6–8 | 3.8 mi | 282 | Compare → |
| The School at Mcguire MemorialPrivate · tuition | 7.2private | PK–12 | 4.2 mi | 57 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Blackhawk Sd
- Schools in district
- 4
- Rank in district
- #4 of 4
- District spending per student
- $15,100NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Highland MS is listed in Blackhawk SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Highland MS
Highland MS is a public middle school in Beaver Falls, PA, part of Blackhawk Sd, serving approximately 699 students in grades 5th-8th with a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 out of 10 and ranks #2,541 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Highland MS
What grades does Highland MS serve?
Highland MS serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Highland MS?
Highland MS has an enrollment of approximately 699 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland MS?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland MS is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Highland MS rank in PA?
Highland MS ranks #2,541 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Highland MS's MySchoolScout rating?
Highland MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 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 Highland MS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highland MS has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Highland MS a charter school?
No, Highland MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Highland MS a Title I school?
No, Highland MS is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highland MS?
36.1% of students at Highland 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
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 699
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 44
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Beaver County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.3%
- Phone
- (724) 843-1700
- Area population (ZIP 15010)
- 28,621
- Area average commute
- 26.9 min
- Area median age
- 38.7
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 15010; 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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