Penn Cambria High School

Q: Is Penn Cambria High School a good school?

Penn Cambria High School ranks 93 rd of 674 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Penn Cambria High School is a public high school located in Cresson, Pennsylvania, serving 567 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Penn Cambria School District, which is ranked 144 out of 606 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Penn Cambria High School consistently ranks among the top high schools in Pennsylvania, ranking 93rd out of 674 schools in the 2022-2023 school year. The school's students perform exceptionally well on Keystone Exams, with 71.7% proficient or better in Algebra I, 63.4% in Biology, and 73.3% in Literature - all significantly higher than the state averages. Penn Cambria's graduation rate is also impressive, with a 92.2% four-year graduation rate in the 2022-2023 school year, well above the state average. However, the school has a very homogeneous student population, with 95.59% of students identifying as White, and a relatively low percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds (28.4%).

When compared to nearby schools, Penn Cambria High School outperforms many of them in academic metrics. For example, Blacklick Valley Junior/Senior High School has significantly lower Keystone Exam proficiency rates and a lower four-year graduation rate of 78.9%, while Cambria Heights Senior High School lags behind Penn Cambria in Keystone Exam performance, with only 19.7% proficient or better in Algebra I. This suggests that Penn Cambria High School may have access to more resources and support systems that contribute to its academic success, despite serving a more affluent student population.

Detail:

Public 9-12

401 Linden Ave
Cresson, PA 16630-1399

(814) 886-8188

District: Penn Cambria School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
93^rd of 674 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,755

Feeder schools for Penn Cambria High School:

Elementary:	Penn Cambria Intrmd School
	Penn Cambria Pre-Primary
	Penn Cambria Primary School
Middle:	Penn Cambria Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.7

Number of students: 567

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.6%

Two or more races:

1.6%

Hispanic:

1.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 28.4%

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Compare Penn Cambria High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Penn Cambria High School ranks better than 86.2% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 82.82. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Penn Cambria 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 (95.6%), two or more races (1.6%), Hispanic (1.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 28.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Penn Cambria High School is 14.7. (See more...)

Compare Penn Cambria High School employs 38.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Penn Cambria High School is $15,755.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Penn Cambria High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Penn Cambria High School 93^rd of 674 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Penn Cambria High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Disabled students:

White students:

Penn Cambria School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Penn Cambria School District 144^th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Penn Cambria High School

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Rank History for all students at Penn Cambria High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	59.10	267^th	583	54.2%
2004	38.79	429^th	590	27.3%
2005	61.59	260^th	593	56.2%
2006	62.69	259^th	604	57.1%
2007	71.09	168^th	615	72.7%
2008	48.17	393^rd	621	36.7%
2009	58.69	288^th	632	54.4%
2010	67.16	220^th	649	66.1%
2011	75.85	122^nd	660	81.5%
2012	72.84	172^nd	664	74.1%
2013	70.83	153^rd	591	74.1%
2014	85.49	49^th	580	91.6%
2015	82.73	78^th	680	88.5%
2016	75.66	159^th	677	76.5%
2017	76.80	148^th	663	77.7%
2018	83.82	63^rd	673	90.6%
2019	68.25	269^th	693	61.2%
2022	79.12	114^th	634	82.0%
2023	82.82	93^rd	674	86.2%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Penn Cambria High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	82.13	86^th	652	86.8%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Penn Cambria High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	77.81	74^th	502	85.3%

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

Rank History for White students at Penn Cambria High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	78.07	101^st	577	82.5%

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 Penn Cambria High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	596	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	596
1989	590	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	590
1990	590	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	590
1991	557	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	557
1992	558	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	558
1993	567	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	568
1994	588	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	588
1995	849	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	853
1996	849	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	853
1997	839	0	1	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	845
1998	802	1	2	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	810
1999	753	3	2	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	762
2000	717	4	2	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	726
2001	726	5	1	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	735
2002	733	4	0	3	2	n/a	n/a	0	742
2003	733	4	0	3	2	n/a	n/a	0	742
2004	672	2	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	677
2005	656	2	2	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	664
2006	674	1	1	1	3	n/a	n/a	0	680
2007	659	0	1	0	3	n/a	n/a	0	663
2008	639	0	1	3	4	n/a	n/a	0	647
2009	597	2	0	2	5	n/a	n/a	0	606
2010	589	2	1	2	4	n/a	n/a	1	599
2011	587	0	0	0	6	0	2	0	595
2012	540	1	0	0	4	0	2	0	547
2013	524	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	527
2014	517	2	0	0	1	0	1	0	521
2015	507	2	0	4	0	0	0	0	513
2016	521	2	0	4	0	0	1	0	528
2017	530	2	0	3	0	0	4	0	539
2018	536	1	0	3	1	0	9	0	550
2019	540	0	2	1	1	0	14	0	558
2020	539	0	3	5	1	0	11	0	559
2021	538	1	3	5	2	0	12	0	561
2022	537	0	4	7	1	0	8	0	557
2023	542	4	2	8	2	0	9	0	567

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 Penn Cambria High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	596	28.1	21.2	n/a
1989	590	29.1	20.2	n/a
1990	590	28.3	20.8	0
1991	557	28.0	19.8	n/a
1992	558	27.9	20.0	n/a
1993	568	26.5	21.4	n/a
1994	588	27.5	21.4	n/a
1995	853	42.5	20.1	n/a
1996	853	42.5	20.1	n/a
1997	845	44.5	19.0	n/a
1998	810	42.5	19.1	n/a
1999	762	44.0	17.3	n/a
2000	726	44.4	16.4	30
2001	735	46.4	15.8	28.8
2002	742	46.4	16.0	29.9
2003	742	46.4	16.0	29.9
2004	677	44.8	15.1	42.8
2005	664	42.5	15.6	33.4
2006	680	41.5	16.4	34.6
2007	663	41.7	15.9	36
2008	647	46.8	13.8	36.5
2009	606	41.4	14.6	32.2
2010	599	41.3	14.4	33.9
2011	595	41.6	14.2	32.3
2012	547	38.4	14.2	34.2
2013	527	36.4	14.4	26.6
2014	521	36.7	14.1	34.9
2015	513	36.0	14.2	31.4
2016	528	36.0	14.6	29.7
2017	539	36.3	14.8	23.4
2018	550	36.7	14.9	28.7
2019	558	38.6	14.4	26.3
2020	559	38.5	14.4	24.9
2021	561	38.2	14.6	22.8
2022	557	38.5	14.4	24.4
2023	567	38.3	14.7	28.4

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 Penn Cambria High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	596	28.1	21.2	n/a
1989	590	29.1	20.2	n/a
1990	590	28.3	20.8	0
1991	557	28.0	19.8	n/a
1992	558	27.9	20.0	n/a
1993	568	26.5	21.4	n/a
1994	588	27.5	21.4	n/a
1995	853	42.5	20.1	n/a
1996	853	42.5	20.1	n/a
1997	845	44.5	19.0	n/a
1998	810	42.5	19.1	n/a
1999	762	44.0	17.3	n/a
2000	726	44.4	16.4	30
2001	735	46.4	15.8	28.8
2002	742	46.4	16.0	29.9
2003	742	46.4	16.0	29.9
2004	677	44.8	15.1	42.8
2005	664	42.5	15.6	33.4
2006	680	41.5	16.4	34.6
2007	663	41.7	15.9	36
2008	647	46.8	13.8	36.5
2009	606	41.4	14.6	32.2
2010	599	41.3	14.4	33.9
2011	595	41.6	14.2	32.3
2012	547	38.4	14.2	34.2
2013	527	36.4	14.4	26.6
2014	521	36.7	14.1	34.9
2015	513	36.0	14.2	31.4
2016	528	36.0	14.6	29.7
2017	539	36.3	14.8	23.4
2018	550	36.7	14.9	28.7
2019	558	38.6	14.4	26.3
2020	559	38.5	14.4	24.9
2021	561	38.2	14.6	22.8
2022	557	38.5	14.4	24.4
2023	567	38.3	14.7	28.4

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 Penn Cambria High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$126 (0.9%)	$13,831 (99.1%)	$13,957
2020	$71 (0.5%)	$15,001 (99.5%)	$15,072
2021	$727 (4.7%)	$14,595 (95.3%)	$15,322
2022	$725 (4.6%)	$15,030 (95.4%)	$15,754

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Penn Cambria 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 269^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 93^rd of 674 High schools	25%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Penn Cambria High School)	75.6	71.7	3.9%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Penn Cambria High School)	68.5	63.4	5.1%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Penn Cambria High School)	74	73.3	0.7%
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	558	567	1.6%
African American	0	4
American Indian	1	2	100%
Asian	2	2
Hispanic	1	8	700%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	540	542	0.4%
Two or More Races	14	9	35.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	26.3%	28.4%	2.1%

Schools Near Penn Cambria 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
Penn Cambria High School	Public	9-12	401 Linden Ave	Cresson	16630	Cambria County	Penn Cambria School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 886-8188	567	38	14.7	28.4%	542 (95.6%)	4 (0.7%)	8 (1.4%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.6%)	82.8	93^rd of 674 public high schools	86.2%		79.1	114^th of 634 public high schools	82.0%	21	71.7	63.4	73.3									$15,755	$725	$15,030
Portage Area Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	85 Mountain Ave	Portage	15946	Cambria County	Portage Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 736-9636	359	26	13.9	34.0%	349 (97.2%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	61.2	283^rd of 674 public high schools	58.0%		59.6	297^th of 634 public high schools	53.2%	14	37.0	61.8	59.4	41.3	33.3	36.8	71.7	71.7	62.3	68.3	65.7	$16,206	$5,218	$10,988
Admiral Peary Area Vocational-Technical School	Public	9-12	948 Ben Franklin Highway	Ebensburg	15931	Cambria County	Admiral Peary Area Vocational-Technical School	No	No	No	No	(814) 472-6490	15	21	.7		15 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Central Cambria High School	Public	9-12	204 Schoolhouse Rd	Ebensburg	15931	Cambria County	Central Cambria School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 472-8860	559	35	15.7	25.8%	539 (96.4%)	4 (0.7%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.0%)	38.8	461^st of 674 public high schools	31.6%		66	241^st of 634 public high schools	62.0%	220	35.2	37.8	51.2									$12,567	$1,350	$11,217
Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School	Public	10-12	1510 North Montgomery Street	Hollidaysburg	16648	Blair County	Hollidaysburg Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 695-4416	793	85	9.3	25.9%	739 (93.2%)	8 (1.0%)	14 (1.8%)	19 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.6%)	66.8	241^st of 674 public high schools	64.2%		56.3	334^th of 634 public high schools	47.3%	93	30.2	59.1	72.5									$16,518	$860	$15,658
Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center	Public	9-12	1500 4th Avenue	Altoona	16602	Blair County	Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center	No	No	No	No	(814) 946-8450	46	29	1.5		44 (95.7%)	1 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.2%)								(n/a)
Altoona Area High School	Public	6-12	1404 6th Ave	Altoona	16602	Blair County	Altoona Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 940-6986	2,228	137	16.2	48.3%	1,894 (85.0%)	231 (10.4%)	57 (2.6%)	15 (0.7%)	5 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	25 (1.1%)	67.6	232^nd of 674 public high schools	65.6%		61	282^nd of 634 public high schools	55.5%	50	42.6	54.4	70.3									$12,989	$2,467	$10,521
Kimmel Alternative School	Public	7-12	200 East Crawford Avenue	Altoona	16602	Blair County	Altoona Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 946-8246	1	5	.2		1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Cambria Heights Senior High School	Public	9-12	426 Glendale Lake Rd	Patton	16668	Cambria County	Cambria Heights School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 674-3601	437	33	13.1	31.4%	426 (97.5%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.1%)	51.3	369^th of 674 public high schools	45.3%					(n/a)	19.7	42.6	74.5									$17,580	$261	$17,320
Forest Hills Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	535 Locust Street	Sidman	15955	Cambria County	Forest Hills School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 487-7613	775	53	14.7	30.3%	749 (96.6%)	4 (0.5%)	14 (1.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	6 (0.8%)	57.6	316^th of 674 public high schools	53.1%		63.3	263^rd of 634 public high schools	58.5%	53	30.3	58.2	61.8	39.7	32.4	36.3	72.0	72.0	64.1	61.9	63.0	$14,806	$774	$14,032

Frequently Asked Questions about Penn Cambria High School

How many students attend Penn Cambria High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 567 students attended Penn Cambria High School.

What district is Penn Cambria High School in?

Penn Cambria School District

What is the racial makeup of Penn Cambria High School?

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

What schools feed into Penn Cambria High School?

Penn Cambria High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Penn Cambria Intrmd School
Elementary : Penn Cambria Pre-Primary
Elementary : Penn Cambria Primary School
Middle : Penn Cambria Middle School

Is Penn Cambria High School a good school?

Penn Cambria High School ranks 93^rd of 674 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Penn Cambria 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.