Bradford Area High School

Q: Is Bradford Area High School a good school?

Bradford Area High School ranks 157 th of 674 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Bradford Area High School is a public high school serving 751 students in grades 9-12 in Bradford, Pennsylvania, which is part of the Smethport Area School District. The school has a predominantly white student population and has consistently performed well on Keystone Exams, with higher proficiency rates compared to the state average in subjects like Biology and Literature.

While Bradford Area High School maintains a relatively high four-year graduation rate and low dropout rate, it faces challenges in supporting its diverse student population. The school has a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a significant proportion of students come from low-income households. Additionally, the school's performance for disabled students is much lower than the state average, indicating a need for improvement in supporting this population.

Compared to the nearby Smethport Area Junior/Senior High School and Otto-Eldred Junior/Senior High School, Bradford Area High School generally outperforms them in academic metrics, such as Keystone Exam proficiency rates and graduation rates. However, the nearby schools have lower percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a more diverse socioeconomic makeup. Despite its strong performance, Bradford Area High School's statewide ranking has declined in recent years, and its SchoolDigger star rating has fluctuated, indicating a need to address any factors contributing to this decline.

Detail:

Public 9-12

81 Interstate Pkwy
Bradford, PA 16701-1099

(814) 362-3845

District: Bradford Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
157^th of 674 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,690

Feeder schools for Bradford Area High School:

Elementary:	George Blaisdell Elementary School
	School Street Elementary School
Middle:	Floyd C Fretz Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.4

Number of students: 751

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.0%

Hispanic:

3.9%

Two or more races:

2.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

Compare Bradford Area High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Bradford Area High School ranks better than 76.7% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 74.41. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Bradford Area High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

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 (92%), Hispanic (3.9%), two or more races (2.5%). (See more...)

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

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bradford Area High School is 15.4. (See more...)

Compare Bradford Area High School employs 48.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bradford Area High School is $16,690.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Bradford Area High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bradford Area High School 157^th of 674 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Bradford Area High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Disabled students:

White students:

Bradford Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Bradford Area School District 215^th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Bradford Area High School.

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Rank History for Bradford Area High School

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Rank History for all students at Bradford Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	48.77	365^th	583	37.4%
2004	52.32	331^st	590	43.9%
2005	39.97	434^th	593	26.8%
2006	36.97	467^th	604	22.7%
2007	47.94	406^th	615	34.0%
2008	51.79	365^th	621	41.2%
2009	35.81	500^th	632	20.9%
2010	59.44	304^th	649	53.2%
2011	59.08	329^th	660	50.2%
2012	78.45	102^nd	664	84.6%
2013	65.01	205^th	591	65.3%
2014	73.50	128^th	580	77.9%
2015	71.47	211^th	680	69.0%
2016	74.39	179^th	677	73.6%
2017	75.05	165^th	663	75.1%
2018	78.44	128^th	673	81.0%
2019	81.29	105^th	693	84.8%
2021	64.58	237^th	537	55.9%
2022	58.92	305^th	634	51.9%
2023	74.41	157^th	674	76.7%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	80.30	100^th	652	84.7%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Bradford Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	25.48	387^th	502	22.9%

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

Rank History for White students at Bradford Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	62.68	215^th	577	62.7%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Department 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 Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.3)

33%

Reviews:

by a student
Sunday, August 18, 2019

As a former student, I'm utterly shocked to find that BAHS is ranked so high on here.
I moved to Bradford just before my freshman year and my time at the school, and in the town, was easily one of the most awful and miserable experiences of my life. As another review points out, the majority of this community is low income or falls below the poverty line. A lot of the parents are separated/divorced. Only two of my friend's parents were still married... but even one of their Dad's slept at his office on most nights and, supposedly, was just waiting until the kids were out of school before he filed himself.
Bullying, as well as alcohol and drug use, was rampant. I never even actually understood the nature of drugs (what they looked like, etc) until I went to school here. Kids misbehaved so badly, so often, that it was often difficult to learn anything in class because of the constant interruptions. School staff seemed overwhelmed and reluctant to toss out the riff raff permanently. Fights, drug dogs, and bomb threats.. good lord, I can't imagine what it's like now.
Honestly, I think I'd rather let my kids grow up illiterate than have to send them to this school. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, December 10, 2013

By far and away the best high school in northcentral PA. You won't find another school nearby with the AP, college, and career and tech classes all in one building. Great teachers who work with both very tough students and very advanced students and get great results. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, August 24, 2012

This school offers so much for it's students - Advanced Placement Courses, College Courses in the High School, free courses at the University of Pittsburgh Bradford, Career and Technical Education, excellent athletics and music programs, and tons of activities and clubs. It would be a 5 star school if all parents and the community would get on board and see the value of education and take advantage of all this. This is a high poverty/welfare community. We're amazed at what the teachers here do with the challenges they face. That goes for all the schools in the district. Did we mention that they haven't raised school taxes here in 12 years? That has to be the record for Pennsylvania. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Bradford Area High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	878	7	5	1	1	n/a	n/a	892
1989	860	6	8	0	3	n/a	n/a	877
1990	764	4	13	2	2	n/a	n/a	785
1991	905	2	17	4	10	n/a	n/a	938
1992	898	4	18	1	10	n/a	n/a	931
1993	878	5	15	6	12	n/a	n/a	916
1994	897	5	14	6	8	n/a	n/a	930
1995	966	3	13	1	4	n/a	n/a	987
1996	966	3	13	1	4	n/a	n/a	987
1997	957	2	15	4	2	n/a	n/a	980
1998	984	1	11	3	3	n/a	n/a	1002
1999	945	2	12	5	2	n/a	n/a	966
2000	914	4	17	7	3	n/a	n/a	945
2001	970	8	19	7	9	n/a	n/a	1013
2002	987	16	14	12	19	n/a	n/a	1048
2003	987	16	14	12	19	n/a	n/a	1048
2004	972	15	9	13	18	n/a	n/a	1027
2005	968	12	6	15	15	n/a	n/a	1016
2006	969	12	7	11	17	n/a	n/a	1016
2007	1014	11	7	11	10	n/a	n/a	1053
2008	1014	5	9	13	9	n/a	n/a	1050
2009	994	5	11	15	7	n/a	n/a	1032
2010	904	7	11	15	4	n/a	n/a	941
2011	840	11	10	15	6	0	1	883
2012	772	15	6	11	5	0	1	810
2013	724	12	6	9	1	0	2	754
2014	749	9	5	10	3	0	3	779
2015	748	9	5	7	1	0	4	774
2016	754	13	6	12	4	0	4	793
2017	736	16	2	11	4	0	7	776
2018	727	17	3	16	3	0	4	770
2019	700	17	4	17	5	0	8	751
2020	694	14	3	26	4	1	8	750
2021	745	10	3	22	4	1	12	797
2022	682	10	3	21	4	2	17	739
2023	691	5	1	29	4	2	19	751

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 Bradford Area High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	892	68.5	13.0	n/a
1989	877	69.0	12.7	n/a
1990	785	70.3	11.1	0
1991	938	77.0	12.1	n/a
1992	931	70.0	13.3	n/a
1993	916	56.0	16.4	n/a
1994	930	55.5	16.8	n/a
1995	987	57.0	17.3	n/a
1996	987	57.0	17.3	n/a
1997	980	56.6	17.3	n/a
1998	1002	56.0	17.9	n/a
1999	966	54.0	17.9	n/a
2000	945	53.0	17.8	15
2001	1013	57.0	17.8	17.3
2002	1048	64.0	16.4	23.8
2003	1048	64.0	16.4	23.8
2004	1027	65.0	15.8	17.2
2005	1016	62.5	16.3	24.5
2006	1016	65.5	15.5	30.3
2007	1053	64.5	16.3	27.7
2008	1050	70.0	15.0	28.7
2009	1032	68.0	15.2	28.5
2010	941	65.0	14.4	30.6
2011	883	62.0	14.2	30.7
2012	810	57.6	14.0	35.8
2013	754	58.6	12.8	33.3
2014	779	55.2	14.1	35.3
2015	774	56.0	13.8	42.1
2016	793	52.0	15.2	47.9
2017	776	47.6	16.3	50.1
2018	770	46.6	16.5	100
2019	751	48.0	15.6	100
2020	750	47.0	15.9	98.5
2021	797	46.0	17.3	99.6
2022	739	62.6	11.7	99.6
2023	751	48.7	15.4	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 Bradford Area High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	892	68.5	13.0	n/a
1989	877	69.0	12.7	n/a
1990	785	70.3	11.1	0
1991	938	77.0	12.1	n/a
1992	931	70.0	13.3	n/a
1993	916	56.0	16.4	n/a
1994	930	55.5	16.8	n/a
1995	987	57.0	17.3	n/a
1996	987	57.0	17.3	n/a
1997	980	56.6	17.3	n/a
1998	1002	56.0	17.9	n/a
1999	966	54.0	17.9	n/a
2000	945	53.0	17.8	15
2001	1013	57.0	17.8	17.3
2002	1048	64.0	16.4	23.8
2003	1048	64.0	16.4	23.8
2004	1027	65.0	15.8	17.2
2005	1016	62.5	16.3	24.5
2006	1016	65.5	15.5	30.3
2007	1053	64.5	16.3	27.7
2008	1050	70.0	15.0	28.7
2009	1032	68.0	15.2	28.5
2010	941	65.0	14.4	30.6
2011	883	62.0	14.2	30.7
2012	810	57.6	14.0	35.8
2013	754	58.6	12.8	33.3
2014	779	55.2	14.1	35.3
2015	774	56.0	13.8	42.1
2016	793	52.0	15.2	47.9
2017	776	47.6	16.3	50.1
2018	770	46.6	16.5	100
2019	751	48.0	15.6	100
2020	750	47.0	15.9	98.5
2021	797	46.0	17.3	99.6
2022	739	62.6	11.7	99.6
2023	751	48.7	15.4	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 Bradford Area High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$218 (1.5%)	$14,582 (98.5%)	$14,800
2020	$282 (1.9%)	$14,256 (98.1%)	$14,538
2021	$750 (5.1%)	$14,038 (94.9%)	$14,788
2022	$829 (5.0%)	$15,861 (95.0%)	$16,690

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bradford Area 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 105^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 157^th of 674 High schools	8.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Bradford Area High School)	78.4	50	28.4%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Bradford Area High School)	85.1	64.2	20.9%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Bradford Area High School)	83	67.7	15.3%
11th Grade Literature (Pennsylvania)	71.5	65.3	6.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	751	751
African American	17	5	70.6%
American Indian	5	4	20%
Asian	4	1	75%
Hispanic	17	29	70.6%
Pacific Islander	0	2
White	700	691	1.3%
Two or More Races	8	19	137.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Bradford Area High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				Keystone Exams Algebra I (2023)	Keystone Exams Biology (2023)	Keystone Exams Literature (2023)	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	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th 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 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
Bradford Area High School	Public	9-12	81 Interstate Pkwy	Bradford	16701	McKean County	Bradford Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 362-3845	751	49	15.4	100.0%	691 (92.0%)	5 (0.7%)	29 (3.9%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	19 (2.5%)	74.4	157^th of 674 public high schools	76.7%		58.9	305^th of 634 public high schools	51.9%	148	50.0	64.2	67.7									$16,690	$829	$15,861
Otto-Eldred Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	143 R L Sweitzer Dr	Duke Center	16729	McKean County	Otto-Eldred School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 817-1380	280	21	13.6	39.6%	272 (97.1%)	2 (0.7%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	47.1	403^rd of 674 public high schools	40.2%		40.7	448^th of 634 public high schools	29.3%	45	33.3	51.0	52.0	57.9	42.5	50.0	70.0	70.0	71.1	75.0	73.1	$21,305	$2,973	$18,332
Smethport Area Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	412 S Mechanic St	Smethport	16749	McKean County	Smethport Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 887-5545	362	36	10.1	34.8%	359 (99.2%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29.6	509^th of 674 public high schools	24.5%		25.8	508^th of 634 public high schools	19.9%	1	20.0	42.9	43.1	44.3	32.2	38.4	61.0	61.0	66.1	39.0	52.8	$22,550	$3,424	$19,127

Bradford Area High School

Bradford Area High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Bradford Area School District:

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Bradford Area High School

Rank History for all students at Bradford Area High School

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Bradford Area High School

Rank History for White students at Bradford Area High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Bradford Area High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bradford Area High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Bradford Area High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bradford Area High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Bradford Area High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Bradford Area High School

Bradford Area High School

Otto-Eldred Junior/Senior High School

Smethport Area Junior/Senior High School

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