Laurel Middle School

Q: Is Laurel Middle School a good school?

Laurel Middle School ranks 279 th of 893 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Laurel Middle School is a public middle school serving 161 students in grades 7-8 in the New Castle Area School District in New Castle, Pennsylvania. The school has a predominantly white student population, with over 95% of students identifying as white, which is significantly higher than the racial diversity seen in many of the surrounding schools.

Laurel Middle School's academic performance is generally strong, with test scores in Math, Science, and English Language Arts that are higher than the state averages. However, the school's scores lag behind those of the top-performing nearby schools, such as Slippery Rock Area Middle School. The school also maintains an impressive 0% dropout rate, which is a notable achievement. Additionally, Laurel Middle School has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, around 25%, compared to some neighboring schools that have much higher rates, like Wilmington Area Middle School at 99.69%.

While Laurel Middle School performs well in several areas, the school's high percentage of white students and fluctuating per-student spending over the years suggest that there may be opportunities for improvement. The school could benefit from further analysis and comparison to the top-performing schools in the region to identify ways to provide an even more inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students, as well as ensure consistent educational experiences and resources.

Detail:

Public 7-8

2497 Harlansburg RD
New Castle, PA 16101

(724) 658-9056

District: Laurel School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
279^th of 893 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,169

Student/teacher ratio: 20.4

Number of students: 161

Racial breakdown:

White:

97.5%

Two or more races:

1.2%

Asian:

0.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 25.5%

See top rated Pennsylvania middle schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Laurel Middle School ranks better than 68.8% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 66.89. (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 (97.5%), two or more races (1.2%), Asian (0.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 25.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Laurel Middle School is 20.4. (See more...)

Compare Laurel Middle School employs 7.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Laurel Middle School is $18,169.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Laurel Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Laurel Middle School 279^th of 893 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Laurel Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

Laurel School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Laurel School District 82^nd of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Laurel Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile
2019	67.82	284^th	891	68.1%
2021	77.34	138^th	797	82.7%
2022	77.09	168^th	883	81.0%
2023	66.89	279^th	893	68.8%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	46.26	472^nd	874	46.0%

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

Rank History for White students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	46.70	346^th	681	49.2%

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 Laurel Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Two or More Races	Total
2019	165	0	1	3	2	171
2020	146	1	1	2	1	151
2021	156	1	0	3	1	161
2022	157	1	1	3	3	165
2023	157	0	1	1	2	161

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 Laurel Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	171	9.8	17.2	27.5
2020	151	9.3	16.2	n/a
2021	161	9.4	17.0	26.7
2022	165	9.8	16.7	20
2023	161	7.8	20.4	25.5

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 Laurel Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	171	9.8	17.2	27.5
2020	151	9.3	16.2	n/a
2021	161	9.4	17.0	26.7
2022	165	9.8	16.7	20
2023	161	7.8	20.4	25.5

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 Laurel Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$121 (0.8%)	$15,611 (99.2%)	$15,732
2020	$82 (0.3%)	$25,308 (99.7%)	$25,389
2021	$366 (2.1%)	$16,979 (97.9%)	$17,345
2022	$460 (2.5%)	$17,709 (97.5%)	$18,169

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Laurel 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 284^th of 891 Middle schools	Ranks 279^th of 893 Middle schools	0.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade Math (Laurel Middle School)	40	30.1	9.9%
7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	38.2	33.2	5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Laurel Middle School)	64	53.1	10.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	60.5	54.5	6%
8th Grade Math (Laurel Middle School)	40.9	31.1	9.8%
8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	32.2	26	6.2%
8th Grade Science (Laurel Middle School)	64.8	68.9	4.1%
8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	58.2	57	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Laurel Middle School)	58	63.5	5.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	57.9	52.8	5.1%
All Grades Math (Laurel Middle School)	40.5	30.6	9.9%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Laurel Middle School)	64.8	68.9	4.1%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Laurel Middle School)	60.8	58	2.8%
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	171	161	5.8%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	3	1	66.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	165	157	4.8%
Two or More Races	2	2
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	27.5%	25.5%	2%

Schools Near Laurel 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
Laurel Middle School	Public	7-8	2497 Harlansburg RD	New Castle	16101	Lawrence County	Laurel School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 658-9056	161	8	20.4	25.5%	157 (97.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	66.9	279^th of 893 public middle schools	68.8%		77.1	168^th of 883 public middle schools	81.0%	111			30.1	31.1	30.6	68.9	68.9			53.1	63.5	58.0	$18,169	$460	$17,709
New Castle Junior High School	Public	6-8	310 E Lincoln Ave	New Castle	16101	Lawrence County	New Castle Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 656-4700	706	42	17.0	99.6%	374 (53.0%)	151 (21.4%)	55 (7.8%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	122 (17.3%)	12.6	763^rd of 893 public middle schools	14.6%		14.2	733^rd of 883 public middle schools	17.0%	30		12.0	13.8	6.3	10.9	26.8	26.8		20.0	17.8	22.1	19.9	$13,237	$2,126	$11,111
Union Area Middle School	Public	6-8	2106 Camden Ave	New Castle	16101	Lawrence County	Union Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 658-4501	175	11	15.9	65.1%	136 (77.7%)	25 (14.3%)	3 (1.7%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.7%)	73.6	212^th of 893 public middle schools	76.3%		69	250^th of 883 public middle schools	71.7%	38		58.6	29.3	36.2	42.7	60.3	60.3		81.0	63.5	51.7	65.6	$18,107	$1,267	$16,840
Wilmington Area Middle School	Public	5-8	400 Wood St	New Wilmington	16142	Lawrence County	Wilmington Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 656-8866	323	19	17.4	99.7%	305 (94.4%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.7%)	55.6	405^th of 893 public middle schools	54.6%		57.9	381^st of 883 public middle schools	56.9%	24	47.9	33.3	21.0	16.3	29.3	65.1	65.1	56.2	59.0	54.7	58.8	57.2	$16,442	$1,612	$14,830
Mohawk Junior High School	Public	6-8	385 Mohawk School Rd	New Castle	16102	Lawrence County	Mohawk Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 667-7782	346	21	16.1	46.2%	330 (95.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.8%)	71.1	233^rd of 893 public middle schools	73.9%		73.4	205^th of 883 public middle schools	76.8%	28		56.9	33.9	29.8	40.2	68.0	68.0		70.6	51.3	59.1	60.2	$10,287	$794	$9,494
Hartman Intrmd School	Public	5-6	Crescent Avenue & 4th Street	Ellwood City	16117	Lawrence County	Ellwood City Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 758-3241	263	17	15.3	58.2%	231 (87.8%)	4 (1.5%)	9 (3.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.8%)								(n/a)	52.4	25.8			39.2			70.6	59.7			65.2	$15,297	$1,258	$14,039
Slippery Rock Area Middle School	Public	6-8	201 Kiester Rd	Slippery Rock	16057	Butler County	Slippery Rock Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 794-2960	460	38	12.0	40.9%	430 (93.5%)	5 (1.1%)	4 (0.9%)	6 (1.3%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.6%)	90.5	60^th of 893 public middle schools	93.3%		80	139^th of 883 public middle schools	84.3%	79		60.9	50.0	48.1	52.8	82.4	82.4		72.6	74.0	80.9	76.0	$9,911	$203	$9,707
Riverside Middle School	Public	6-8	302 Country Club Dr	Ellwood City	16117	Lawrence County	Riverside Beaver County School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 758-7512	324	23	13.8	44.1%	313 (96.6%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	81.8	132^nd of 893 public middle schools	85.2%		76.1	177^th of 883 public middle schools	80.0%	45		55.1	43.7	36.8	45.2	72.6	72.6		70.1	71.8	62.6	68.2	$15,409	$864	$14,545
Grove City Area Middle School	Public	6-8	100 Middle School Drive	Grove City	16127	Mercer County	Grove City Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 458-8040	400	30	13.4	37.0%	373 (93.3%)	4 (1.0%)	10 (2.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.8%)	78.2	164^th of 893 public middle schools	81.6%		76.9	171^st of 883 public middle schools	80.6%	7		54.9	50.0	32.3	45.6	66.2	66.2		67.4	64.7	61.1	64.5	$16,755	$2,034	$14,721
Mercer Area Middle School	Public	7-8	545 W Butler Street	Mercer	16137	Mercer County	Mercer Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 662-5104	140	10	14.0	100.0%	134 (95.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.9%)	61.1	342^nd of 893 public middle schools	61.7%		66	287^th of 883 public middle schools	67.5%	55			20.4	23.6	22.2	63.9	63.9			61.1	59.7	60.4	$14,332	$1,107	$13,225

Frequently Asked Questions about Laurel Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Laurel Middle School?

Students at Laurel Middle School are 98% White, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Laurel Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 161 students attended Laurel Middle School.

Is Laurel Middle School a good school?

Laurel Middle School ranks 279^th of 893 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Laurel Middle School in?

Laurel School District

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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.