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Excellent

#5 of 873 private schools in PA

Top 1% of private schools

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

School

300 E SWISSVALE AVE, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Private

Enrollment

196

Student-Teacher

2.8:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Pennsylvania private schools

#5 of 873

In Pittsburgh

#2 of 46

public schools

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Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

9.1/10

School in Pittsburgh · grades Pre-K – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Edgewood EL Steam Academy

4.9/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy

6.3/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is a private school in Pittsburgh, PA. Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf serves approximately 196 students, and covers grades Pre-K-12th, and has a 2.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #5 of 873 private schools in PA.

What's said publicly about Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) is an educational institution located in Edgewood, Pennsylvania, serving deaf and hard of hearing children 1 . Established in 1869, the school has a long history in the region 1 . Its administrative building, constructed in 1903, was designed by the architectural firm Alden & Harlow 1 . The school is recognized as a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares2.8 pts above PA schools
  • This school 9.1 · Excellent
  • PA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 196 students, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 2.8:1 students to teachers, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf compares to 148 public schools serving similar grades in Pittsburgh, PA

Student-Teacher Ratio
2.8:1
This School
vs
12.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
196
This School
vs
472
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
9.1
This School
vs
6.3
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 65.8% vs 0%
Black 15.3% vs 0%
Hispanic 8.2% vs 0%
Asian 5.6% vs 0%
Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Pittsburgh Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (this school) 9.1
Edgewood El STEAM Academy 4.9
Environmental CS at Frick Park 6.0
Woodland Hills HS 3.7
Pittsburgh Faison K-5 6.2
Pittsburgh Sterrett 6-8 4.0
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 8.8
Pittsburgh Linden K-5 3.4
Pittsburgh Allderdice HS 7.9
Propel CS-Braddock Hills 3.5
Pittsburgh Westinghouse 3.9
Pittsburgh Lincoln K-5 6.4
Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh CS 3.0
Pittsburgh Minadeo K-5 4.9
Propel CS-Homestead 3.8
Catalyst Academy CS 2.9
Wilkins El STEAM Academy 4.7
Pittsburgh Dilworth K-5 7.1
Pittsburgh Liberty K-5 4.0
Pittsburgh Obama 6-12 6.0
Pittsburgh Greenfield K-8 8.7

Showing 20 of 148 schools. View all schools in Pittsburgh

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in PA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A+ 9.7 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 2.8:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 8.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,260
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 8.9 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 53%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 196
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in PA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 65.8%
Black 15.3%
Hispanic 8.2%
Asian 5.6%
Two or More 4.6%
Pacific Islander 0.5%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

300 E SWISSVALE AVE, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf may also want to explore other schools in the area. PACE SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 1.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is IMANI CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 7.3/10, 1.4 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, PLEA SCHOOL (rated 6.8/10, 0.5 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Pittsburgh, see our Pittsburgh schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Edgewood El STEAM Academy Pittsburgh 0.1 mi 4.9
SISTER THEA BOWMAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY Wilkinsburg 0.4 mi 6.3
PITTSBURGH URBAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Pittsburgh 0.5 mi 7.6
PLEA SCHOOL Pittsburgh 0.5 mi 6.8
UNIVERSAL ACADEMY OF PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh 0.6 mi 9.2
Kelly Primary Sch Wilkinsburg 0.6 mi 4.3
Environmental CS at Frick Park Pittsburgh 0.8 mi 6.0
Dickson Prep STEAM Academy Swissvale 1.0 mi 6.1
SHADY SIDE ACADEMY JUNIOR SCHOOL Pittsburgh 1.1 mi 5.4
IMANI CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Pittsburgh 1.4 mi 7.3
Pittsburgh Faison K-5 Pittsburgh 1.4 mi 6.2
Turner Intermediate Sch Wilkinsburg 1.4 mi 4.5
PACE SCHOOL Pittsburgh 1.4 mi 8.3
Woodland Hills HS Pittsburgh 1.4 mi 3.7
PITTSBURGH NEW CHURCH SCHOOL Pittsburgh 1.5 mi
Pittsburgh Sterrett 6-8 Pittsburgh 1.5 mi 4.0
ST BEDE SCHOOL Pittsburgh 1.7 mi 6.3
Pittsburgh Westinghouse Pittsburgh 2.1 mi 3.9
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 Pittsburgh 1.8 mi 8.8
Propel CS-Braddock Hills Pittsburgh 2.0 mi 3.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 15218 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$67,723

Median Home Value

$203,200

Median Rent

$1,114/mo

Population

13,443

College Educated

52.1%

Homeownership

55.7%

Avg Commute

26.7 min

Poverty Rate

10%

Median Age

40

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
THE PATHWAY SCHOOL Norristown, PA 9.1
BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Bethlehem, PA 8.7
BRADLEY SCHOOL Pittsburgh, PA 8.6
CALVARY BAPTIST SCHOOL Lansdale, PA 8.6
THE GRAYSON SCHOOL Radnor, PA 8.6
CIDDS LEARNING CENTER West Chester, PA 8.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

What grades does Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf serve?

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf?

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has an enrollment of approximately 196 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf?

The student-teacher ratio at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is 2.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf rank in PA?

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf ranks #5 of 873 private schools in PA.

What is Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf's MySchoolScout rating?

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf a private school?

Yes, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is a private coeducational school with a Other Religious affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf a religious school?

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has a Other Religious religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
65 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
62 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
196
Gender Split
54% M / 46% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
2.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
70
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Other Religious
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Allegheny County

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