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Highland Middle School

Summary:

Highland Middle School is a public middle school located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, serving grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 700 students. The school is part of the Blackhawk School District, which is ranked 194 out of 606 school districts in Pennsylvania and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highland Middle School has a significantly higher percentage of white students (93.71%) compared to the surrounding schools, which have more diverse student populations. The school's academic performance has been mixed, with some strengths in science and English Language Arts but challenges in 8th-grade math, where the proficiency rate was only 18.4%, significantly lower than the state average of 26%. While Highland Middle School's overall math proficiency rate was higher than the state average, it was lower than the district average. The school's ranking has fluctuated over the years, ranging from 207 out of 891 Pennsylvania middle schools in 2018-2019 to 390 out of 893 in 2022-2023, and its SchoolDigger rating has also varied between 3 and 4 stars out of 5.

When compared to nearby middle schools, Highland Middle School generally performs better than some, such as Ambridge Area Middle School and Rochester Middle School, but lags behind higher-performing schools like Beaver Area Middle School and Riverside Middle School. The school's student-teacher ratio has remained relatively low, which could be a positive factor in supporting student learning, but the increasing percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients suggests a growing population of students from lower-income households, which may impact the school's performance.


Detail:

Public 5-8

 402 Shenango Rd
       Beaver Falls, PA  15010-1657

(724) 843-1700

District: Blackhawk School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
390th of 893 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,333 Help


Students who attend Highland Middle School usually attend:

High:    Blackhawk High School

Feeder schools for Highland Middle School:

Elementary:    Patterson Primary School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.9 Help
Number of students:  700

Racial breakdown:

White:
93.7%
Two or more races:
2.6%
Hispanic:
2.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  35.3% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Highland Middle School ranks better than 56.3% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.92. (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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (93.7%), two or more races (2.6%), Hispanic (2.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 35.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highland Middle School is 14.9. (See more...)
Help
Compare Highland Middle School employs 46.9 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highland Middle School is $10,333.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Highland Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Highland Middle School 390th of 893 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Highland Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Disabled students:
White students:


Blackhawk School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Blackhawk School District 194th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Highland Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Highland Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 88.53 33rd 736 95.5%
2007 82.61 67th 749 91.1%
2008 83.53 72nd 753 90.4%
2009 87.76 29th 770 96.2%
2010 84.37 65th 805 91.9%
2011 78.56 138th 825 83.3%
2012 76.81 182nd 834 78.2%
2013 74.09 191st 758 74.8%
2014 73.81 182nd 728 75.0%
2015 64.83 290th 835 65.3%
2016 72.00 233rd 870 73.2%
2017 68.58 259th 877 70.5%
2018 74.00 215th 861 75.0%
2019 74.19 207th 891 76.8%
2021 59.41 312th 797 60.9%
2022 68.79 254th 883 71.2%
2023 56.92 390th 893 56.3%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Highland Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 46.21 473rd 874 45.9%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Highland Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 42.66 331st 660 49.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for White students at Highland Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 38.54 418th 681 38.6%
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.

Highland Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for Highland Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 598 6 7 0 0 n/a n/a 0 611
1989 625 4 0 2 3 n/a n/a 0 634
1990 669 5 3 1 0 n/a n/a 0 678
1991 692 4 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 696
1992 700 5 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 706
1993 462 4 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 468
1994 488 6 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 496
1995 487 6 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 494
1996 487 6 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 494
1997 479 6 4 0 0 n/a n/a 0 489
1998 477 9 6 0 1 n/a n/a 0 493
1999 456 6 0 0 3 n/a n/a 0 465
2000 473 6 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 482
2001 453 6 2 2 3 n/a n/a 0 466
2002 492 9 4 0 4 n/a n/a 0 509
2003 492 9 4 0 4 n/a n/a 0 509
2004 460 9 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 470
2005 424 9 4 0 1 n/a n/a 0 438
2006 384 11 3 0 1 n/a n/a 0 399
2007 415 9 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 426
2008 425 11 5 0 0 n/a n/a 0 441
2009 384 8 3 1 0 n/a n/a 0 396
2010 371 9 3 3 0 n/a n/a 2 388
2011 392 6 4 3 0 0 3 0 408
2012 398 2 2 3 0 0 5 0 410
2013 372 1 0 4 0 0 5 0 382
2014 555 5 0 6 0 0 9 0 575
2015 531 4 0 8 0 0 15 0 558
2016 533 6 2 9 0 0 15 0 565
2017 684 9 6 8 0 0 18 0 725
2018 702 9 6 7 0 0 19 0 743
2019 713 6 3 7 1 0 19 0 749
2020 722 7 2 16 1 0 16 0 764
2021 691 6 2 17 1 0 17 0 734
2022 666 6 3 20 1 0 20 0 716
2023 656 6 4 15 1 0 18 0 700

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 Highland Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 611 39.8 15.3 n/a
1989 634 37.0 17.1 n/a
1990 678 40.7 16.6 0
1991 696 40.7 17.1 n/a
1992 706 41.5 17.0 n/a
1993 468 25.5 18.4 n/a
1994 496 26.0 19.1 n/a
1995 494 28.0 17.6 n/a
1996 494 28.0 17.6 n/a
1997 489 28.0 17.5 n/a
1998 493 27.0 18.3 n/a
1999 465 27.0 17.2 n/a
2000 482 27.0 17.9 18
2001 466 27.0 17.3 15.9
2002 509 27.1 18.8 16.5
2003 509 27.1 18.8 16.5
2004 470 27.8 16.9 15.7
2005 438 26.9 16.3 19.2
2006 399 26.9 14.8 14.8
2007 426 26.9 15.8 19
2008 441 28.0 15.8 16.8
2009 396 29.0 13.7 16.2
2010 388 35.8 10.8 23.1
2011 408 28.8 14.1 22.8
2012 410 29.4 13.9 23.9
2013 382 26.3 14.4 31.2
2014 575 35.3 16.2 26.4
2015 558 37.0 15.0 30.1
2016 565 36.0 15.6 27.6
2017 725 41.3 17.5 26.9
2018 743 42.7 17.3 27.9
2019 749 46.3 16.1 25
2020 764 45.9 16.6 30
2021 734 47.0 15.6 30.7
2022 716 47.0 15.2 30.2
2023 700 46.9 14.9 35.3

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 Highland Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 611 39.8 15.3 n/a
1989 634 37.0 17.1 n/a
1990 678 40.7 16.6 0
1991 696 40.7 17.1 n/a
1992 706 41.5 17.0 n/a
1993 468 25.5 18.4 n/a
1994 496 26.0 19.1 n/a
1995 494 28.0 17.6 n/a
1996 494 28.0 17.6 n/a
1997 489 28.0 17.5 n/a
1998 493 27.0 18.3 n/a
1999 465 27.0 17.2 n/a
2000 482 27.0 17.9 18
2001 466 27.0 17.3 15.9
2002 509 27.1 18.8 16.5
2003 509 27.1 18.8 16.5
2004 470 27.8 16.9 15.7
2005 438 26.9 16.3 19.2
2006 399 26.9 14.8 14.8
2007 426 26.9 15.8 19
2008 441 28.0 15.8 16.8
2009 396 29.0 13.7 16.2
2010 388 35.8 10.8 23.1
2011 408 28.8 14.1 22.8
2012 410 29.4 13.9 23.9
2013 382 26.3 14.4 31.2
2014 575 35.3 16.2 26.4
2015 558 37.0 15.0 30.1
2016 565 36.0 15.6 27.6
2017 725 41.3 17.5 26.9
2018 743 42.7 17.3 27.9
2019 749 46.3 16.1 25
2020 764 45.9 16.6 30
2021 734 47.0 15.6 30.7
2022 716 47.0 15.2 30.2
2023 700 46.9 14.9 35.3

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 Highland Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $195 (1.4%) $13,511 (98.6%) $13,706
2020 $299 (3.0%) $9,665 (97.0%) $9,964
2021 $510 (4.1%) $12,078 (95.9%) $12,588
2022 $106 (1.0%) $10,226 (99.0%) $10,333

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Highland 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 207th of 891 Middle schoolsRanks 390th of 893 Middle schools
 20.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
5th Grade Math (Highland Middle School)59.559.4
 0.1%
   5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)4342.7
 0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Middle School)71.367.7
 3.6%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)58.553.6
 4.9%
6th Grade Math (Highland Middle School)56.148.7
 7.4%
   6th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)3936.4
 2.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Middle School)67.448.1
 19.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)6355.6
 7.4%
7th Grade Math (Highland Middle School)49.443.5
 5.9%
   7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)38.233.2
 5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Middle School)70.850.6
 20.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.554.5
 6%
8th Grade Math (Highland Middle School)41.518.4
 23.1%
   8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)32.226
 6.2%
8th Grade Science (Highland Middle School)62.258.2
 4%
   8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)58.257
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Highland Middle School)63.547
 16.5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)57.952.8
 5.1%
All Grades Math (Highland Middle School)52.142.6
 9.5%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (Highland Middle School)62.258.2
 4%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Highland Middle School)68.353.5
 14.8%
   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 Students749700
 6.5%
African American66
American Indian11
Asian34
 33.3%
Hispanic715
 114.3%
Pacific Islander00
White713656
 8%
Two or More Races1918
 5.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients25%35.3%
 10.3%

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Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Middle School

Highland Middle School ranks 390th of 893 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 700 students attended Highland Middle School.

Students who attend Highland Middle School usually go on to attend Blackhawk High School

Students at Highland Middle School are 94% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.


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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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