River Valley Middle School

Q: Is River Valley Middle School a good school?

River Valley Middle School ranks 404 th of 891 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

River Valley Middle School is a public middle school located in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 304 students. The school is part of the River Valley School District, which is ranked 281 out of 610 school districts in Pennsylvania and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While River Valley Middle School's overall academic performance, as measured by PSSA proficiency rates in Math, Science, and English Language Arts, is generally lower than the state and district averages, the school faces some unique challenges. For example, the school has experienced relatively high dropout rates in recent years, ranging from 0.0% to 1.6%, which is higher than the state average. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year. Interestingly, the school's spending per student, at $20,350, is significantly higher than the state average and many of the nearby schools, such as Greensburg-Salem Middle School, Wendover Middle School, and Greater Latrobe Junior High School, which have higher proficiency rates and better overall rankings.

One area of particular interest is the performance of disabled students at River Valley Middle School, which has shown a wide range of performance, ranking from the top 30% of Pennsylvania middle schools in 2022-2023 to the bottom 30% in 2023-2024. This fluctuation in performance for disabled students is an area that warrants further investigation to understand the factors contributing to these changes. Overall, River Valley Middle School faces significant challenges in supporting student success and addressing equity gaps, and the school and district may need to evaluate the effectiveness of their resource allocation and identify areas for improvement.

Detail:

Public 6-8

104 School Lane
Blairsville, PA 15717

(724) 459-8880

District: River Valley School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
404^th of 891 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,350

Student/teacher ratio: 12.7

Number of students: 304

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.5%

Two or more races:

4.6%

Hispanic:

3.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details River Valley Middle School ranks better than 54.7% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 55.94. (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 (88.5%), two or more races (4.6%), Hispanic (3.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at River Valley Middle School is 12.7. (See more...)

Compare River Valley Middle School employs 23.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at River Valley Middle School is $20,350.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

River Valley Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks River Valley Middle School 404^th of 891 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See River Valley 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:

River Valley School District:

SchoolDigger ranks River Valley School District 281^st of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for River Valley Middle School

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Rank History for all students at River Valley Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	60.44	352^nd	893	60.6%
2024	55.94	404^th	891	54.7%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at River Valley Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	56.71	353^rd	874	59.6%
2024	38.86	550^th	877	37.3%

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

Rank History for Female students at River Valley Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	51.90	440^th	860	48.8%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at River Valley Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	59.36	195^th	660	70.5%
2024	31.17	458^th	672	31.8%

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

Rank History for Male students at River Valley Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	57.22	374^th	870	57.0%

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

Rank History for White students at River Valley Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	44.41	362^nd	681	46.8%
2024	37.01	437^th	673	35.1%

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 River Valley Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2022	283	2	3	6	1	0	12	0	307
2023	269	7	1	12	1	0	14	0	304

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 River Valley Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	307	23.7	12.9	45
2023	304	23.9	12.7	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 River Valley Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	307	23.7	12.9	45
2023	304	23.9	12.7	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 River Valley Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2022	$2,100 (10.3%)	$18,249 (89.7%)	$20,350

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Schools Near River Valley 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
River Valley Middle School	Public	6-8	104 School Lane	Blairsville	15717	Indiana County	River Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 459-8880	304	24	12.7	100.0%	269 (88.5%)	7 (2.3%)	12 (3.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.6%)	55.9	404^th of 891 public middle schools	54.7%		60.4	352^nd of 893 public middle schools	60.6%	52		39.8	32.3	29.6	34.0	63.3	63.3		39.8	44.8	54.5	46.3	$20,350	$2,101	$18,249
Derry Area Middle School	Public	6-8	994 North Chestnut St Ext	Derry	15627	Westmoreland County	Derry Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 694-8231	443	37	11.9	100.0%	412 (93.0%)	5 (1.1%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.2%)	66.9	289^th of 891 public middle schools	67.6%		75.2	196^th of 893 public middle schools	78.1%	93		48.1	41.8	32.7	41.3	47.9	47.9		55.6	67.4	48.7	57.8	$15,160	$947	$14,213
Indiana Area Junior High School	Public	6-8	245 N 5th St	Indiana	15701	Indiana County	Indiana Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 463-8568	667	43	15.5	48.1%	573 (85.9%)	43 (6.4%)	11 (1.6%)	15 (2.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.6%)	77.7	166^th of 891 public middle schools	81.4%		77.4	170^th of 893 public middle schools	81.0%	4		57.4	46.0	45.1	49.7	65.8	65.8		59.9	58.6	58.6	59.1	$17,015	$852	$16,163
Ligonier Valley Middle School	Public	6-8	536 Bell Street	Ligonier	15658	Westmoreland County	Ligonier Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 238-6412	310	25	12.5	43.2%	294 (94.8%)	2 (0.6%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.2%)	61.2	352^nd of 891 public middle schools	60.5%		53	437^th of 893 public middle schools	51.1%	85		44.9	23.8	21.6	30.9	62.0	62.0		63.3	61.4	46.8	57.7	$17,012	$1,012	$16,000
Greater Latrobe Junior High School	Public	7-8	130 High School Rd	Latrobe	15650	Westmoreland County	Greater Latrobe School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 539-4265	554	47	11.8	41.0%	498 (89.9%)	4 (0.7%)	11 (2.0%)	8 (1.4%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (5.2%)	86.1	89^th of 891 public middle schools	90.0%		86.8	91^st of 893 public middle schools	89.8%	2			58.4	39.8	48.8	75.6	75.6			63.4	73.1	68.4	$19,224	$988	$18,236
Apollo-Ridge Middle School	Public	6-8	1829 State Route 56	Spring Church	15686	Armstrong County	Apollo-Ridge School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 478-6000	274	19	14.6	100.0%	261 (95.3%)	2 (0.7%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.2%)	52.7	431^st of 891 public middle schools	51.6%		47.6	498^th of 893 public middle schools	44.2%	67		22.4	29.0	17.1	23.1	61.0	61.0		59.7	49.5	53.7	53.7	$16,517	$299	$16,218
Greater Johnstown Middle School	Public	5-7	220 Messenger Street	Johnstown	15902	Cambria County	Greater Johnstown School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 533-5670	660	53	12.5	100.0%	228 (34.5%)	274 (41.5%)	48 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	109 (16.5%)	6.6	860^th of 891 public middle schools	3.5%		8.2	828^th of 893 public middle schools	7.3%	32	5.6	6.3	4.1		5.4			14.6	12.0	10.7		12.4	$14,910	$2,254	$12,656
Greensburg-Salem Middle School	Public	6-8	301 N Main St	Greensburg	15601	Westmoreland County	Greensburg Salem School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 832-2900	599	46	13.0	51.9%	455 (76.0%)	36 (6.0%)	32 (5.3%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (12.2%)	49.2	468^th of 891 public middle schools	47.5%		55.4	408^th of 893 public middle schools	54.3%	60		47.0	23.5	20.2	29.5	54.4	54.4		51.5	45.8	41.5	46.1	$16,288	$1,975	$14,313
Wendover Middle School	Public	6-8	425 Wendover Jr High Dr	Greensburg	15601	Westmoreland County	Hempfield Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 838-4070	428	31	13.9	32.2%	400 (93.5%)	3 (0.7%)	4 (0.9%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.7%)	79.1	147^th of 891 public middle schools	83.5%		87.6	82^nd of 893 public middle schools	90.8%	65		44.6	49.5	27.5	41.1	68.2	68.2		76.2	68.9	65.3	70.2	$17,532	$581	$16,951

Frequently Asked Questions about River Valley Middle School

Is River Valley Middle School a good school?

River Valley Middle School ranks 404^th of 891 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend River Valley Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 304 students attended River Valley Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of River Valley Middle School?

Students at River Valley Middle School are 88% White, 5% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 2% African American.

What district is River Valley Middle School in?

River Valley School District

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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.