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Excellent

#5 of 872 private schools in PA

Top 1% of private schools

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

School

300 E SWISSVALE AVE, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 143 schools in Pittsburgh. Learn more

Enrollment

196

Student-Teacher

2.8:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Pittsburgh

#2 of 46

public schools

Pennsylvania schools

#2 of 305

About Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is a unique institution located in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, this school offers an inclusive educational environment with an enrollment of 196 students and a student-teacher ratio of 2.8:1. The teachers at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf are dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to support their students' learning needs.

While specific test score data is not available, the school’s MySchoolScout rating reflects areas where there may be room for academic growth and development. Despite this, the school continues to focus on providing a comprehensive education tailored to the unique needs of its deaf and hard-of-hearing student population. The setting around Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is in a large suburban area, offering both quiet surroundings conducive to learning and easy access to city resources.

The community supports the school’s mission to empower students with hearing impairments through personalized teaching methods and an inclusive atmosphere.

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

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 196 students, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 2.8:1, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$153,550
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$165,271
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.08x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
83%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$146.0M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 196 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

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
6.2
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 4.0
Environmental CS at Frick Park 8.3
Woodland Hills HS 6.1
Pittsburgh Faison K-5 6.8
Pittsburgh Sterrett 6-8 7.5
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 8.2
Pittsburgh Linden K-5 4.7
Pittsburgh Allderdice HS 6.8
Propel CS-Braddock Hills 4.5
Pittsburgh Westinghouse 5.5
Pittsburgh Lincoln K-5 7.9
Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh CS 5.2
Pittsburgh Minadeo K-5 3.8
Propel CS-Homestead 6.0
Catalyst Academy CS 5.2
Wilkins El STEAM Academy 7.4
Pittsburgh Dilworth K-5 6.5
Pittsburgh Liberty K-5 5.6
Pittsburgh Obama 6-12 6.7
Pittsburgh Greenfield K-8 9.1

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

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. Environmental CS at Frick Park (rated 8.3/10, 0.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is PACE SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 1.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, IMANI CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 7.3/10, 1.4 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 4.0
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 8.2
Environmental CS at Frick Park Pittsburgh 0.8 mi 8.3
Dickson Prep STEAM Academy Swissvale 1.0 mi 6.9
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 6.8
Turner Intermediate Sch Wilkinsburg 1.4 mi 4.5
PACE SCHOOL Pittsburgh 1.4 mi 8.3
Woodland Hills HS Pittsburgh 1.4 mi 6.1
PITTSBURGH NEW CHURCH SCHOOL Pittsburgh 1.5 mi
Pittsburgh Sterrett 6-8 Pittsburgh 1.5 mi 7.5
ST BEDE SCHOOL Pittsburgh 1.7 mi 6.3
Pittsburgh Westinghouse Pittsburgh 2.1 mi 5.5
Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 Pittsburgh 1.8 mi 8.2
Propel CS-Braddock Hills Pittsburgh 2.0 mi 4.5

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has a median household income of $67,723. It is a well-educated community where 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $203,200, with a median rent of $1,114/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.0%. The average commute for residents is 27 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
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 is ranked #5 out of 872 private schools in PA.

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

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has a composite rating of 9.1 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.

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
City Safety
High (2,730/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Pittsburgh). Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2022–2023

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 methodology

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