Benton Area Middle School

Q: Is Benton Area Middle School a good school?

Benton Area Middle School ranks 265 th of 891 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Benton Area Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 7-8 in the Benton Area School District in Benton, Pennsylvania, with 104 students and a student-teacher ratio of 11.4. The school is ranked 265 out of 891 Pennsylvania middle schools for the 2023-2024 school year and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Benton Area Middle School has shown strong academic performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and Science, with 66.7% of students proficient or better in PSSA/ELA and 63.4% proficient in PSSA/Science, both higher than the state averages. However, the school's math performance lags behind, with only 29.2% of students proficient or better in PSSA/Math. The school's performance also varies among different student subgroups, with male students ranking higher than female students and low socioeconomic status (SES) students performing better than disabled students. Benton Area Middle School has had relatively low dropout rates compared to the state average.

While Benton Area Middle School maintains a 4-star rating, its statewide ranking has declined in recent years, suggesting it may be struggling to keep pace with improvements in other middle schools across the state. The school also faces challenges in addressing its inconsistent math performance and the growing population of students from low-income families, as indicated by the significant increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. To improve its overall academic outcomes, Benton Area Middle School could benefit from collaborating with higher-performing nearby schools like Bloomsburg Area Middle School and Central Columbia Middle School.

Detail:

Public 7-8

400 Park St
Benton, PA 17814-9599

(570) 925-2651

District: Benton Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
265^th of 891 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,385

Student/teacher ratio: 13.3

Number of students: 113

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.6%

Hispanic:

2.7%

African American:

0.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 97.3%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Benton Area Middle School ranks better than 70.3% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 68.45. (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 (95.6%), Hispanic (2.7%), African American (0.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 97.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Benton Area Middle School is 13.3. (See more...)

Compare Benton Area Middle School employs 8.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Benton Area Middle School is $19,385.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Benton Area Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Benton Area Middle School 265^th of 891 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Benton Area Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

White students:

Benton Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Benton Area School District 194^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Benton Area Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Benton Area Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile
2019	69.24	270^th	891	69.7%
2021	45.79	456^th	797	42.8%
2022	57.41	384^th	883	56.5%
2023	68.10	267^th	893	70.1%
2024	68.45	265^th	891	70.3%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Benton Area Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	68.78	213^th	874	75.6%
2024	65.71	251^st	877	71.4%

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

Rank History for Female students at Benton Area Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	52.77	431^st	860	49.9%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Benton Area Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	27.37	496^th	660	24.8%
2024	26.45	513^th	672	23.7%

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

Rank History for Male students at Benton Area Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	76.13	171^st	870	80.3%

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

Rank History for White students at Benton Area Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	47.69	338^th	681	50.4%
2024	51.79	304^th	673	54.8%

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 Benton Area Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2019	98	0	1	2	1	0	102
2020	105	0	1	3	0	2	111
2021	104	1	0	3	1	2	111
2022	107	3	0	0	1	2	113
2023	99	2	0	2	0	1	104
2024	108	1	0	3	0	1	113

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 Benton Area Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	102	10.4	9.7	33.3
2020	111	10.2	10.7	27
2021	111	9.9	11.1	9
2022	113	10.7	10.4	41.6
2023	104	9.0	11.4	55.8
2024	113	8.4	13.3	97.3

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 Benton Area Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	102	10.4	9.7	33.3
2020	111	10.2	10.7	27
2021	111	9.9	11.1	9
2022	113	10.7	10.4	41.6
2023	104	9.0	11.4	55.8
2024	113	8.4	13.3	97.3

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 Benton Area Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$00 (0.0%)	$16,969 (100.0%)	$16,969
2020	$525 (3.2%)	$15,849 (96.8%)	$16,374
2021	$946 (3.0%)	$30,394 (97.0%)	$31,340
2022	$920 (4.7%)	$18,464 (95.2%)	$19,385

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Benton Area 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 270^th of 891 Middle schools	Ranks 267^th of 893 Middle schools	0.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade Math (Benton Area Middle School)	31	30.2	0.8%
7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	38.2	33.2	5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Benton Area Middle School)	67.2	62.3	4.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	60.5	54.5	6%
8th Grade Math (Benton Area Middle School)	40	26.7	13.3%
8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	32.2	26	6.2%
8th Grade Science (Benton Area Middle School)	70	73.3	3.3%
8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	58.2	57	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Benton Area Middle School)	72.5	58.7	13.8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	57.9	52.8	5.1%
All Grades Math (Benton Area Middle School)	34.6	28.5	6.1%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Benton Area Middle School)	70	73.3	3.3%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Benton Area Middle School)	69.4	60.6	8.8%
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	102	104	2%
African American	0	2
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	2	2
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	98	99	1%
Two or More Races	0	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	33.3%	55.8%	22.4%

Schools Near Benton Area Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSSA Math (2024)					PSSA Science (2024)		PSSA English Language Arts (2024)					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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	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
Benton Area Middle School	Public	7-8	400 Park St	Benton	17814	Columbia County	Benton Area School District	No	No	No	No	(570) 925-2651	113	8	13.3	97.3%	108 (95.6%)	1 (0.9%)	3 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	68.4	265^th of 891 public middle schools	70.3%		68.1	267^th of 893 public middle schools	70.1%	2			45.1	13.5	29.2	63.4	63.4			74.0	59.6	66.7	$19,385	$921	$18,464
Berwick Area Middle School	Public	5-8	1100 Evergreen Drive	Berwick	18603	Columbia County	Berwick Area School District	No	No	No	No	(570) 759-6400	878	65	13.4	99.4%	698 (79.5%)	32 (3.6%)	117 (13.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (3.3%)	55.4	412^th of 891 public middle schools	53.8%		60.9	348^th of 893 public middle schools	61.0%	64	39.5	35.0	37.7	23.1	33.7	50.3	50.3	48.4	48.9	50.6	55.8	51.0	$11,895	$254	$11,642
Central Columbia Middle School	Public	5-8	4777 Old Berwick Rd	Bloomsburg	17815	Columbia County	Central Columbia School District	No	No	No	No	(570) 784-6103	630	40	15.9	35.2%	559 (88.7%)	2 (0.3%)	18 (2.9%)	19 (3.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (4.8%)	89.6	67^th of 891 public middle schools	92.5%		85.3	100^th of 893 public middle schools	88.8%	33	57.8	69.6	61.2	56.1	60.8	70.8	70.8	65.9	70.3	70.9	68.4	68.8	$17,448	$1,593	$15,855
Bloomsburg Area Middle School	Public	6-8	1100 Railroad St	Bloomsburg	17815	Columbia County	Bloomsburg Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(570) 784-9100	368	28	13.2	51.6%	300 (81.5%)	20 (5.4%)	21 (5.7%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.7%)	72.4	225^th of 891 public middle schools	74.7%		72	224^th of 893 public middle schools	74.9%	1		39.6	42.2	35.7	39.5	67.3	67.3		53.2	62.0	67.3	60.8	$12,080	$1,286	$10,794

Frequently Asked Questions about Benton Area Middle School

What district is Benton Area Middle School in?

Benton Area School District

How many students attend Benton Area Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 113 students attended Benton Area Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Benton Area Middle School?

Students at Benton Area Middle School are 96% White, 3% Hispanic.

Is Benton Area Middle School a good school?

Benton Area Middle School ranks 265^th of 891 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Benton Area Middle 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.