Is Halifax Area Middle School a good school?

Halifax Area Middle School ranks 162 nd of 893 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Halifax Area Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 273 students attended Halifax Area Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Halifax Area Middle School?

Students at Halifax Area Middle School are 89% White, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Halifax Area Middle School attend?

Students who attend Halifax Area Middle School usually go on to attend Halifax Area High School

Halifax Area Middle School

Summary:

Halifax Area Middle School is a public middle school serving 273 students in grades 5-8 in the Halifax Area School District in Halifax, Pennsylvania. The school has a predominantly White student population, with 89.38% of students identifying as White in the 2022-2023 school year.

Halifax Area Middle School stands out for its strong academic performance, ranking 162 out of 893 Pennsylvania middle schools in 2022-2023 and receiving a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates in PSSA exams are generally higher than the state and district averages, particularly in Science and English Language Arts. In 2022-2023, 80.7% of students were proficient or better in PSSA Science, compared to 65.6% statewide and 75.9% in the Halifax Area School District. The school also maintains an impressive 0.0% dropout rate. However, the school's academic performance and ranking have shown some fluctuations over the years, and the recent decrease in spending per student from $20,568 in 2019-2020 to $12,519 in 2021-2022 is an area that warrants further investigation.

Compared to nearby schools, Susquehanna Township Middle School and Camp Curtin Academy have much more diverse student populations, with higher percentages of African American and Hispanic students. This contrasts with Halifax Area Middle School's significantly higher percentage of White students, ranging from 89.38% to 93.19% over the past three school years. Additionally, while Halifax Area Middle School's spending per student has decreased, some nearby schools, such as Susquehanna Township Middle School ($21,996 in 2021-2022) and Camp Curtin Academy ($18,377 in 2021-2022), have higher spending per student.

Detail:

Public 5-8

3940 Peters Mountain Rd
Halifax, PA 17032

(717) 896-3416

District: Halifax Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
162^nd of 893 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,519

Students who attend Halifax Area Middle School usually attend:

High:

Halifax Area High School

Feeder schools for Halifax Area Middle School:

Elementary:

Halifax Area Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.0

Number of students: 273

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.4%

Hispanic:

4.8%

Two or more races:

2.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 31.1%

See top rated Pennsylvania middle schools

Compare Halifax Area Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Halifax Area Middle School ranks better than 81.9% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 78.47. (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 (89.4%), Hispanic (4.8%), two or more races (2.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 31.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Halifax Area Middle School is 13. (See more...)

Compare Halifax Area Middle School employs 21 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Halifax Area Middle School is $12,519.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Halifax Area Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Halifax Area Middle School 162^nd of 893 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Halifax Area Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

Halifax Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Halifax Area School District 184^th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Halifax Area Middle School?

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Rank History for Halifax Area Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Halifax Area Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	48.47	414^th	643	35.6%
2004	54.32	374^th	663	43.6%
2005	43.16	468^th	687	31.9%
2006	60.20	347^th	736	52.9%
2007	64.05	298^th	749	60.2%
2008	59.54	360^th	753	52.2%
2009	63.46	316^th	770	59.0%
2010	59.91	390^th	805	51.6%
2011	64.89	347^th	825	57.9%
2012	68.97	298^th	834	64.3%
2013	71.48	226^th	758	70.2%
2014	60.21	337^th	728	53.7%
2015	45.24	499^th	835	40.2%
2016	41.81	545^th	870	37.4%
2017	38.75	563^rd	877	35.8%
2018	52.88	452^nd	861	47.5%
2019	55.53	441^st	891	50.5%
2021	42.13	483^rd	797	39.4%
2022	56.24	394^th	883	55.4%
2023	78.47	162^nd	893	81.9%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Halifax Area Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	77.25	123^rd	874	85.9%

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

Rank History for White students at Halifax Area Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	68.26	176^th	681	74.2%

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 Halifax Area Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	287	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	288
1989	301	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	301
1990	312	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	312
1991	287	1	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	290
1992	318	0	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	322
1993	320	0	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	324
1994	351	0	4	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	357
1995	333	2	7	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	343
1996	333	2	7	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	343
1997	309	1	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	315
1998	315	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	318
1999	312	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	313
2000	302	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	305
2001	288	1	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	294
2002	275	4	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	282
2003	275	4	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	282
2004	288	5	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	295
2005	298	7	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	305
2006	300	5	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	306
2007	290	5	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	297
2008	280	4	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	286
2009	274	1	1	4	1	n/a	n/a	1	282
2010	268	2	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	4	277
2011	237	1	0	7	0	0	3	0	248
2012	239	2	0	5	1	0	5	0	252
2013	223	3	1	2	1	0	6	0	236
2014	241	3	4	6	1	0	5	0	260
2015	237	3	6	7	0	0	5	0	258
2016	237	4	6	7	0	0	4	0	258
2017	220	4	4	10	0	0	2	0	240
2018	215	2	3	7	0	0	2	0	229
2019	205	5	4	11	0	0	4	0	229
2020	218	5	4	13	0	0	9	0	249
2021	210	4	3	11	0	0	6	0	234
2022	260	1	4	9	0	0	5	0	279
2023	244	4	4	13	0	0	8	0	273

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 Halifax Area Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	288	19.7	14.6	n/a
1989	301	19.3	15.5	n/a
1990	312	21.5	14.5	0
1991	290	22.3	13.0	n/a
1992	322	23.3	13.8	n/a
1993	324	15.0	21.6	n/a
1994	357	15.0	23.8	n/a
1995	343	19.0	18.1	n/a
1996	343	19.0	18.1	n/a
1997	315	21.0	15.0	n/a
1998	318	21.5	14.8	n/a
1999	313	24.5	12.8	n/a
2000	305	26.0	11.7	0
2001	294	25.0	11.8	0
2002	282	25.3	11.1	0
2003	282	25.3	11.1	0
2004	295	25.4	11.6	0
2005	305	26.3	11.6	0
2006	306	25.3	12.1	0
2007	297	25.7	11.6	0
2008	286	35.9	8.0	n/a
2009	282	27.0	10.4	n/a
2010	277	27.2	10.1	27.8
2011	248	24.4	10.1	25.8
2012	252	22.3	11.2	27
2013	236	23.0	10.2	33.9
2014	260	22.6	11.4	31.9
2015	258	23.0	11.2	41.5
2016	258	23.0	11.2	36
2017	240	21.7	11.0	n/a
2018	229	22.1	10.3	n/a
2019	229	22.1	10.3	30.6
2020	249	22.1	11.2	n/a
2021	234	21.1	11.0	36.8
2022	279	21.1	13.1	28.3
2023	273	21.0	13.0	31.1

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 Halifax Area Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	288	19.7	14.6	n/a
1989	301	19.3	15.5	n/a
1990	312	21.5	14.5	0
1991	290	22.3	13.0	n/a
1992	322	23.3	13.8	n/a
1993	324	15.0	21.6	n/a
1994	357	15.0	23.8	n/a
1995	343	19.0	18.1	n/a
1996	343	19.0	18.1	n/a
1997	315	21.0	15.0	n/a
1998	318	21.5	14.8	n/a
1999	313	24.5	12.8	n/a
2000	305	26.0	11.7	0
2001	294	25.0	11.8	0
2002	282	25.3	11.1	0
2003	282	25.3	11.1	0
2004	295	25.4	11.6	0
2005	305	26.3	11.6	0
2006	306	25.3	12.1	0
2007	297	25.7	11.6	0
2008	286	35.9	8.0	n/a
2009	282	27.0	10.4	n/a
2010	277	27.2	10.1	27.8
2011	248	24.4	10.1	25.8
2012	252	22.3	11.2	27
2013	236	23.0	10.2	33.9
2014	260	22.6	11.4	31.9
2015	258	23.0	11.2	41.5
2016	258	23.0	11.2	36
2017	240	21.7	11.0	n/a
2018	229	22.1	10.3	n/a
2019	229	22.1	10.3	30.6
2020	249	22.1	11.2	n/a
2021	234	21.1	11.0	36.8
2022	279	21.1	13.1	28.3
2023	273	21.0	13.0	31.1

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 Halifax Area Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$00 (0.0%)	$18,549 (100.0%)	$18,549
2020	$00 (0.0%)	$20,568 (100.0%)	$20,568
2021	$00 (0.0%)	$13,258 (100.0%)	$13,258
2022	$00 (0.0%)	$12,519 (100.0%)	$12,519

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Halifax Area 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 441^st of 891 Middle schools	Ranks 162^nd of 893 Middle schools	31.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade Math (Halifax Area Middle School)	12.3	33.9	21.6%
6th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	39	36.4	2.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Halifax Area Middle School)	49.4	66.2	16.8%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63	55.6	7.4%
7th Grade Math (Halifax Area Middle School)	40.7	37.3	3.4%
7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	38.2	33.2	5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Halifax Area Middle School)	75	73.1	1.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	60.5	54.5	6%
8th Grade Math (Halifax Area Middle School)	32.4	45.6	13.2%
8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	32.2	26	6.2%
8th Grade Science (Halifax Area Middle School)	63.4	80.7	17.3%
8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	58.2	57	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Halifax Area Middle School)	69	70.2	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	57.9	52.8	5.1%
All Grades Math (Halifax Area Middle School)	27.3	38.9	11.6%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Halifax Area Middle School)	63.4	80.7	17.3%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Halifax Area Middle School)	63.5	65.4	1.9%
All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	60.9	53.8	7.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	229	273	19.2%
African American	5	4	20%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	4	4
Hispanic	11	13	18.2%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	205	244	19%
Two or More Races	4	8	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	30.6%	31.1%	0.6%

Schools Near Halifax Area Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				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	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
Halifax Area Middle School	Public	5-8	3940 Peters Mountain Rd	Halifax	17032	Dauphin County	Halifax Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 896-3416	273	21	13.0	31.1%	244 (89.4%)	4 (1.5%)	13 (4.8%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.9%)	78.5	162^nd of 893 public middle schools	81.9%		56.2	394^th of 883 public middle schools	55.4%	232	39.7	33.9	37.3	45.6	38.9	80.7	80.7	53.0	66.2	73.1	70.2	65.4	$12,519	$00	$12,519
Millersburg Area Middle School	Public	6-8	799 Center St	Millersburg	17061	Dauphin County	Millersburg Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 692-2108	157	15	10.7	38.9%	142 (90.4%)	2 (1.3%)	7 (4.5%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.5%)	47.5	499^th of 893 public middle schools	44.1%		59.6	359^th of 883 public middle schools	59.3%	140		32.1	35.4	11.8	26.5	62.7	62.7		47.3	50.0	40.3	45.8	$16,488	$165	$16,324
Susquenita Middle School	Public	5-8	200 Susquenita Dr	Duncannon	17020	Perry County	Susquenita School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 957-6000	569	40	14.2	38.5%	483 (84.9%)	4 (0.7%)	27 (4.7%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.8%)	47.5	500^th of 893 public middle schools	44.0%		49.4	474^th of 883 public middle schools	46.3%	26	33.1	34.0	29.6	10.1	27.7	59.6	59.6	47.7	50.0	40.8	54.1	47.9	$15,152	$472	$14,680
Newport Middle School	Public	6-8	500 Caroline Street	Newport	17074	Perry County	Newport School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 567-3806	232	21	10.8	49.6%	213 (91.8%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.3%)	53.5	429^th of 893 public middle schools	52.0%		51.8	446^th of 883 public middle schools	49.5%	17		44.2	26.8	20.9	31.2	63.9	63.9		53.9	32.1	51.4	47.0	$20,509	$3,056	$17,453
Linglestown Middle School	Public	6-8	1200 N Mountain Rd	Harrisburg	17112	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 657-3060	808	55	14.6	99.4%	443 (54.8%)	127 (15.7%)	81 (10.0%)	90 (11.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (8.2%)	60.5	351^st of 893 public middle schools	60.7%		59.5	360^th of 883 public middle schools	59.2%	9		33.5	29.8	24.2	29.0	62.3	62.3		62.7	52.0	58.8	57.9	$13,952	$926	$13,026
East Pennsboro Area Middle School	Public	6-8	529 Panther Parkway	Enola	17025	Cumberland County	East Pennsboro Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 732-0771	563	48	11.8	50.4%	365 (64.8%)	53 (9.4%)	58 (10.3%)	42 (7.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (7.8%)	48.6	488^th of 893 public middle schools	45.4%		51.3	451^st of 883 public middle schools	48.9%	37		30.2	29.4	10.7	23.6	51.2	51.2		54.3	62.1	44.4	53.6	$12,833	$264	$12,569
Upper Dauphin Area Middle School	Public	5-8	5668 State Route 209	Lykens	17048	Dauphin County	Upper Dauphin Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 362-8177	312	24	13.2	48.1%	278 (89.1%)	11 (3.5%)	13 (4.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.9%)	61.4	339^th of 893 public middle schools	62.0%		61.3	335^th of 883 public middle schools	62.1%	4	30.2	26.7	42.8	40.3	34.9	61.2	61.2	42.1	52.9	53.5	49.3	49.3	$14,926	$790	$14,136
Camp Curtin Academy	Public	6-8	2900 N 6th Street	Harrisburg	17110	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 703-4200	482	37	12.9	100.0%	15 (3.1%)	274 (56.8%)	170 (35.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.4%)	5	886^th of 893 public middle schools	0.8%		5.2	879^th of 883 public middle schools	0.5%	7		0.8	0.0	0.8	0.6	14.0	14.0		15.0	6.5	8.4	10.1	$21,996	$571	$21,425
Central Dauphin Middle School	Public	6-8	4600 Locust Lane	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 540-4606	848	54	15.7	33.3%	596 (70.3%)	87 (10.3%)	56 (6.6%)	59 (7.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (5.7%)	75.1	197^th of 893 public middle schools	77.9%		74	199^th of 883 public middle schools	77.5%	2		39.3	44.2	31.0	38.2	66.1	66.1		70.7	59.7	72.0	67.5	$14,040	$694	$13,346
Greenwood Middle School	Public	6-8	405 E Sunbury St	Millerstown	17062	Perry County	Greenwood School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 589-3116	190	16	11.8	37.4%	179 (94.2%)	4 (2.1%)	4 (2.1%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	77.9	165^th of 893 public middle schools	81.5%		72.6	215^th of 883 public middle schools	75.7%	50		48.2	31.3	28.1	35.5	81.0	81.0		71.4	76.1	69.0	72.4	$16,264	$00	$16,264

Halifax Area Middle School

Halifax Area Middle School:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Halifax Area School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Halifax Area Middle School

Rank History for all students at Halifax Area Middle School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Halifax Area Middle School

Rank History for White students at Halifax Area Middle School

Enrollment information for Halifax Area Middle School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Halifax Area Middle School

Student/Teacher Ratio Halifax Area Middle School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Halifax Area Middle School

Impact of COVID-19 on Halifax Area Middle School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Halifax Area Middle School