Altoona Area Junior High School

Q: Is Altoona Area Junior High School a good school?

Altoona Area Junior High School ranks 458 th of 893 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Altoona Area Junior High School is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, with a student population of 1,727. The school is part of the Altoona Area School District, which is ranked 353 out of 606 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Altoona Area Junior High School's performance, as measured by PSSA test scores, is generally below the state and district averages, with proficiency rates in Math (31%), Science (52.7%), and English Language Arts (47.9%) all lower than the state averages. However, the school performs relatively well for certain student subgroups, ranking 113 out of 421 Pennsylvania middle schools for African American students, 148 out of 362 for Hispanic students, and 105 out of 187 for multi-racial students. The school's high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 70.64% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, suggests a need for additional support and resources.

When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Spring Cove Middle School, Altoona Area Junior High School generally performs worse academically. However, the school's consistent funding levels and its relatively strong performance for certain student subgroups provide a foundation for potential improvements. A comprehensive review of the school's practices and targeted interventions could help address the challenges and improve outcomes for all students.

Detail:

Public 6-8

1400 7th Ave
Altoona, PA 16602

(814) 381-7512

District: Altoona Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
458^th of 893 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,607

Student/teacher ratio: 13.1

Number of students: 1,727

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.2%

African American:

10.9%

Hispanic:

2.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 70.6%

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Compare Altoona Area Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Altoona Area Junior High School ranks worse than 51.3% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.91. (See more...)

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (83.2%), African American (10.9%), Hispanic (2.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 70.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Altoona Area Junior High School is 13.1. (See more...)

Compare Altoona Area Junior High School employs 131.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Altoona Area Junior High School is $12,607.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Altoona Area Junior High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Altoona Area Junior High School 458^th of 893 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Altoona Area Junior High School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Disabled students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Altoona Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Altoona Area School District 353^rd of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Altoona Area Junior High School

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Rank History for all students at Altoona Area Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile
2010	60.52	375^th	805	53.4%
2011	63.04	367^th	825	55.5%
2012	65.28	341^st	834	59.1%
2013	58.84	390^th	758	48.5%
2014	54.26	398^th	728	45.3%
2015	53.75	420^th	835	49.7%
2016	53.89	445^th	870	48.9%
2017	54.47	427^th	877	51.3%
2018	53.23	446^th	861	48.2%
2019	58.35	415^th	891	53.4%
2021	47.65	437^th	797	45.2%
2022	50.32	462^nd	883	47.7%
2023	50.91	458^th	893	48.7%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Altoona Area Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	40.79	105^th	187	43.9%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Altoona Area Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	51.20	424^th	874	51.5%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Altoona Area Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	46.63	299^th	660	54.7%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for African American students at Altoona Area Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	62.64	113^th	421	73.2%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Altoona Area Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	53.62	148^th	362	59.1%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Altoona Area Junior High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	31.91	488^th	681	28.3%

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.

Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for Altoona Area Junior High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2009	1705	106	4	16	2	n/a	n/a	1833
2010	1668	120	2	15	1	n/a	n/a	1806
2011	1660	123	3	12	3	0	0	1801
2012	1689	125	3	18	2	0	0	1837
2013	1710	129	4	20	2	0	0	1865
2014	1713	133	8	19	0	0	0	1873
2015	1629	123	9	16	1	0	0	1778
2016	1608	138	8	26	1	0	0	1781
2017	1611	146	13	29	2	0	2	1803
2018	1538	147	16	37	2	0	5	1745
2019	1524	155	15	39	2	0	9	1744
2020	1480	159	15	33	3	1	6	1697
2021	1523	179	10	32	3	1	11	1759
2022	1464	192	10	44	2	0	18	1730
2023	1437	188	11	49	6	1	35	1727

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 Altoona Area Junior High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	1833	132.7	13.8	51.7
2010	1806	129.6	13.9	53.7
2011	1801	131.2	13.7	52.2
2012	1837	127.4	14.4	58.4
2013	1865	123.8	15.0	59.2
2014	1873	123.3	15.1	61.5
2015	1778	124.0	14.3	62.3
2016	1781	124.0	14.3	60.2
2017	1803	127.7	14.1	58
2018	1745	124.6	13.9	57.7
2019	1744	128.1	13.6	58.7
2020	1697	126.7	13.3	58.5
2021	1759	127.3	13.8	65.3
2022	1730	125.7	13.7	65.7
2023	1727	131.5	13.1	70.6

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 Altoona Area Junior High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	1833	132.7	13.8	51.7
2010	1806	129.6	13.9	53.7
2011	1801	131.2	13.7	52.2
2012	1837	127.4	14.4	58.4
2013	1865	123.8	15.0	59.2
2014	1873	123.3	15.1	61.5
2015	1778	124.0	14.3	62.3
2016	1781	124.0	14.3	60.2
2017	1803	127.7	14.1	58
2018	1745	124.6	13.9	57.7
2019	1744	128.1	13.6	58.7
2020	1697	126.7	13.3	58.5
2021	1759	127.3	13.8	65.3
2022	1730	125.7	13.7	65.7
2023	1727	131.5	13.1	70.6

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 Altoona Area Junior High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$438 (3.2%)	$13,140 (96.8%)	$13,578
2020	$420 (3.1%)	$13,119 (96.9%)	$13,540
2021	$797 (7.4%)	$9,960 (92.6%)	$10,757
2022	$1,721 (13.7%)	$10,886 (86.4%)	$12,606

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Altoona Area Junior High 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 415^th of 891 Middle schools	Ranks 458^th of 893 Middle schools	4.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade Math (Altoona Area Junior High School)	36	35	1%
7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	38.2	33.2	5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Altoona Area Junior High School)	59.6	49.3	10.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	60.5	54.5	6%
8th Grade Math (Altoona Area Junior High School)	32.9	18.5	14.4%
8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	32.2	26	6.2%
8th Grade Science (Altoona Area Junior High School)	55.3	52.7	2.6%
8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	58.2	57	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Altoona Area Junior High School)	58.9	43.6	15.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	57.9	52.8	5.1%
All Grades Math (Altoona Area Junior High School)	34.5	31	3.5%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Altoona Area Junior High School)	55.3	52.7	2.6%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Altoona Area Junior High School)	59.2	47.9	11.3%
All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	60.9	53.8	7.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1744	1727	1%
African American	155	188	21.3%
American Indian	2	6	200%
Asian	15	11	26.7%
Hispanic	39	49	25.6%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	1524	1437	5.7%
Two or More Races	9	35	288.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	58.7%	70.6%	11.9%

Schools Near Altoona Area Junior High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				PSSA Math (2023)					PSSA Science (2023)		PSSA English Language Arts (2023)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA Science 8th Grade	PSSA Science All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 7th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Altoona Area Junior High School	Public	6-8	1400 7th Ave	Altoona	16602	Blair County	Altoona Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 381-7512	1,727	132	13.1	70.6%	1,437 (83.2%)	188 (10.9%)	49 (2.8%)	11 (0.6%)	6 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	35 (2.0%)	50.9	458^th of 893 public middle schools	48.7%		50.3	462^nd of 883 public middle schools	47.7%	4		40.3	35.0	18.5	31.0	52.7	52.7		51.1	49.3	43.6	47.9	$12,607	$1,721	$10,886
Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School	Public	7-9	1000 Hewit St	Hollidaysburg	16648	Blair County	Hollidaysburg Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 695-4426	807	83	9.7	41.1%	757 (93.8%)	4 (0.5%)	10 (1.2%)	16 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (2.5%)	80	150^th of 893 public middle schools	83.2%		79.8	144^th of 883 public middle schools	83.7%	6			48.7	35.8	42.7	61.4	61.4			78.0	60.8	69.9	$13,696	$362	$13,334
Bellwood Antis Middle School	Public	5-8	400 Martin Street	Bellwood	16617	Blair County	Bellwood-Antis School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 742-2273	371	26	14.4	43.1%	360 (97.0%)	3 (0.8%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	77.3	172^nd of 893 public middle schools	80.7%		66.8	273^rd of 883 public middle schools	69.1%	101	49.4	44.0	44.9	35.2	43.2	62.5	62.5	63.3	64.5	70.4	69.3	66.9	$13,230	$1,074	$12,156
Penn Cambria Middle School	Public	5-8	401 Division St	Gallitzin	16641	Cambria County	Penn Cambria School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 886-4181	468	31	14.9	50.2%	453 (96.8%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.1%)	68.2	266^th of 893 public middle schools	70.2%		59.7	357^th of 883 public middle schools	59.6%	91	23.3	30.0	34.2	31.4	29.9	71.5	71.5	50.5	55.0	66.7	64.3	59.5	$14,499	$1,103	$13,397
Spring Cove Middle School	Public	6-8	185 Spring Cove Drive	Roaring Spring	16673	Blair County	Spring Cove School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 224-2106	376	25	14.9	51.6%	350 (93.1%)	3 (0.8%)	8 (2.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.5%)	40.8	544^th of 893 public middle schools	39.1%		43.6	526^th of 883 public middle schools	40.4%	18		23.2	21.1	20.3	21.5	56.8	56.8		46.4	38.7	45.7	43.6	$13,214	$682	$12,532
Tyrone Area Middle School	Public	5-8	1001 Clay Ave	Tyrone	16686	Blair County	Tyrone Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 684-4240	530	34	15.5	51.1%	513 (96.8%)	5 (0.9%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	4 (0.8%)	68	268^th of 893 public middle schools	70.0%		61.9	324^th of 883 public middle schools	63.3%	56	35.7	49.1	36.0	28.5	37.1	59.4	59.4	50.0	61.3	63.3	54.9	57.3	$18	$01	$17
Cambria Heights Middle School	Public	6-8	414 Glendale Lake Rd	Patton	16668	Cambria County	Cambria Heights School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 674-6290	306	26	11.6	49.0%	293 (95.8%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (2.0%)	77.6	169^th of 893 public middle schools	81.1%		72.1	220^th of 883 public middle schools	75.1%	51		39.4	35.4	32.3	35.7	75.5	75.5		74.4	74.5	66.0	71.5	$9,637	$313	$9,324
Claysburg-Kimmel Junior High School	Public	7-8	531 Bedford St	Claysburg	16625	Blair County	Claysburg-Kimmel School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(814) 239-5141	130	1	130.0	100.0%	125 (96.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.1%)	69.3	255^th of 893 public middle schools	71.4%					(n/a)			46.1	20.0	34.2	61.8	61.8			64.7	58.9	62.0
Central Cambria Middle School	Public	6-8	206 Schoolhouse Road	Ebensburg	15931	Cambria County	Central Cambria School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 472-6505	379	30	12.6	39.1%	364 (96.0%)	3 (0.8%)	5 (1.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	71.7	226^th of 893 public middle schools	74.7%		69.4	247^th of 883 public middle schools	72.0%	21		46.6	58.2	35.6	47.2	61.8	61.8		53.4	75.2	44.3	58.1	$10,532	$351	$10,182

Frequently Asked Questions about Altoona Area Junior High School

What is the racial makeup of Altoona Area Junior High School?

Students at Altoona Area Junior High School are 83% White, 11% African American, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Altoona Area Junior High School in?

Altoona Area School District

How many students attend Altoona Area Junior High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,727 students attended Altoona Area Junior High School.

Is Altoona Area Junior High School a good school?

Altoona Area Junior High School ranks 458^th of 893 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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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.