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Average

#1948 of 2,842 schools in PA

North Hills HS

High School · North Hills SD

53 Rochester Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15229

Enrollment

1,433

Student-Teacher

13.8:1

Score

5.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Pittsburgh

#87 of 148

public schools

Pennsylvania high schools

#406 of 641

In district

#4 of 6

North Hills SD

Academic performance

8.9 / 10

Exceptional

About North Hills HS

North Hills High School serves 1,433 students in grades 9-12 in Pittsburgh's suburban landscape, offering a sizeable learning community with a student-teacher ratio of 13.8:1 and 104 full-time teachers. The school earns a MySchoolScout rating of 5.6 out of 10 and ranks in the 52nd percentile among Pennsylvania high schools. Academically, North Hills shows strong performance in English Language Arts, with 76% of students achieving proficiency or above across grade levels.

Mathematics presents an area with significant room for growth, as 30% of students currently meet proficiency standards. The school's academic score of 6.1 out of 10 reflects this mixed performance profile, indicating ongoing efforts to strengthen student achievement across all subject areas. The school draws from a stable suburban community where the median household income reaches $79,984 and 42% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

With a relatively low poverty rate of 9.1% in the surrounding ZIP code 15229, families in this area of Allegheny County have invested in a neighborhood with a median home value of $221,400. North Hills High School operates within this established suburban setting, serving a community of over 15,000 residents who value educational opportunity and suburban living.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress2.0Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-5.53 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency71%
Reading/ELA Proficiency75%
Math vs. State Avg+29 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11 pts
Overall Proficiency73%
Expected (poverty-adj.)62%
vs. Expected+10.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
College Readiness6.1Above Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation12.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment5.4Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,419

North Hills HS — Students at North Hills HS score 73% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

30.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 60.1%
School
State
42.0%
ELA Proficiency 77.6%
School
State
64.0%

Based on 6 test records from PA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
79%
ELA
82%
2021*
Math
71%
ELA
75%
2024
Math
30.4%
ELA
75.8%

* 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: 2.0/10.

How North Hills HS Compares

See how North Hills HS performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.6/10
32th percentile in PA
Academic
8.9/10
8.9/10
Growth
2.0/10
Below average
Environment
5.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
31%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
104 teachers

Location

53 Rochester Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15229

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering North Hills HS may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Northgate MSHS (rated 5.3/10, 2.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Pittsburgh Perry HS (rated 4.2/10, 2.6 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Pittsburgh, see our Pittsburgh schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.1 mi
School Distance Rating
North Hills MS Pittsburgh 0.1 mi 7.3
West View El Sch Pittsburgh 0.5 mi 3.7
THE GLEN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Pittsburgh 0.8 mi 6.5
HOLY CROSS ACADEMY Pittsburgh 0.8 mi 5.9
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER 1280 Pittsburgh 1.3 mi
EDEN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Pittsburgh 1.2 mi 4.9
Ross El Sch Pittsburgh 1.3 mi 4.7
Highcliff El Sch Pittsburgh 1.6 mi 6.0
McIntyre El Sch Pittsburgh 2.0 mi 5.8
HOLY FAMILY SPECIALIZED LEARNING Pittsburgh 2.2 mi 7.0
Northgate MSHS Pittsburgh 2.1 mi 5.3
Pittsburgh Perry HS Pittsburgh 2.6 mi 4.2
Carson MS Pittsburgh 2.8 mi 7.1
ABUNDANT LIFE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY Bellevue 2.6 mi
NORTHSIDE CATHOLIC ASSUMPTION ACADEMY Pittsburgh 2.8 mi 7.8
NORTHSIDE CATHOLIC ASSUMPTION ACADEMY Pittsburgh 2.8 mi 6.6
Peebles El Sch Pittsburgh 2.8 mi 4.6
Bellevue El Sch Pittsburgh 2.7 mi 7.5
Scott Primary Sch Glenshaw 2.4 mi 4.3
McKnight El Sch Pittsburgh 3.1 mi 4.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 15229 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$81,600

Median Home Value

$232,200

Median Rent

$1,120/mo

Population

15,251

College Educated

44.2%

Homeownership

72.6%

Avg Commute

22.2 min

Poverty Rate

7.6%

Median Age

39.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding North Hills HS has a median household income of $81,600. It is a well-educated community where 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $232,200, with a median rent of $1,120/month. The local poverty rate of 7.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Central Dauphin SHS Harrisburg, PA 5.6
Cocalico SHS Denver, PA 5.6
Quakertown Community HS Quakertown, PA 5.6
Albert Gallatin Area SHS Uniontown, PA 5.5
Central Mountain HS Mill Hall, PA 5.5
Chester HS Chester, PA 5.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about North Hills HS

What grades does North Hills HS serve?

North Hills HS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend North Hills HS?

North Hills HS has an enrollment of approximately 1,433 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at North Hills HS?

The student-teacher ratio at North Hills HS is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does North Hills HS rank in PA?

North Hills HS is ranked #1948 out of 2,842 schools in PA.

What is North Hills HS's MySchoolScout rating?

North Hills HS has a composite rating of 5.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at North Hills HS?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, North Hills HS has 60.1% math proficiency and 77.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is North Hills HS a charter school?

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

Is North Hills HS a Title I school?

No, North Hills HS is not currently a Title I school.

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

30.5% of students at North Hills 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
51 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
14 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,730/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Pittsburgh). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,433
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
104
Free/Reduced Lunch
30.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Allegheny County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

North Hills SD
District Enrollment
4,648
Schools in District
6
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,446
District Rank
#4 of 6

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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