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Average

#2075 of 2,846 schools in PA

New Castle Shs

High School · New Castle Area SD

300 E Lincoln Ave, New Castle, PA 16101

Enrollment

732

Student-Teacher

15.6:1

Score

5.1

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Pennsylvania schools

#2,075 of 2,846

In New Castle

#16 of 18

public schools

In district

#2 of 4

New Castle Area SD

Academic growth

7.8 / 10

Very Good

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New Castle Shs

5.1/10

High School in New Castle · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

New Castle Jhs

3.1/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Washington Intrmd Sch

3.0/10

0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About New Castle Shs

New Castle Shs is a public high school in New Castle, PA, part of New Castle Area SD. New Castle Shs serves approximately 732 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. New Castle Shs has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #2,075 of 2,846 schools in PA.

Structured state assessment records for New Castle Shs show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares1.5 pts below PA schools
  • This school 5.1 · Average
  • PA avg 6.6

What Parents Should Know

57% of students at New Castle Shs were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.49 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.0Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency33.1% (2024 PSSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency44.6% (2024 PSSA)
Math vs. State Avg-8.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-19.4 pts
Overall Proficiency39% (2024 PSSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 PSSA)
vs. Expected+5.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile44th
College Readiness4.2Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate82%
AP Participation13.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment1.9Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,986
Chronic Absenteeism57.1%

New Castle Shs — Students at New Castle Shs score 39% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 52.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
42.0% (2024 PSSA)
ELA Proficiency 58.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
64.0% (2024 PSSA)

Based on 28 test records from PA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
66%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
65%
ELA
68%
2011
Math
55%
ELA
52%
2012
Math
61%
ELA
56%
2013
Math
47%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
52%
ELA
67%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2018
Math
47%
ELA
67%
2019
Math
47%
ELA
67%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
30%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
30%
2024
Math
33.1%
ELA
44.6%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.8/10.

How New Castle Shs Compares

See how New Castle Shs performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.1/10
27th percentile in PA
Academic
6.0/10
Average
Growth
7.8/10
Very Good
Environment
1.9/10
Needs Improvement
AP Courses
4
State avg: 2.8
Sports
10
5 boys' · 5 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
47 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
57.1%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4 AP courses offered
13.7% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics10sports offered
5 boys'·5 girls'·20 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

300 E Lincoln Ave, New Castle, PA 16101

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering New Castle Shs may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Union Area HS (rated 8.6/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Lawrence County Career and Technical Center (rated 8.0/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Laurel HS (rated 7.9/10, 4.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in New Castle, see our New Castle schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.9 mi
School Distance Rating
New Castle JHS New Castle 0.1 mi 3.1
Washington Intrmd Sch New Castle 0.9 mi 3.0
Harry W Lockley Early Learning Center New Castle 0.7 mi 5.7
NEW CASTLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY New Castle 1.0 mi 6.3
Lawrence County Career and Technical Center New Castle 2.1 mi 8.0
CRAY CHALLENGES ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL (AEDY) New Castle 2.4 mi
CRAY EDUCATION CENTER New Castle 2.4 mi 6.2
Union Memorial El Sch New Castle 1.9 mi 7.8
Union Area HS New Castle 2.3 mi 8.6
Union Area MS New Castle 2.3 mi 6.4
Shenango El Sch New Castle 2.8 mi 7.1
Shenango HS New Castle 3.0 mi 7.0
Neshannock JSHS New Castle 4.3 mi 6.0
Neshannock Memorial El Sch New Castle 4.3 mi 6.7
FAITH COUNTRY CHAPEL PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN New Castle 4.1 mi
Laurel HS New Castle 4.3 mi 7.9
Laurel MS New Castle 4.3 mi 6.5
Laurel El Sch New Castle 4.4 mi 8.0
FAYETTE SCHOOL Volant 7.0 mi
Mohawk El Sch New Castle 5.9 mi 6.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 16101 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$50,481

Median Home Value

$109,600

Median Rent

$706/mo

Population

30,960

College Educated

18.1%

Homeownership

68.9%

Avg Commute

21.6 min

Poverty Rate

17%

Median Age

43.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Dobbins Area Vocational-Technical High School Philadelphia, PA 5.1
Preparatory CS of Mathematics Science Tech and Careers Philadelphia, PA 5.1
ST JOSEPH'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL Philadelphia, PA 5.1
Susquehanna Twp HS Harrisburg, PA 5.1
Kensington HS Philadelphia, PA 5.0
Iroquois JSHS Erie, PA 5.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about New Castle Shs

What grades does New Castle Shs serve?

New Castle Shs serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend New Castle Shs?

New Castle Shs has an enrollment of approximately 732 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at New Castle Shs?

The student-teacher ratio at New Castle Shs is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does New Castle Shs rank in PA?

New Castle Shs ranks #2,075 of 2,846 schools in PA.

What is New Castle Shs's MySchoolScout rating?

New Castle Shs has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 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 New Castle Shs?

Based on loaded state assessment records, New Castle Shs has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is New Castle Shs a charter school?

No, New Castle Shs is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is New Castle Shs a Title I school?

No, New Castle Shs is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for New Castle Shs?

100.0% of students at New Castle Shs qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
76 Very Walkable
Bike Score
55 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
732
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
47
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Town
County
Lawrence County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
57.1%
4-Year Graduation
82.0%

District

New Castle Area SD
District Enrollment
2,951
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,986
District Rank
#2 of 4

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