Fairfield Area High School

Q: Is Fairfield Area High School a good school?

Fairfield Area High School ranks 425 th of 686 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Fairfield Area High School is a public high school located in Fairfield, Pennsylvania, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 298 students. The school is part of the Fairfield Area School District, which is ranked 326 out of 610 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Fairfield Area High School has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the past few years, dropping from 85th out of 663 Pennsylvania high schools in 2016-2017 (4-star rating) to 425th out of 686 in 2023-2024 (2-star rating). The school's performance varies across different student subgroups, with male students ranking 354th, female students ranking 445th, and white students ranking 431st out of all Pennsylvania high schools. The school's performance for low socioeconomic status students is particularly concerning, ranking 460th. Fairfield Area High School's academic performance, as measured by Keystone Exam proficiency rates, is generally below the state average in Algebra I, Biology, and Literature.

Compared to nearby high schools, such as Littlestown Senior High School, Biglerville High School, and Gettysburg Area High School, Fairfield Area High School's performance is generally lower, with these schools having higher statewide rankings and better academic performance. Additionally, the Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School has outperformed Fairfield Area High School in several academic metrics, suggesting that the magnet school model may be more effective in improving student outcomes.

Detail:

Public 9-12

4840 Fairfield Rd
Fairfield, PA 17320-9200

(717) 642-8228

District: Fairfield Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
425^th of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,406

Feeder schools for Fairfield Area High School:

Elementary:	Fairfield Area Elementary School
Middle:	Fairfield Area Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.4

Number of students: 298

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.0%

Hispanic:

2.7%

African American:

1.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 18.5%

See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

Compare Fairfield Area High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Fairfield Area High School ranks worse than 62% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 45.45. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Fairfield Area High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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%), Hispanic (2.7%), African American (1.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 18.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Fairfield Area High School is 11.4. (See more...)

Compare Fairfield Area High School employs 26.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Fairfield Area High School is $21,406.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Fairfield Area High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Fairfield Area High School 425^th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Fairfield Area High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Fairfield Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Fairfield Area School District 326^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Fairfield Area High School

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Rank History for all students at Fairfield Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	41.48	412^th	583	29.3%
2004	33.69	455^th	590	22.9%
2005	34.56	465^th	593	21.6%
2006	41.42	436^th	604	27.8%
2007	37.40	480^th	615	22.0%
2008	45.87	414^th	621	33.3%
2009	59.14	281^st	632	55.5%
2010	50.13	397^th	649	38.8%
2011	67.04	243^rd	660	63.2%
2012	67.68	236^th	664	64.5%
2013	57.65	274^th	591	53.6%
2014	60.53	259^th	580	55.3%
2015	67.64	254^th	680	62.6%
2016	47.22	455^th	677	32.8%
2017	82.04	85^th	663	87.2%
2018	71.22	230^th	673	65.8%
2019	68.42	266^th	693	61.6%
2021	64.04	251^st	537	53.3%
2022	59.41	299^th	634	52.8%
2023	28.18	515^th	674	23.6%
2024	45.45	425^th	686	38.0%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	24.86	518^th	652	20.6%
2024	35.57	460^th	664	30.7%

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

Rank History for Female students at Fairfield Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	39.70	445^th	665	33.1%

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

Rank History for Male students at Fairfield Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	51.57	354^th	662	46.5%

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

Rank History for White students at Fairfield Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	14.40	529^th	577	8.3%
2024	32.45	431^st	595	27.6%

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

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Enrollment information for Fairfield Area High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	365	4	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	372
1989	341	4	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	350
1990	362	4	2	4	0	n/a	n/a	372
1991	370	4	3	6	0	n/a	n/a	383
1992	242	1	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	245
1993	258	2	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	262
1994	274	2	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	278
1995	301	5	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	308
1996	301	5	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	308
1997	305	3	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	310
1998	323	6	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	332
1999	351	5	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	359
2000	358	4	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	367
2001	348	1	5	3	0	n/a	n/a	357
2002	400	3	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	408
2003	400	3	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	408
2004	413	2	5	4	0	n/a	n/a	424
2005	424	2	3	3	0	n/a	n/a	432
2006	433	2	5	2	0	n/a	n/a	442
2007	430	4	3	4	0	n/a	n/a	441
2008	408	4	3	2	1	n/a	n/a	418
2009	377	5	3	4	1	n/a	n/a	390
2010	379	5	3	3	0	n/a	n/a	390
2011	403	6	1	8	0	2	0	420
2012	411	7	2	7	0	2	1	430
2013	390	4	1	6	0	2	1	404
2014	376	5	1	8	0	2	2	394
2015	351	3	2	7	1	2	3	369
2016	321	4	2	5	1	2	2	337
2017	335	8	3	3	1	2	2	354
2018	333	9	3	5	1	2	2	355
2019	324	4	4	5	2	2	1	342
2020	307	3	4	6	2	1	1	324
2021	300	2	4	9	1	1	0	317
2022	293	4	3	8	2	1	0	311
2023	283	5	1	8	0	0	1	298

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 Fairfield Area High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	372	31.0	12.0	n/a
1989	350	31.0	11.2	n/a
1990	372	30.0	12.4	0
1991	383	31.0	12.3	n/a
1992	245	24.0	10.2	n/a
1993	262	23.0	11.4	n/a
1994	278	24.0	11.6	n/a
1995	308	24.0	12.8	n/a
1996	308	24.0	12.8	n/a
1997	310	25.0	12.4	n/a
1998	332	27.0	12.3	n/a
1999	359	29.0	12.4	n/a
2000	367	26.0	14.1	26.7
2001	357	26.0	13.7	28.6
2002	408	27.0	15.1	25.7
2003	408	27.0	15.1	25.7
2004	424	26.0	16.3	25.2
2005	432	29.0	14.9	24.3
2006	442	31.6	14.0	26.2
2007	441	29.5	14.9	24
2008	418	36.1	11.6	29.9
2009	390	29.4	13.3	29.5
2010	390	30.7	12.7	9.5
2011	420	28.9	14.5	12.9
2012	430	27.1	15.8	14.7
2013	404	28.2	14.3	14.6
2014	394	28.6	13.7	17.5
2015	369	29.0	12.7	23.6
2016	337	29.0	11.6	18.7
2017	354	27.8	12.6	15.8
2018	355	28.1	12.6	20
2019	342	28.5	11.9	16.1
2020	324	27.3	11.8	15.1
2021	317	28.9	10.9	17.7
2022	311	27.8	11.1	23.5
2023	298	26.1	11.4	18.5

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 Fairfield Area High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	372	31.0	12.0	n/a
1989	350	31.0	11.2	n/a
1990	372	30.0	12.4	0
1991	383	31.0	12.3	n/a
1992	245	24.0	10.2	n/a
1993	262	23.0	11.4	n/a
1994	278	24.0	11.6	n/a
1995	308	24.0	12.8	n/a
1996	308	24.0	12.8	n/a
1997	310	25.0	12.4	n/a
1998	332	27.0	12.3	n/a
1999	359	29.0	12.4	n/a
2000	367	26.0	14.1	26.7
2001	357	26.0	13.7	28.6
2002	408	27.0	15.1	25.7
2003	408	27.0	15.1	25.7
2004	424	26.0	16.3	25.2
2005	432	29.0	14.9	24.3
2006	442	31.6	14.0	26.2
2007	441	29.5	14.9	24
2008	418	36.1	11.6	29.9
2009	390	29.4	13.3	29.5
2010	390	30.7	12.7	9.5
2011	420	28.9	14.5	12.9
2012	430	27.1	15.8	14.7
2013	404	28.2	14.3	14.6
2014	394	28.6	13.7	17.5
2015	369	29.0	12.7	23.6
2016	337	29.0	11.6	18.7
2017	354	27.8	12.6	15.8
2018	355	28.1	12.6	20
2019	342	28.5	11.9	16.1
2020	324	27.3	11.8	15.1
2021	317	28.9	10.9	17.7
2022	311	27.8	11.1	23.5
2023	298	26.1	11.4	18.5

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 Fairfield Area High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$19 (0.1%)	$15,452 (99.9%)	$15,471
2020	$00 (0.0%)	$13,098 (100.0%)	$13,098
2021	$00 (0.0%)	$19,052 (100.0%)	$19,052
2022	$197 (0.9%)	$21,209 (99.1%)	$21,406

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Fairfield 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 266^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 515^th of 674 High schools	38%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Fairfield Area High School)	72.3	21.8	50.5%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Fairfield Area High School)	72.3	38.8	33.5%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Fairfield Area High School)	73.7	43.5	30.2%
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	342	298	12.9%
African American	4	5	25%
American Indian	2	0	100%
Asian	4	1	75%
Hispanic	5	8	60%
Pacific Islander	2	0	100%
White	324	283	12.7%
Two or More Races	1	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	16.1%	18.5%	2.4%

Schools Near Fairfield Area High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Keystone Exams Algebra I (2024)	Keystone Exams Biology (2024)	Keystone Exams Literature (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	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Fairfield Area High School	Public	9-12	4840 Fairfield Rd	Fairfield	17320	Adams County	Fairfield Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 642-8228	298	26	11.4	18.5%	283 (95.0%)	5 (1.7%)	8 (2.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	45.5	425^th of 686 public high schools	38.0%		28.2	515^th of 674 public high schools	23.6%	90	31.4	41.0	64.7	$21,406	$197	$21,209
South Mountain Secure Trmnt Un	Public	7-12	10056 South Mountain Rd	South Mountain	17261	Franklin County	South Mountain Secure Trmnt Unit	No	No	No	No	(717) 749-4511	11	8	1.3		4 (36.4%)	6 (54.5%)	1 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Gettysburg Area High School	Public	9-12	1130 Old Harrisburg Rd	Gettysburg	17325	Adams County	Gettysburg Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 334-6254	1,024	79	13.0	37.4%	759 (74.1%)	50 (4.9%)	161 (15.7%)	19 (1.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (3.2%)	73.4	170^th of 686 public high schools	75.2%		70.5	200^th of 674 public high schools	70.3%	30	52.5	62.0	70.5	$19,026	$615	$18,411
Adams County Technical Institute	Public	11-12	1126 Old Harrisburg RD	Gettysburg	17325	Adams County	Adams County Technical Institute	No	No	No	No	(717) 398-3178	5	7	.7		5 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Waynesboro Area Senior High School	Public	9-12	550 E 2nd St	Waynesboro	17268	Franklin County	Waynesboro Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 762-1191	1,439	73	19.7	47.1%	1,186 (82.4%)	45 (3.1%)	99 (6.9%)	13 (0.9%)	6 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	90 (6.3%)	60.4	290^th of 686 public high schools	57.7%		68.2	223^rd of 674 public high schools	66.9%	67	46.8	52.3	64.0	$12,504	$1,002	$11,502
Biglerville High School	Public	9-12	135 North Main Street	Biglerville	17307	Adams County	Upper Adams School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 677-7191	529	43	12.3	39.3%	350 (66.2%)	10 (1.9%)	157 (29.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	8 (1.5%)	73.3	171^st of 686 public high schools	75.1%		50.2	380^th of 674 public high schools	43.6%	209	51.9	64.3	69.0	$15,400	$00	$15,400
Littlestown Senior High School	Public	9-12	200 E Myrtle St	Littlestown	17340	Adams County	Littlestown Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 359-4146	551	46	11.9	32.1%	499 (90.6%)	6 (1.1%)	23 (4.2%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.3%)	82.2	98^th of 686 public high schools	85.7%		96.5	7^th of 674 public high schools	99.0%	91	63.8	75.2	68.8	$10,636	$54	$10,583
Chambersburg Area Senior High School	Public	9-12	511 S 6th St	Chambersburg	17201	Franklin County	Chambersburg Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 261-3328	2,348	129	18.1	60.2%	1,275 (54.3%)	213 (9.1%)	663 (28.2%)	41 (1.7%)	5 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	150 (6.4%)	35.9	483^rd of 686 public high schools	29.6%		23.3	542^nd of 674 public high schools	19.6%	59	34.6	40.0	49.8	$13,320	$670	$12,650
Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School	Public, Magnet	9-12	2459 Loop Road	Chambersburg	17202	Franklin County	Chambersburg Area School District	No	Yes	No	No	(717) 261-5656	719	31	22.8	34.4%	557 (77.5%)	21 (2.9%)	103 (14.3%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	31 (4.3%)	60.8	284^th of 686 public high schools	58.6%		37.2	470^th of 674 public high schools	30.3%	186	45.9	56.4	61.4	$11,073	$396	$10,677
New Oxford Senior High School	Public	9-12	130 Berlin Road	New Oxford	17350	Adams County	Conewago Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 624-2157	1,249	86	14.4	39.3%	946 (75.7%)	17 (1.4%)	239 (19.1%)	5 (0.4%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (3.1%)	53	364^th of 686 public high schools	46.9%		57.4	318^th of 674 public high schools	52.8%	46	44.1	48.4	58.7	$15,960	$197	$15,764

Frequently Asked Questions about Fairfield Area High School

How many students attend Fairfield Area High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 298 students attended Fairfield Area High School.

What district is Fairfield Area High School in?

Fairfield Area School District

What schools feed into Fairfield Area High School?

Fairfield Area High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Fairfield Area Elementary School
Middle : Fairfield Area Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Fairfield Area High School?

Students at Fairfield Area High School are 95% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% African American.

Is Fairfield Area High School a good school?

Fairfield Area High School ranks 425^th of 686 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Fairfield Area High 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.