Very Good
#622 of 2,846 schools in PA
Top 22% in state
Park Forest MS
Middle School · State College Area Sd · State College, PA
A State College Area Sd middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.
2180 School Dr, State College, PA 16803
- Math 60% vs PA 36% (2024)
- Reading 80% vs PA 53% (2024)
- 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Park Forest MS score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 15 points since 2020, reaching 70% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 80% (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 36 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
15.3%
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 Park Forest MS 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 20Car-Dependent
- Bike 22Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated920/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (State College), 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
$71,993
Median home value
$395,800
Median rent
$1,363/mo
College educated
73.9%
Homeownership
44.1%
Poverty rate
25.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 16803; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre Learning Community CsCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.4 | 5–8 | 3.4 mi | 67 | Compare → |
| Merakey Education and Autism CenterPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 2–12 | 3.5 mi | 23 | Compare → |
| Mount Nittany MSEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | 6–8 | Not available | 712 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
State College Area Sd
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #9 of 11
- District spending per student
- $21,929NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Park Forest MS is listed in State College Area SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Park Forest MS
Park Forest MS is a public middle school in State College, PA, part of State College Area Sd, serving approximately 808 students in grades 6th-8th with a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #622 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Park Forest MS
What grades does Park Forest MS serve?
Park Forest MS serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Park Forest MS?
Park Forest MS has an enrollment of approximately 808 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Park Forest MS?
The student-teacher ratio at Park Forest MS is 13.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Park Forest MS rank in PA?
Park Forest MS ranks #622 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Park Forest MS's MySchoolScout rating?
Park Forest MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Park Forest MS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Park Forest MS has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Park Forest MS a charter school?
No, Park Forest MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Park Forest MS a Title I school?
No, Park Forest MS is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Park Forest MS?
15.3% of students at Park Forest 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 808
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 60
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Centre County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.7%
- Phone
- (814) 272-8217
- Area population (ZIP 16803)
- 23,660
- Area average commute
- 16.7 min
- Area median age
- 31.1
Official sources & links
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 16803; 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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