Is Cougar Academy a good school?

Cougar Academy ranks in the bottom 3.3% of Pennsylvania alternative schools.

How many students attend Cougar Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 389 students attended Cougar Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Cougar Academy?

Students at Cougar Academy are 51% Hispanic, 43% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% White.

Cougar Academy

Summary:

Cougar Academy is an alternative public magnet school located in Harrisburg City School District, Pennsylvania, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 389 students. While the school has some unique characteristics, its academic performance lags behind both state averages and nearby charter schools.

Cougar Academy has had varying four-year graduation rates, ranging from 68.7% to 100.0%, which are generally lower than the state average of around 86-87%. The school also has higher dropout rates, ranging from 1.6% to 7.0%, compared to the state average. Academically, Cougar Academy's test scores on the PSSA and Keystone Exams are significantly lower than the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 4.9% of Cougar Academy students were proficient or better in PSSA Math, compared to the state average of 40.4%. Additionally, Cougar Academy has an extremely high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 98.88% to 100% in recent years, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

When comparing Cougar Academy to the nearby Reach Cyber Charter School and Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School, the performance gap is significant. Both of the nearby charter schools outperform Cougar Academy on nearly all academic metrics, including test scores, graduation rates, and dropout rates. This suggests that the challenges faced by Cougar Academy, such as the high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, may require a more targeted and collaborative approach to improve student outcomes.

Detail:

Public, Magnet, Alternative K-12

1601 State St
Harrisburg, PA 17103

(717) 703-4325

District: Harrisburg City School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
1476^th of 1,526 Pennsylvania Alternative Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,911

Student/teacher ratio: 12.1

Number of students: 389

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

51.2%

African American:

42.7%

Two or more races:

3.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

Compare Cougar Academy to nearby alternative schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Cougar Academy ranks worse than 96.7% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 4.73. (See more...)

Compare Details Cougar Academy ranks worse than 95.4% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 7.07. (See more...)

Compare Details Cougar Academy ranks worse than 97.5% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 2.55. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Cougar Academy 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: Hispanic (51.2%), African American (42.7%), two or more races (3.6%). (See more...)

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

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Cougar Academy is 12.1. (See more...)

Compare Cougar Academy employs 32.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Cougar Academy is $13,911.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Cougar Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Cougar Academy 1476^th of 1526 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Cougar Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

SchoolDigger ranks Cougar Academy 850^th of 891 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Cougar Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

SchoolDigger ranks Cougar Academy 669^th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Cougar Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Hispanic students:

Harrisburg City School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Harrisburg City School District 575^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Cougar Academy

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile
2019	3.05	1506^th	1544	2.5%
2021	4.62	1375^th	1433	4.0%
2022	5.93	1446^th	1534	5.7%
2023	5.52	1457^th	1534	5.0%
2024	4.73	1476^th	1526	3.3%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	8.21	1341^st	1414	5.2%
2024	6.62	1389^th	1432	3.0%

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

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	3.80	1461^st	1488	1.8%

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

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	8.53	1373^rd	1495	8.2%

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

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	25.56	344^th	437	21.3%
2024	18.10	407^th	437	6.9%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Alternative Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	14.38	399^th	432	7.6%
2024	9.13	442^nd	454	2.6%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Alternative Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Cougar Academy

Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile
2019	4.62	861^st	891	3.4%
2021	7.54	747^th	797	6.3%
2022	7.69	833^rd	883	5.7%
2023	7.41	837^th	893	6.3%
2024	7.07	850^th	891	4.6%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	10.12	820^th	874	6.2%
2024	9.13	831^st	877	5.2%

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

Rank History for middle school Female students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	7.40	805^th	860	6.4%

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

Rank History for middle school Male students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	7.58	833^rd	870	4.3%

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

Rank History for middle school African American students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	19.50	387^th	421	8.1%
2024	22.45	346^th	408	15.2%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Alternative Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	18.31	318^th	362	12.2%
2024	13.75	341^st	362	5.8%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Alternative Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Cougar Academy

Compare

Rank History for all high school students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2019	0.82	684^th	693	1.3%
2022	7.96	578^th	634	8.8%
2023	6.05	629^th	674	6.7%
2024	2.55	669^th	686	2.5%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	7.15	616^th	652	5.5%
2024	3.59	651^st	664	2.0%

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

Rank History for high school Female students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	3.79	640^th	665	3.8%

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

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at Cougar Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	3.55	274^th	274	0.0%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Alternative Schools for Hispanic 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 Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for Cougar Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Two or More Races	Total
2017	10	125	0	71	2	208
2018	12	156	3	71	7	249
2019	11	122	3	67	2	205
2020	8	132	1	92	9	242
2021	12	129	1	117	9	268
2022	13	140	1	139	12	305
2023	9	166	1	199	14	389

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 Cougar Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	208	3.5	59.4	74.5
2018	249	11.0	22.6	81.1
2019	205	13.0	15.7	100
2020	242	18.5	13.0	100
2021	268	18.5	14.4	98.9
2022	305	26.0	11.7	99
2023	389	32.1	12.1	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 Cougar Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	208	3.5	59.4	74.5
2018	249	11.0	22.6	81.1
2019	205	13.0	15.7	100
2020	242	18.5	13.0	100
2021	268	18.5	14.4	98.9
2022	305	26.0	11.7	99
2023	389	32.1	12.1	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 Cougar Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$840 (6.9%)	$11,319 (93.1%)	$12,159
2020	$1,075 (12.4%)	$7,601 (87.6%)	$8,676
2021	$598 (5.2%)	$10,826 (94.8%)	$11,423
2022	$361 (2.6%)	$13,550 (97.4%)	$13,911

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Cougar Academy

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 1506^th of 1544 Elementary schools	Ranks 1457^th of 1534 Elementary schools	2.6%
Ranks 861^st of 891 Middle schools	Ranks 837^th of 893 Middle schools	2.9%
Ranks 684^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 629^th of 674 High schools	5.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Cougar Academy)	0	5	5%
3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	56	51.7	4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Cougar Academy)	16.7	15	1.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	61.9	54	7.9%
4th Grade Math (Cougar Academy)	0	8.3	8.3%
4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	46.2	46.5	0.3%
4th Grade Science (Cougar Academy)	33.3	41.7	8.4%
4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	77.8	74.1	3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Cougar Academy)	25	16.7	8.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63.6	51.8	11.8%
5th Grade Math (Cougar Academy)	0	5.4	5.4%
5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	43	42.7	0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Cougar Academy)	15.4	15.8	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	58.5	53.6	4.9%
6th Grade Math (Cougar Academy)	0	4.2	4.2%
6th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	39	36.4	2.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Cougar Academy)	23.1	12.5	10.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63	55.6	7.4%
7th Grade Math (Cougar Academy)	3.7	4.8	1.1%
7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	38.2	33.2	5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Cougar Academy)	18.5	4.8	13.7%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	60.5	54.5	6%
8th Grade Math (Cougar Academy)	0	0
8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	32.2	26	6.2%
8th Grade Science (Cougar Academy)	13.3	25	11.7%
8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	58.2	57	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Cougar Academy)	13.3	22.2	8.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	57.9	52.8	5.1%
11th Grade Algebra I (Cougar Academy)	5	6.7	1.7%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Cougar Academy)	0	12.5	12.5%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Cougar Academy)	15.8	20	4.2%
11th Grade Literature (Pennsylvania)	71.5	65.3	6.2%
All Grades Math (Cougar Academy)	1	4.2	3.2%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Cougar Academy)	22.2	30.8	8.6%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Cougar Academy)	19	14.3	4.7%
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	205	389	89.8%
African American	122	166	36.1%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	1	66.7%
Hispanic	67	199	197%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	11	9	18.2%
Two or More Races	2	14	600%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Cougar Academy

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				Keystone Exams Algebra I (2024)	Keystone Exams Biology (2024)	Keystone Exams Literature (2024)	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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th Grade	PSSA Math 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA Science 4th Grade	PSSA Science 8th Grade	PSSA Science All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	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
Cougar Academy	Public, Magnet, Alternative	K-12	1601 State St	Harrisburg	17103	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(717) 703-4325	389	32	12.1	100.0%	9 (2.3%)	166 (42.7%)	199 (51.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.6%)								(n/a)	4.5	4.8	9.1	11.1	4.2	5.3	6.4	0.0	5.8	4.9	13.0	5.7	8.6	11.1	8.7	11.1	17.6	14.3	16.7	14.0	$13,911	$361	$13,550
Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	One Innovation Way	Harrisburg	17110	Dauphin County	Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	(717) 710-3300	20,355	1,171	17.3		11,678 (57.4%)	3,385 (16.6%)	3,532 (17.4%)	199 (1.0%)	69 (0.3%)	49 (0.2%)	1,443 (7.1%)								(n/a)	17.6	26.5	43.2	23.3	24.9	19.4	17.0	12.1	10.7	16.5	76.2	54.2	61.9	38.5	40.6	39.4	40.0	45.6	44.6	42.1	$11,825	$2,427	$9,398
Reach Cyber Charter School	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	750 East Park Drive	Harrisburg	17111	Dauphin County	Reach Cyber Charter School	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	(717) 704-8437	6,918	483	14.3		3,587 (51.9%)	1,626 (23.5%)	1,044 (15.1%)	52 (0.8%)	39 (0.6%)	6 (0.1%)	564 (8.2%)								(n/a)	9.1	17.8	41.5	14.8	9.3	6.8	6.1	7.4	4.3	7.6	46.6	39.7	42.0	23.5	11.4	13.5	23.2	23.0	22.6	20.3	$15,453	$1,823	$13,630

Cougar Academy

Cougar Academy:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Harrisburg City School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Cougar Academy

Rank History for all elementary school students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for Cougar Academy

Rank History for all middle school students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for middle school Female students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for middle school Male students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for middle school African American students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for Cougar Academy

Rank History for all high school students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for high school Female students at Cougar Academy

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at Cougar Academy

Enrollment information for Cougar Academy

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Cougar Academy

Student/Teacher Ratio Cougar Academy

Per Pupil Expenditures for Cougar Academy

Impact of COVID-19 on Cougar Academy

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Cougar Academy

Cougar Academy

Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School

Reach Cyber Charter School

Frequently Asked Questions about Cougar Academy

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