South Mountain Middle School

Summary:

South Mountain Middle School is a public middle school located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 1,007 students. The school is part of the Allentown City School District, which is ranked 544 out of 610 school districts in Pennsylvania and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South Mountain Middle School consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Pennsylvania middle schools, with a statewide ranking between 611-790 over the past 10 years. The school's performance on PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) tests is significantly below the state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas, with only 8.8% of students proficient or better in PSSA Math, compared to 40.4% statewide and 13.5% in the Allentown City School District. The school has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and a diverse student population, with a majority of students being African American (38%) and Hispanic (47%). Additionally, South Mountain Middle School has relatively high dropout rates, ranging from 0.0% to 4.1% over the past few years, which is higher than the state and district averages.

When comparing South Mountain Middle School to other middle schools in the Allentown City School District, such as Trexler Middle School, Francis D Raub Middle School, and Harrison-Morton Middle School, the academic performance is consistently lower across all subject areas and grade levels. However, the school's African American and multi-racial student subgroups perform relatively better, ranking in the middle or upper-middle range among Pennsylvania middle schools, suggesting that the school may be able to leverage the strengths of these subgroups to improve overall academic outcomes.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 709 W Emaus Ave
       Allentown, PA  18103-6778


(484) 765-4301

District: Allentown City School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
744th of 891 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,628 Help


Students who attend South Mountain Middle School usually attend:

High:    William Allen High School

Feeder schools for South Mountain Middle School:

Elementary:    Hiram W Dodd Elementary School
    Jefferson Elementary School
    Lehigh Parkway Elementary School
    Roosevelt Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.0 Help
Number of students:  1,007

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
75.8%
African American:
12.3%
White:
7.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details South Mountain Middle School ranks worse than 83.5% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks first among 4 ranked middle schools in the Allentown City School District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 14.27. (See more...)
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details South Mountain Middle School has the largest middle school student body size in the Allentown City School District. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (75.8%), African American (12.3%), White (7%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Allentown City School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Mountain Middle School is 14. 2 middle schools in the Allentown City School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare South Mountain Middle School employs 71.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Mountain Middle School is $16,628. 2 middle schools in the Allentown City School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South Mountain Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks South Mountain Middle School 744th of 891 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See South Mountain Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Allentown City School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Allentown City School District 544th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for South Mountain Middle School

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Rank History for all students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 13.38 564th 643 12.3%
2004 7.78 605th 663 8.7%
2005 9.04 624th 687 9.2%
2006 16.21 642nd 736 12.8%
2007 18.90 642nd 749 14.3%
2008 20.14 642nd 753 14.7%
2009 17.98 663rd 770 13.9%
2010 15.87 710th 805 11.8%
2011 19.87 704th 825 14.7%
2012 15.57 724th 834 13.2%
2013 18.27 630th 758 16.9%
2014 17.63 611th 728 16.1%
2015 20.50 644th 835 22.9%
2016 22.81 663rd 870 23.8%
2017 19.85 682nd 877 22.2%
2018 19.65 672nd 861 22.0%
2019 19.02 692nd 891 22.3%
2022 11.19 766th 883 13.3%
2023 10.44 790th 893 11.5%
2024 14.27 744th 891 16.5%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 41.68 102nd 199 48.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 34.76 90th 143 37.1%
2024 27.92 121st 150 19.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 12.27 792nd 874 9.4%
2024 20.65 712th 877 18.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 15.18 714th 860 17.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 17.75 615th 660 6.8%
2024 24.55 540th 672 19.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 13.85 734th 870 15.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 36.28 255th 421 39.4%
2024 36.75 238th 408 41.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 18.16 319th 362 11.9%
2024 24.48 287th 362 20.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at South Mountain Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 11.05 641st 681 5.9%
2024 17.81 589th 673 12.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Dept of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

South Mountain Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for South Mountain Middle School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 570 50 15 126 2 n/a n/a -1 762
1989 561 47 13 164 0 n/a n/a 0 785
1990 557 51 15 165 0 n/a n/a 0 788
1991 527 59 9 150 0 n/a n/a 0 745
1992 499 62 16 174 0 n/a n/a 0 751
1993 488 61 22 172 0 n/a n/a 0 743
1994 461 73 18 206 0 n/a n/a 0 758
1995 434 74 24 213 0 n/a n/a 0 745
1996 434 74 24 213 0 n/a n/a 0 745
1997 459 78 33 231 1 n/a n/a 0 802
1998 452 92 38 325 2 n/a n/a 0 909
1999 517 133 29 386 1 n/a n/a 0 1066
2000 483 173 27 390 1 n/a n/a 0 1074
2001 488 166 32 479 0 n/a n/a 0 1165
2002 466 164 43 685 1 n/a n/a 0 1359
2003 466 164 43 685 1 n/a n/a 0 1359
2004 418 197 45 633 1 n/a n/a 0 1294
2005 396 200 36 704 2 n/a n/a 0 1338
2006 321 191 34 737 4 n/a n/a 0 1287
2007 261 197 32 792 4 n/a n/a 0 1286
2008 250 181 24 743 1 n/a n/a 0 1199
2009 202 212 17 687 1 n/a n/a 0 1119
2010 200 193 19 692 1 n/a n/a 0 1105
2011 190 192 21 669 2 1 0 0 1075
2012 179 201 26 716 2 0 5 0 1129
2013 149 166 25 749 2 0 8 0 1099
2014 126 179 20 736 2 0 10 0 1073
2015 114 146 14 728 2 0 13 0 1017
2016 98 141 13 660 1 1 18 0 932
2017 111 138 14 705 3 1 31 0 1003
2018 98 131 12 679 3 3 46 0 972
2019 91 153 9 812 3 3 65 0 1136
2020 99 175 11 834 0 2 64 0 1185
2021 92 180 10 873 0 2 57 0 1214
2022 84 145 14 847 0 1 45 0 1136
2023 70 124 13 763 1 1 35 0 1007

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South Mountain Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 762 57.7 13.2 n/a
1989 785 58.1 13.5 n/a
1990 788 58.2 13.5 0
1991 745 57.6 12.9 n/a
1992 751 50.2 14.9 n/a
1993 743 39.0 19.1 n/a
1994 758 40.0 18.9 n/a
1995 745 38.0 19.6 n/a
1996 745 38.0 19.6 n/a
1997 802 40.0 20.1 n/a
1998 909 47.0 19.3 n/a
1999 1066 54.0 19.7 n/a
2000 1074 59.0 18.2 52
2001 1165 63.5 18.3 69.9
2002 1359 68.3 19.9 64.5
2003 1359 68.3 19.9 64.5
2004 1294 70.2 18.4 55.3
2005 1338 73.3 18.3 65.5
2006 1287 72.7 17.7 64.3
2007 1286 73.6 17.5 74.6
2008 1199 69.6 17.2 78.6
2009 1119 88.2 12.7 79.8
2010 1105 94.2 11.7 76.4
2011 1075 88.5 12.1 87.9
2012 1129 24.0 47.0 77.8
2013 1099 78.5 14.0 87.6
2014 1073 74.0 14.5 91.1
2015 1017 67.0 15.1 76.4
2016 932 74.0 12.5 74.2
2017 1003 78.0 12.8 99.5
2018 972 72.5 13.4 100
2019 1136 73.5 15.4 99.7
2020 1185 72.5 16.3 100
2021 1214 75.5 16.0 99.8
2022 1136 71.0 16.0 99.7
2023 1007 71.5 14.0 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio South Mountain Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 762 57.7 13.2 n/a
1989 785 58.1 13.5 n/a
1990 788 58.2 13.5 0
1991 745 57.6 12.9 n/a
1992 751 50.2 14.9 n/a
1993 743 39.0 19.1 n/a
1994 758 40.0 18.9 n/a
1995 745 38.0 19.6 n/a
1996 745 38.0 19.6 n/a
1997 802 40.0 20.1 n/a
1998 909 47.0 19.3 n/a
1999 1066 54.0 19.7 n/a
2000 1074 59.0 18.2 52
2001 1165 63.5 18.3 69.9
2002 1359 68.3 19.9 64.5
2003 1359 68.3 19.9 64.5
2004 1294 70.2 18.4 55.3
2005 1338 73.3 18.3 65.5
2006 1287 72.7 17.7 64.3
2007 1286 73.6 17.5 74.6
2008 1199 69.6 17.2 78.6
2009 1119 88.2 12.7 79.8
2010 1105 94.2 11.7 76.4
2011 1075 88.5 12.1 87.9
2012 1129 24.0 47.0 77.8
2013 1099 78.5 14.0 87.6
2014 1073 74.0 14.5 91.1
2015 1017 67.0 15.1 76.4
2016 932 74.0 12.5 74.2
2017 1003 78.0 12.8 99.5
2018 972 72.5 13.4 100
2019 1136 73.5 15.4 99.7
2020 1185 72.5 16.3 100
2021 1214 75.5 16.0 99.8
2022 1136 71.0 16.0 99.7
2023 1007 71.5 14.0 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for South Mountain Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,219 (7.2%) $15,658 (92.8%) $16,877
2020 $1,090 (7.0%) $14,385 (93.0%) $15,474
2021 $1,460 (10.2%) $12,900 (89.8%) $14,360
2022 $2,774 (16.7%) $13,855 (83.3%) $16,628

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Mountain Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 692nd of 891 Middle schoolsRanks 790th of 893 Middle schools
 10.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Math (South Mountain Middle School)2016.1
 3.9%
   6th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)3936.4
 2.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (South Mountain Middle School)37.923.6
 14.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)6355.6
 7.4%
7th Grade Math (South Mountain Middle School)13.46.2
 7.2%
   7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)38.233.2
 5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (South Mountain Middle School)3423
 11%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.554.5
 6%
8th Grade Math (South Mountain Middle School)10.13.7
 6.4%
   8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)32.226
 6.2%
8th Grade Science (South Mountain Middle School)32.815.7
 17.1%
   8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)58.257
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (South Mountain Middle School)41.417.9
 23.5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)57.952.8
 5.1%
All Grades Math (South Mountain Middle School)14.88.2
 6.6%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (South Mountain Middle School)32.815.7
 17.1%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (South Mountain Middle School)37.921.2
 16.7%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.953.8
 7.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students11361007
 11.4%
African American153124
 19%
American Indian31
 66.7%
Asian913
 44.4%
Hispanic812763
 6%
Pacific Islander31
 66.7%
White9170
 23.1%
Two or More Races6535
 46.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.7%100%
 0.3%


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Frequently Asked Questions about South Mountain Middle School

Students at South Mountain Middle School are 76% Hispanic, 12% African American, 7% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,007 students attended South Mountain Middle School.

South Mountain Middle School ranks in the bottom 16.5% of Pennsylvania middle schools.

Students who attend South Mountain Middle School usually go on to attend William Allen High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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