North Star High School

Q: Is North Star High School a good school?

North Star High School ranks 504 th of 674 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Summary:

North Star High School is a public high school located in Boswell, Pennsylvania, serving 340 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Somerset Area School District. While the school has maintained high graduation rates, analysis of its data reveals several areas of concern, including racial homogeneity, declining academic performance, high poverty rates, and fluctuating funding.

North Star High School stands out for its significantly higher percentage of white students (96.47%) compared to the more diverse student populations of surrounding schools like Shade Junior/Senior High School and Greater Johnstown Senior High School. The school's ranking has also declined over the years, from a high of 126 in 2014-2015 to a low of 504 in 2022-2023, suggesting its performance may be declining relative to other high schools in Pennsylvania. Despite its high graduation rates, North Star High School's test scores on the Keystone Exams are significantly lower than the state averages, particularly in Algebra I, where the school's proficiency rate is only 7.7% compared to the state's 34.1%.

Further analysis reveals that North Star High School serves a population with significant economic challenges, with a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 69.71% to 79.87% over the past three years. This is significantly higher than the surrounding schools. The school's spending per student has also fluctuated over the years, ranging from $16,388 to $20,841, which may indicate budgetary challenges or changes in funding sources that could impact the resources available to support student learning.

Detail:

Public 9-12

400 Ohio St
Boswell, PA 15531-1237

(814) 629-6651

District: North Star School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
504^th of 674 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,105

Feeder schools for North Star High School:

Elementary:	North Star Central Elementary School
Middle:	North Star East Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.0

Number of students: 340

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.5%

Hispanic:

1.8%

Two or more races:

1.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 69.7%

See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

Compare North Star High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details North Star High School ranks worse than 74.8% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 30.91. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of North Star 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 (96.5%), Hispanic (1.8%), two or more races (1.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 69.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at North Star High School is 13. (See more...)

Compare North Star High School employs 26.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at North Star High School is $19,105.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

North Star High School:

SchoolDigger ranks North Star High School 504^th of 674 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See North Star High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

North Star School District:

SchoolDigger ranks North Star School District 235^th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for North Star High School

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Rank History for all students at North Star High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	57.74	281^st	583	51.8%
2004	46.37	369^th	590	37.5%
2005	36.36	455^th	593	23.3%
2006	48.06	390^th	604	35.4%
2007	70.07	185^th	615	69.9%
2008	47.91	396^th	621	36.2%
2009	44.97	440^th	632	30.4%
2010	44.76	435^th	649	33.0%
2011	68.68	225^th	660	65.9%
2012	57.12	350^th	664	47.3%
2013	73.78	127^th	591	78.5%
2014	59.04	275^th	580	52.6%
2015	77.98	126^th	680	81.5%
2016	76.72	136^th	677	79.9%
2017	73.01	201^st	663	69.7%
2018	66.88	294^th	673	56.3%
2019	66.63	288^th	693	58.4%
2022	73.40	186^th	634	70.7%
2023	30.91	504^th	674	25.2%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at North Star High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	58.50	278^th	652	57.4%

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

Rank History for White students at North Star High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	15.67	521^st	577	9.7%

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

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Enrollment information for North Star High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	534	0	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	536
1989	494	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	496
1990	503	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	503
1991	486	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	486
1992	500	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	501
1993	526	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	528
1994	531	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	533
1995	526	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	528
1996	526	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	528
1997	535	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	537
1998	519	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	521
1999	506	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	507
2000	492	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	494
2001	488	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	489
2002	455	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	456
2003	455	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	456
2004	441	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	441
2005	452	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	453
2006	438	2	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	441
2007	444	0	0	3	n/a	n/a	0	447
2008	462	2	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	466
2009	454	4	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	461
2010	429	5	1	1	n/a	n/a	1	437
2011	420	3	0	2	0	2	0	427
2012	386	2	0	2	0	2	0	392
2013	397	2	0	1	0	0	0	400
2014	389	1	0	1	0	0	0	391
2015	353	0	0	0	1	0	0	354
2016	340	0	0	1	1	1	0	343
2017	336	0	2	2	2	1	0	343
2018	333	3	0	1	2	7	0	346
2019	319	3	0	2	1	6	0	331
2020	310	4	0	3	1	9	0	327
2021	293	5	0	2	0	8	0	308
2022	322	4	0	2	0	3	0	331
2023	328	1	0	6	0	5	0	340

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 North Star High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	536	34.0	15.7	n/a
1989	496	34.0	14.5	n/a
1990	503	34.0	14.7	0
1991	486	34.0	14.2	n/a
1992	501	29.6	16.9	n/a
1993	528	27.0	19.6	n/a
1994	533	26.0	20.5	n/a
1995	528	26.0	20.3	n/a
1996	528	26.0	20.3	n/a
1997	537	26.0	20.7	n/a
1998	521	28.0	18.6	n/a
1999	507	30.0	16.9	n/a
2000	494	31.0	15.9	37.9
2001	489	30.0	16.3	18.2
2002	456	28.6	15.9	34.4
2003	456	28.6	15.9	34.4
2004	441	30.8	14.3	40.8
2005	453	30.3	15.0	34.7
2006	441	30.7	14.4	38.5
2007	447	32.1	13.9	38.5
2008	466	31.4	14.8	40.6
2009	461	32.3	14.3	39
2010	437	32.8	13.3	47.5
2011	427	33.8	12.6	44.7
2012	392	33.8	11.5	46.4
2013	400	30.8	12.9	52
2014	391	30.5	12.8	44
2015	354	30.0	11.8	42.1
2016	343	30.0	11.4	48.4
2017	343	31.0	11.0	35.9
2018	346	25.6	13.5	41.3
2019	331	26.6	12.4	43.2
2020	327	27.6	11.8	40.4
2021	308	27.6	11.1	79.9
2022	331	27.1	12.2	76.7
2023	340	26.1	13.0	69.7

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 North Star High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	536	34.0	15.7	n/a
1989	496	34.0	14.5	n/a
1990	503	34.0	14.7	0
1991	486	34.0	14.2	n/a
1992	501	29.6	16.9	n/a
1993	528	27.0	19.6	n/a
1994	533	26.0	20.5	n/a
1995	528	26.0	20.3	n/a
1996	528	26.0	20.3	n/a
1997	537	26.0	20.7	n/a
1998	521	28.0	18.6	n/a
1999	507	30.0	16.9	n/a
2000	494	31.0	15.9	37.9
2001	489	30.0	16.3	18.2
2002	456	28.6	15.9	34.4
2003	456	28.6	15.9	34.4
2004	441	30.8	14.3	40.8
2005	453	30.3	15.0	34.7
2006	441	30.7	14.4	38.5
2007	447	32.1	13.9	38.5
2008	466	31.4	14.8	40.6
2009	461	32.3	14.3	39
2010	437	32.8	13.3	47.5
2011	427	33.8	12.6	44.7
2012	392	33.8	11.5	46.4
2013	400	30.8	12.9	52
2014	391	30.5	12.8	44
2015	354	30.0	11.8	42.1
2016	343	30.0	11.4	48.4
2017	343	31.0	11.0	35.9
2018	346	25.6	13.5	41.3
2019	331	26.6	12.4	43.2
2020	327	27.6	11.8	40.4
2021	308	27.6	11.1	79.9
2022	331	27.1	12.2	76.7
2023	340	26.1	13.0	69.7

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 North Star High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$774 (3.7%)	$20,066 (96.3%)	$20,840
2020	$777 (4.7%)	$15,611 (95.3%)	$16,388
2021	$1,261 (6.8%)	$17,265 (93.2%)	$18,526
2022	$2,447 (12.8%)	$16,658 (87.2%)	$19,105

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on North Star 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 288^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 504^th of 674 High schools	33.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (North Star High School)	70.4	7.7	62.7%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (North Star High School)	69.4	44	25.4%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (North Star High School)	74.6	49.3	25.3%
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	331	340	2.7%
African American	3	1	66.7%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	2	6	200%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	319	328	2.8%
Two or More Races	6	5	16.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	43.2%	69.7%	26.5%

Schools Near North Star 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 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 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
North Star High School	Public	9-12	400 Ohio St	Boswell	15531	Somerset County	North Star School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 629-6651	340	26	13.0	69.7%	328 (96.5%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	30.9	504^th of 674 public high schools	25.2%		73.4	186^th of 634 public high schools	70.7%	318	7.7	44.0	49.3											$19,105	$2,447	$16,658
Conemaugh Township Area Middle School/Senior High School	Public	6-12	300 West Campus Ave	Davidsville	15928	Somerset County	Conemaugh Township Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 479-4014	493	36	13.5	33.9%	473 (95.9%)	2 (0.4%)	6 (1.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	75.6	145^th of 674 public high schools	78.5%		81.7	96^th of 634 public high schools	84.9%	49	38.5	62.9	77.8	60.9	40.9	36.4	46.5	59.3	59.3	86.0	72.8	55.4	72.0	$15,090	$480	$14,611
Ferndale Area Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	600 Harlan Ave	Johnstown	15905	Cambria County	Ferndale Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 288-5757	283	27	10.3	56.9%	220 (77.7%)	26 (9.2%)	15 (5.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.1%)	47.8	398^th of 674 public high schools	40.9%		17.3	541^st of 634 public high schools	14.7%	143	27.2	54.9	53.3		18.8	33.3	25.3	63.4	63.4		55.1	62.8	58.7	$22,351	$2,528	$19,823
Somerset County Technology Center	Public	9-12	281 Technology Drive	Somerset	15501	Somerset County	Somerset County Technology Center	No	No	No	No	(814) 443-3651	12	17	.7		10 (83.3%)	1 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (8.3%)								(n/a)
Westmont Hilltop Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	200 Fair Oaks Dr	Johnstown	15905	Cambria County	Westmont Hilltop School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 255-8726	725	53	13.6	37.8%	614 (84.7%)	26 (3.6%)	26 (3.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	54 (7.4%)	30.3	507^th of 674 public high schools	24.8%		42.2	441^st of 634 public high schools	30.4%	66	15.7	38.9	51.5		26.8	25.5	26.1	67.6	67.6		63.4	66.0	64.7	$13,761	$574	$13,187
Somerset Area Junior-Senior High School	Public	6-12	645 South Columbia Ave	Somerset	15501	Somerset County	Somerset Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 443-2381	1,088	90	12.0	43.6%	997 (91.6%)	14 (1.3%)	39 (3.6%)	9 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (2.6%)	77.9	129^th of 674 public high schools	80.9%		58.9	306^th of 634 public high schools	51.7%	177	44.4	57.9	83.6	52.6	38.3	27.4	39.2	64.8	64.8	70.6	67.1	70.0	69.2	$19,040	$1,116	$17,924
Shade Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	203 McGregor Ave	Cairnbrook	15924	Somerset County	Shade-Central City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 754-4648	164	17	9.7	59.8%	158 (96.3%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.4%)	48.8	390^th of 674 public high schools	42.1%		50	388^th of 634 public high schools	38.8%	2	37.5	29.0	70.6		33.3	12.0	20.0	56.0	56.0		46.7	56.0	52.5	$23,682	$884	$22,798
Greater Johnstown Senior High School	Public	8-12	222 Central Ave	Johnstown	15902	Cambria County	Greater Johnstown School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 533-5670	894	73	12.1	98.5%	364 (40.7%)	331 (37.0%)	41 (4.6%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	155 (17.3%)	11.1	596^th of 674 public high schools	11.6%		11	564^th of 634 public high schools	11.0%	32	8.8	23.9	31.0			2.0	2.0	29.1	29.1			21.4	21.4	$16,092	$2,329	$13,763
Windber Area High School	Public	9-12	2301 Graham Ave	Windber	15963	Somerset County	Windber Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 467-4567	332	27	12.2	32.2%	315 (94.9%)	2 (0.6%)	7 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	70.6	199^th of 674 public high schools	70.5%		72.1	195^th of 634 public high schools	69.2%	4	34.9	57.3	77.0											$16,899	$1,577	$15,322
Shanksville-Stonycreek High School	Public	9-12	1325 Corner Stone Rd	Shanksville	15560	Somerset County	Shanksville-Stonycreek School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 267-4649	80	8	10.2	21.3%	76 (95.0%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.8%)	62.4	271^st of 674 public high schools	59.8%		80.8	105^th of 634 public high schools	83.4%	166		47.4	73.7											$330	$16	$314

Frequently Asked Questions about North Star High School

What district is North Star High School in?

North Star School District

What is the racial makeup of North Star High School?

Students at North Star High School are 96% White, 2% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

What schools feed into North Star High School?

North Star High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : North Star Central Elementary School
Middle : North Star East Middle School

How many students attend North Star High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 340 students attended North Star High School.

Is North Star High School a good school?

North Star High School ranks 504^th of 674 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate North Star 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.