Shade-Central City School District

The Shade-Central City School District in Pennsylvania operates two schools: Cairnbrook Elementary School and Shade Junior/Senior High School. Based on the available data, Shade Junior/Senior High School appears to be the stronger performing school in the district, outpacing Cairnbrook Elementary on several key academic measures.

Shade Junior/Senior High School has higher proficiency rates on the PSSA and Keystone Exams compared to state averages, as well as a strong 87.5% four-year graduation rate and a low 1.6% dropout rate. In contrast, Cairnbrook Elementary School lags behind state averages on PSSA proficiency in math, reading, and science. Both schools serve a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with over 59% of Shade Junior/Senior High School students and 100% of Cairnbrook Elementary students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Despite the district's relatively high per-student spending of over $22,000, which is above the state average, the academic performance at the elementary school level remains a concern. The student-teacher ratios at both schools are low, around 9.5 students per teacher, but this does not appear to be driving significantly better outcomes. Overall, the data suggests that Shade Junior/Senior High School is providing a stronger educational experience for its students, but the district as a whole faces challenges in meeting state academic standards, likely due to the high percentage of economically disadvantaged students in the community.