Southern Columbia Area School District

The Southern Columbia Area School District is a high-performing school district in Pennsylvania, with three schools serving students from elementary through high school. The district's schools consistently rank among the top in the state, with standout performances from Hartman Elementary Center and Southern Columbia High School.

Hartman Elementary Center stands out for its consistently high performance on PSSA tests, with 65.3% to 88% of students proficient or better across various subjects and grade levels. The school is ranked in the top 25-26% of Pennsylvania elementary schools and has a relatively low percentage of free and reduced lunch recipients, indicating a relatively affluent student population. Southern Columbia High School is also a standout, ranking in the top 15-18% of Pennsylvania high schools and boasting an impressive 93.4% four-year graduation rate, significantly higher than the state average.

Across the district, the schools demonstrate strong academic performance, with students consistently outperforming state averages on standardized tests. However, the district's student population is predominantly white, ranging from 93.77% to 93.92% across the three schools, which may indicate a lack of diversity and potentially limit the exposure of students to different cultural perspectives. The district's per-student spending is consistent at $15,695 for the 2021-2022 school year, suggesting a well-managed and resourced school system.