Very Good
#839 of 2,846 schools in PA
Top 29% in state
Southern Columbia MS
Middle School · Southern Columbia Area Sd · Catawissa, PA
A Southern Columbia Area Sd middle school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
810 Southern Drive, Catawissa, PA 17820
- Math 52% vs PA 37% (2024)
- Reading 74% vs PA 53% (2024)
- 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southern Columbia MS score 63% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 17 points since 2020, reaching 63% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 71% (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
36.6%
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 Southern Columbia 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 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 18Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated919/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Catawissa), 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
$68,304
Median home value
$210,500
Median rent
$774/mo
College educated
26.8%
Homeownership
77.5%
Poverty rate
8.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 17820; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from verified nearby records
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Southern Columbia Area Sd
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #2 of 3
- District spending per student
- $16,798NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southern Columbia MS is listed in Southern Columbia Area SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern Columbia MS
Southern Columbia MS is a public middle school in Catawissa, PA, part of Southern Columbia Area Sd, serving approximately 382 students in grades 5th-8th with a 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #839 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern Columbia MS
What grades does Southern Columbia MS serve?
Southern Columbia MS serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Southern Columbia MS?
Southern Columbia MS has an enrollment of approximately 382 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Columbia MS?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Columbia MS is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern Columbia MS rank in PA?
Southern Columbia MS ranks #839 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Southern Columbia MS's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern Columbia MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 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 Southern Columbia MS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern Columbia MS has 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Southern Columbia MS a charter school?
No, Southern Columbia MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southern Columbia MS a Title I school?
No, Southern Columbia MS is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern Columbia MS?
36.6% of students at Southern Columbia 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
- 382
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Columbia County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.9%
- Phone
- (570) 356-3400
- Area population (ZIP 17820)
- 5,528
- Area average commute
- 24.7 min
- Area median age
- 45.5
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 17820; 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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