Needs Improvement
#2842 of 2,846 schools in PA
Southern MS
Middle School · Reading Sd · Reading, PA
A Reading Sd middle school where students score 24 points below what's typical for similar communities.
931 Chestnut St, Reading, PA 19602
- Math 3% proficient (2022)
- Reading 17% proficient (2022)
- 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southern MS score 10% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 49 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 10% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 23% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 26% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
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 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 89Very Walkable
- Bike 56Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,784/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Reading), 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
$38,179
Median home value
$73,000
Median rent
$978/mo
College educated
10.9%
Homeownership
26.8%
Poverty rate
33.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 19602; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central MSEnrollment path unverified | 3.8 | 5–8 | 0.5 mi | 1,708 | Compare → |
| Fairview Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.7private | K–12 | 0.5 mi | 152 | Compare → |
| Southwest MSEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | 5–8 | 0.7 mi | 652 | Compare → |
| West Reading EL CtrEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | 5–6 | 1.4 mi | 293 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Reading Sd
- Schools in district
- 19
- Rank in district
- #19 of 19
- District spending per student
- $14,659NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 36.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southern MS is listed in Reading SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern MS
Southern MS is a public middle school in Reading, PA, part of Reading Sd, serving approximately 698 students in grades 5th-8th with a 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.0 out of 10 and ranks #2,842 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern MS
What grades does Southern MS serve?
Southern MS serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Southern MS?
Southern MS has an enrollment of approximately 698 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern MS?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern MS is 13.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern MS rank in PA?
Southern MS ranks #2,842 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Southern MS's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.0 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 MS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern MS has 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Southern MS a charter school?
No, Southern MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southern MS a Title I school?
No, Southern MS is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern MS?
100.0% of students at Southern 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
- 698
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 53
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Berks County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 40.5%
- Phone
- (610) 371-5803
- Area population (ZIP 19602)
- 18,001
- Area average commute
- 25.7 min
- Area median age
- 33.4
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 · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- 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 19602; 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, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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