Excellent
#115 of 2,842 schools in PA
Top 4% in state
Portage Area EL Sch
Elementary School · Portage Area SD
84 Mountain Ave, Portage, PA 15946
Enrollment
413
Student-Teacher
11.5:1
Score
8.8
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
413
Student-Teacher
11.5:1
Score
8.8
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Portage
#1 of 2
public schools
Pennsylvania elementary schools
#97 of 1,625
In district
#1 of 2
Portage Area SD
Equity
9.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Portage Area EL Sch
Portage Area EL Sch is a public elementary school in Portage, PA, part of the Portage Area SD. The school serves approximately 413 students in grades Pre-K – 6th with a student-teacher ratio of 11.5:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.8/10, placing it in the 96th percentile among PA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 62% proficiency in math, 17 points above the state average and 71% in reading/language arts, 18 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.4/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $56,602, where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a fringe rural setting.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Portage Area EL Sch may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Portage Area EL Sch — Students at Portage Area EL Sch score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)
Based on 14 test records from PA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.4/10.
How Portage Area EL Sch Compares
See how Portage Area EL Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 57% (2019) to 65.7% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 71% (2019) to 71.2% (2024).
Location
84 Mountain Ave, Portage, PA 15946
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Portage Area EL Sch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Jackson El Sch (rated 8.8/10, 10.3 miles away, in nearby Johnstown), with a very similar rating. Another option is Forest Hills El Sch (rated 7.8/10, 6.1 miles away, in nearby Sidman), a more accessible option. Additionally, Cambria El Sch (rated 7.3/10, 8.4 miles away, in nearby Ebensburg), a more accessible option. For more schools in Portage, see our Portage schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 11.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Portage Area JSHS Portage | 0.2 mi | 7.2 |
| Penn Cambria Intrmd Sch Lilly | 3.2 mi | 5.4 |
| Penn Cambria Primary Sch Lilly | 3.6 mi | 6.2 |
| Forest Hills JSHS Sidman | 6.0 mi | 5.8 |
| Forest Hills El Sch Sidman | 6.1 mi | 7.8 |
| ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Cresson | 6.8 mi | 6.2 |
| Penn Cambria HS Cresson | 7.0 mi | 7.9 |
| Penn Cambria Pre-Primary Cresson | 7.1 mi | 5.1 |
| HOLY NAME ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ebensburg | 7.9 mi | 5.7 |
| ST MICHAEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Loretto | 8.4 mi | 6.6 |
| BISHOP CARROLL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Ebensburg | 8.0 mi | 6.9 |
| Admiral Peary Area Vocational-Technical School Ebensburg | 8.3 mi | — |
| Cambria El Sch Ebensburg | 8.4 mi | 7.3 |
| Central Cambria HS Ebensburg | 8.5 mi | 7.3 |
| Central Cambria MS Ebensburg | 8.5 mi | 8.7 |
| Penn Cambria MS Gallitzin | 8.7 mi | 5.0 |
| EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Claysburg | 9.5 mi | — |
| CAMBRIA COUNTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Johnstown | 10.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Jackson El Sch Johnstown | 10.3 mi | 8.8 |
| Blacklick Valley JSHS Nanty Glo | 11.2 mi | 6.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 15946 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$56,602
Median Home Value
$116,100
Median Rent
$635/mo
Population
6,630
College Educated
21.4%
Homeownership
83%
Avg Commute
25.7 min
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Median Age
49.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Portage Area EL Sch has a median household income of $56,602. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $116,100, with a median rent of $635/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.7%. The average commute for residents is 26 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 |
|---|---|
| Cornell El Sch Coraopolis, PA | 8.8 |
| Crooked Billet El Sch Hatboro, PA | 8.8 |
| Devon El Sch Devon, PA | 8.8 |
| East Goshen El Sch West Chester, PA | 8.8 |
| Eisenhower El Sch Camp Hill, PA | 8.8 |
| Fort Cherry El Ctr Mc Donald, PA | 8.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Portage Area EL Sch
What grades does Portage Area EL Sch serve?
Portage Area EL Sch serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Portage Area EL Sch?
Portage Area EL Sch has an enrollment of approximately 413 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Portage Area EL Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Portage Area EL Sch is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Portage Area EL Sch rank in PA?
Portage Area EL Sch is ranked #115 out of 2,842 schools in PA.
What is Portage Area EL Sch's MySchoolScout rating?
Portage Area EL Sch has a composite rating of 8.8 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 Portage Area EL Sch?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Portage Area EL Sch has 61.7% math proficiency and 71.1% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Portage Area EL Sch a charter school?
No, Portage Area EL Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Portage Area EL Sch a Title I school?
No, Portage Area EL Sch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Portage Area EL Sch?
100.0% of students at Portage Area EL Sch qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Portage). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 413
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Cambria County
- Phone
- (814) 736-9636
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Portage Area SD- District Enrollment
- 774
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,281
- District Rank
- #1 of 2
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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