Kiski Area High School

Q: Is Kiski Area High School a good school?

Kiski Area High School ranks 401 st of 674 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Kiski Area High School is a public high school located in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,126 students. The school is part of the Kiski Area School District, which is ranked 179 out of 606 districts in Pennsylvania and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Kiski Area High School has a predominantly white student population, with 90.94% of students identifying as white, which is significantly higher than the state average and the racial makeup of nearby schools like Plum Senior High School (86.95% white) and Springdale Junior/Senior High School (90.7% white). Academically, the school's performance on Keystone Exams is below the state average in Algebra I, Biology, and Literature, but its four-year graduation rates, ranging from 93.8% to 95.8%, are consistently above the state average. Kiski Area High School also has a relatively high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 30.64% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, which is higher than nearby schools like Freeport Area Senior High School (27.29%) and Plum Senior High School (20.8%).

Despite its academic performance being below the state average in some areas, Kiski Area High School's graduation rates and relatively high per-student spending of $21,845 in the 2021-2022 school year (higher than Plum Senior High School at $18,347 and Freeport Area Senior High School at $17,967) suggest a focus on student success. However, the school's higher student-teacher ratio of 21.6 compared to nearby schools like Freeport Area Senior High School (14.0) and Springdale Junior/Senior High School (7.9) may be a potential area for improvement.

Detail:

Public 9-12

240 Hyde Park Rd
Vandergrift, PA 15690-1466

(724) 845-8181

District: Kiski Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
401^st of 674 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,845

Feeder schools for Kiski Area High School:

Elementary:	Kiski Area East Primary School
	Kiski Area North Primary School
	Kiski Area South Primary School
Middle:	Kiski Area IHS
	Kiski Area Upper Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 21.6

Number of students: 1,126

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.9%

African American:

6.5%

Hispanic:

1.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 30.6%

See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

Compare Kiski Area High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Kiski Area High School ranks worse than 59.5% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 47.23. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Kiski 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 (90.9%), African American (6.5%), Hispanic (1.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 30.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kiski Area High School is 21.6. (See more...)

Compare Kiski Area High School employs 52 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kiski Area High School is $21,845.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Kiski Area High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Kiski Area High School 401^st of 674 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Kiski Area High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Disabled students:

White students:

Kiski Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Kiski Area School District 179^th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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

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Rank History for Kiski Area High School

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Rank History for all students at Kiski Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	84.94	71^st	583	87.8%
2004	65.45	228^th	590	61.4%
2005	83.63	60^th	593	89.9%
2006	79.66	87^th	604	85.6%
2007	79.09	86^th	615	86.0%
2008	72.02	154^th	621	75.2%
2009	75.34	133^rd	632	79.0%
2010	70.07	187^th	649	71.2%
2011	83.39	52^nd	660	92.1%
2012	81.90	71^st	664	89.3%
2013	80.33	87^th	591	85.3%
2014	65.32	212^th	580	63.4%
2015	71.51	209^th	680	69.3%
2016	45.76	464^th	677	31.5%
2017	57.13	367^th	663	44.6%
2018	53.69	408^th	673	39.4%
2019	67.96	274^th	693	60.5%
2021	52.49	325^th	537	39.5%
2022	68.79	213^th	634	66.4%
2023	47.23	401^st	674	40.5%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	27.92	496^th	652	23.9%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Kiski Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	58.45	164^th	502	67.3%

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

Rank History for White students at Kiski Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	29.24	448^th	577	22.4%

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: 4.5)

50%

by a parent
Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Kiski is a good District. It has an awesome music program (best in the state of PA) and it has great activities for all. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Kiski Area High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	1404	0	0	25	0	n/a	n/a	0	1429
1989	1377	28	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1407
1990	1360	31	0	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	1394
1991	1315	40	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1357
1992	1375	37	2	1	2	n/a	n/a	0	1417
1993	1437	38	3	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1479
1994	1402	41	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1447
1995	1398	42	2	6	2	n/a	n/a	0	1450
1996	1398	42	2	6	2	n/a	n/a	0	1450
1997	1386	49	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1438
1998	1390	43	2	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	1437
1999	1434	46	2	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	1484
2000	1430	47	2	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	1481
2001	1410	46	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1459
2002	1341	39	4	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1386
2003	1341	39	4	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1386
2004	1412	43	3	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1461
2005	1429	50	5	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1487
2006	1411	51	7	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	1476
2007	1373	70	3	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	1455
2008	1370	72	6	8	2	n/a	n/a	0	1458
2009	1328	68	6	9	2	n/a	n/a	0	1413
2010	1308	66	4	5	2	n/a	n/a	2	1387
2011	1260	59	1	6	3	0	4	0	1333
2012	1190	58	1	8	2	0	0	0	1259
2013	1206	69	1	7	3	0	0	0	1286
2014	1176	72	1	8	4	0	0	0	1261
2015	1168	69	2	8	4	0	0	0	1251
2016	1177	59	6	8	3	0	0	0	1253
2017	1136	57	8	7	2	0	0	0	1210
2018	1080	50	6	7	2	0	0	0	1145
2019	1054	58	4	10	2	0	1	0	1129
2020	1050	54	3	10	2	0	1	0	1120
2021	1051	60	3	15	2	0	3	0	1134
2022	1020	63	5	13	1	0	4	0	1106
2023	1024	73	6	13	0	0	10	0	1126

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 Kiski Area High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1429	73.0	19.5	n/a
1989	1407	75.0	18.7	n/a
1990	1394	74.0	18.8	0
1991	1357	75.0	18.0	n/a
1992	1417	74.0	19.1	n/a
1993	1479	75.0	19.7	n/a
1994	1447	73.0	19.8	n/a
1995	1450	76.0	19.1	n/a
1996	1450	76.0	19.1	n/a
1997	1438	74.0	19.4	n/a
1998	1437	70.0	20.5	n/a
1999	1484	70.0	21.2	n/a
2000	1481	70.0	21.2	15.2
2001	1459	71.0	20.5	18.2
2002	1386	71.0	19.5	18.8
2003	1386	71.0	19.5	18.8
2004	1461	70.0	20.9	18.8
2005	1487	64.0	23.2	17.5
2006	1476	64.0	23.1	23.1
2007	1455	64.0	22.7	26.7
2008	1458	54.2	26.9	23.3
2009	1413	63.8	22.1	26.3
2010	1387	60.8	22.7	27.5
2011	1333	59.7	22.2	28.7
2012	1259	77.3	16.2	29.5
2013	1286	64.0	20.0	35.2
2014	1261	58.5	21.5	34.2
2015	1251	58.0	21.5	37.7
2016	1253	59.0	21.2	36
2017	1210	45.1	26.8	28.9
2018	1145	55.2	20.7	27.7
2019	1129	52.7	21.3	26.8
2020	1120	52.5	21.3	23.8
2021	1134	51.8	21.8	28.3
2022	1106	52.0	21.2	27.7
2023	1126	52.0	21.6	30.6

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 Kiski Area High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1429	73.0	19.5	n/a
1989	1407	75.0	18.7	n/a
1990	1394	74.0	18.8	0
1991	1357	75.0	18.0	n/a
1992	1417	74.0	19.1	n/a
1993	1479	75.0	19.7	n/a
1994	1447	73.0	19.8	n/a
1995	1450	76.0	19.1	n/a
1996	1450	76.0	19.1	n/a
1997	1438	74.0	19.4	n/a
1998	1437	70.0	20.5	n/a
1999	1484	70.0	21.2	n/a
2000	1481	70.0	21.2	15.2
2001	1459	71.0	20.5	18.2
2002	1386	71.0	19.5	18.8
2003	1386	71.0	19.5	18.8
2004	1461	70.0	20.9	18.8
2005	1487	64.0	23.2	17.5
2006	1476	64.0	23.1	23.1
2007	1455	64.0	22.7	26.7
2008	1458	54.2	26.9	23.3
2009	1413	63.8	22.1	26.3
2010	1387	60.8	22.7	27.5
2011	1333	59.7	22.2	28.7
2012	1259	77.3	16.2	29.5
2013	1286	64.0	20.0	35.2
2014	1261	58.5	21.5	34.2
2015	1251	58.0	21.5	37.7
2016	1253	59.0	21.2	36
2017	1210	45.1	26.8	28.9
2018	1145	55.2	20.7	27.7
2019	1129	52.7	21.3	26.8
2020	1120	52.5	21.3	23.8
2021	1134	51.8	21.8	28.3
2022	1106	52.0	21.2	27.7
2023	1126	52.0	21.6	30.6

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 Kiski Area High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$643 (4.0%)	$15,620 (96.0%)	$16,263
2020	$700 (4.4%)	$15,364 (95.6%)	$16,065
2021	$1,014 (6.4%)	$14,802 (93.6%)	$15,816
2022	$959 (4.4%)	$20,886 (95.6%)	$21,845

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Kiski 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 274^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 401^st of 674 High schools	20%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Kiski Area High School)	67.2	12.6	54.6%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Kiski Area High School)	71.9	45.8	26.1%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Kiski Area High School)	77.6	60.6	17%
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	1129	1126	0.3%
African American	58	73	25.9%
American Indian	2	0	100%
Asian	4	6	50%
Hispanic	10	13	30%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	1054	1024	2.8%
Two or More Races	1	10	900%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	26.8%	30.6%	3.8%

Schools Near Kiski 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
Kiski Area High School	Public	9-12	240 Hyde Park Rd	Vandergrift	15690	Westmoreland County	Kiski Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 845-8181	1,126	52	21.6	30.6%	1,024 (90.9%)	73 (6.5%)	13 (1.2%)	6 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (0.9%)	47.2	401^st of 674 public high schools	40.5%		68.8	213^th of 634 public high schools	66.4%	188	12.6	45.8	60.6									$21,845	$959	$20,886
Leechburg Area High School	Public	9-12	215 1st St	Leechburg	15656	Armstrong County	Leechburg Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 842-0571	186	18	10.3	47.3%	171 (91.9%)	3 (1.6%)	3 (1.6%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.8%)	74.7	153^rd of 674 public high schools	77.3%		78.2	125^th of 634 public high schools	80.3%	28	32.3	64.6	81.3									$20,303	$2,891	$17,412
Burrell High School	Public	9-12	1021 Puckety Church Rd	Lower Burrell	15068	Westmoreland County	Burrell School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 334-1403	579	39	14.9	28.2%	529 (91.4%)	11 (1.9%)	6 (1.0%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (5.0%)	51.8	364^th of 674 public high schools	46.0%		66.9	233^rd of 634 public high schools	63.2%	131	42.2	41.4	62.7									$17,824	$516	$17,308
Highlands Senior High School	Public	9-12	1500 Pacific Ave	Natrona Heights	15065	Allegheny County	Highlands School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 226-1000	713	40	18.0	90.3%	577 (80.9%)	64 (9.0%)	17 (2.4%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (7.0%)	49	387^th of 674 public high schools	42.6%		41.1	447^th of 634 public high schools	29.5%	60	25.2	44.5	66.4									$18,101	$1,271	$16,830
Apollo-Ridge High School	Public	9-12	1825 State Route 56	Spring Church	15686	Armstrong County	Apollo-Ridge School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 478-6000	286	25	11.3	100.0%	259 (90.6%)	3 (1.0%)	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.2%)	90.4	37^th of 674 public high schools	94.5%		78.8	119^th of 634 public high schools	81.2%	82	62.5	70.6	86.3									$31,327	$427	$30,900
Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center	Public	9-12	705 Stevenson Boulevard	New Kensington	15068	Westmoreland County	Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center	No	No	No	No	(724) 335-9389	6	15	.4		5 (83.3%)	1 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Valley Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	703 Stevenson Blvd	New Kensington	15068	Westmoreland County	New Kensington-Arnold School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 337-4536	869	58	14.9	90.0%	397 (45.7%)	290 (33.4%)	23 (2.6%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	153 (17.6%)	8	614^th of 674 public high schools	8.9%		42.9	435^th of 634 public high schools	31.4%	179	4.0	14.1	35.7	8.2	12.4	10.2	39.5	39.5	33.3	43.6	38.4	$15,675	$1,470	$14,206
Freeport Area Senior High School	Public	9-12	625 South Pike Rd	Freeport	16055	Butler County	Freeport Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 295-5143	546	39	14.0	27.3%	516 (94.5%)	3 (0.5%)	6 (1.1%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.7%)	87.6	59^th of 674 public high schools	91.2%		90.8	17^th of 634 public high schools	97.3%	42	51.7	67.8	89.8									$17,967	$352	$17,615
Springdale Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	501 Butler Rd	Springdale	15144	Allegheny County	Allegheny Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 274-8100	387	49	7.9	93.8%	351 (90.7%)	16 (4.1%)	7 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.1%)	61.5	278^th of 674 public high schools	58.8%		58.5	312^th of 634 public high schools	50.8%	34	23.4	50.0	78.2	39.3	17.2	28.6	62.1	62.1	67.2	62.0	64.7	$20,642	$836	$19,807
Plum Senior High School	Public	9-12	900 Elicker Rd	Plum	15239	Allegheny County	Plum Borough School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 795-4880	1,226	70	17.4	20.8%	1,066 (86.9%)	91 (7.4%)	18 (1.5%)	10 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (3.3%)	50.9	373^rd of 674 public high schools	44.7%		60.5	287^th of 634 public high schools	54.7%	86	19.7	46.9	68.3									$18,347	$472	$17,875

Frequently Asked Questions about Kiski Area High School

What district is Kiski Area High School in?

Kiski Area School District

Is Kiski Area High School a good school?

Kiski Area High School ranks 401^st of 674 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Kiski Area High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,126 students attended Kiski Area High School.

What is the racial makeup of Kiski Area High School?

Students at Kiski Area High School are 91% White, 6% African American, 1% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Kiski Area High School?

Kiski Area High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Kiski Area East Primary School
Elementary : Kiski Area North Primary School
Elementary : Kiski Area South Primary School
Middle : Kiski Area IHS
Middle : Kiski Area Upper Elementary 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.