McDowell High School

Q: Is McDowell High School a good school?

McDowell High School ranks 129 th of 686 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

McDowell High School is a public high school located in Erie, Pennsylvania, serving 2,205 students in grades 9-12 and part of the Millcreek Township School District, which is ranked 102 out of 610 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

McDowell High School consistently outperforms the state average on Keystone Exams, with significantly higher percentages of students scoring proficient or better in Algebra I (63.9% vs. 41.6% statewide), Biology (63.2% vs. 50.5% statewide), and Literature (69.6% vs. 63.2% statewide). The school also maintains a strong 4-year graduation rate of 87.5% and a low dropout rate of 1.6%. While Fairview High School and Fort LeBoeuf Senior High School also demonstrate exceptional academic performance, McDowell High School stands out as a strong educational institution within the region.

McDowell High School serves a diverse student population, with 40.36% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, which is higher than the nearby Fairview High School (20.58%) but lower than the Iroquois Junior/Senior High School (85.34%) and Erie High School (100%). The school's performance on Keystone Exams is generally consistent across different student subgroups, suggesting that it is effectively serving the needs of its diverse population.

Detail:

Public 9-12

3580 West 38th St
Erie, PA 16506

(814) 835-5403

District: Millcreek Township School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
129^th of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,805

Feeder schools for McDowell High School:

Elementary:	Asbury Elementary School
	Belle Valley Elementary School
	Chestnut Hill Elementary School
	Grandview Elementary School
	More...
	Tracy Elementary School
Middle:	James S Wilson Middle School
	Walnut Creek Middle School
	Westlake Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.4

Number of students: 2,161

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.2%

Two or more races:

6.1%

Hispanic:

4.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 48.2%

See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details McDowell High School ranks better than 81.2% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 78.16. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at McDowell High School 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: White (81.2%), two or more races (6.1%), Hispanic (4.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 48.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at McDowell High School is 15.4. (See more...)

Compare McDowell High School employs 140 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at McDowell High School is $14,805.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

McDowell High School:

SchoolDigger ranks McDowell High School 129^th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See McDowell High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Asian students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Millcreek Township School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Millcreek Township School District 102^nd of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for McDowell High School

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Rank History for all students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2011	74.33	151^st	660	77.1%
2012	59.25	330^th	664	50.3%
2013	60.95	245^th	591	58.5%
2014	54.97	310^th	580	46.6%
2015	58.71	360^th	680	47.1%
2016	59.67	355^th	677	47.6%
2017	74.86	169^th	663	74.5%
2018	75.57	171^st	673	74.6%
2019	77.03	159^th	693	77.1%
2021	75.34	138^th	537	74.3%
2022	77.61	137^th	634	78.4%
2023	77.14	136^th	674	79.8%
2024	78.16	129^th	686	81.2%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	65.44	49^th	129	62.0%
2024	70.32	45^th	150	70.0%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	73.44	149^th	652	77.1%
2024	74.77	139^th	664	79.1%

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

Rank History for Female students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	80.11	111^th	665	83.3%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	52.35	196^th	502	61.0%
2024	62.47	142^nd	513	72.3%

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

Rank History for Male students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	74.28	156^th	662	76.4%

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

Rank History for Asian students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	37.27	75^th	112	33.0%
2024	56.45	69^th	121	43.0%

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

Rank History for African American students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	44.33	135^th	260	48.1%
2024	67.76	79^th	284	72.2%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	61.03	91^st	252	63.9%
2024	67.43	73^rd	274	73.4%

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

Rank History for White students at McDowell High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	75.23	131^st	577	77.3%
2024	72.93	147^th	595	75.3%

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 McDowell High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	2250	75	37	59	5	n/a	n/a	2426
2011	2177	79	41	58	4	0	0	2359
2012	2171	80	42	54	3	0	9	2359
2013	2167	83	41	58	3	0	16	2368
2014	2140	82	34	59	3	0	24	2342
2015	2258	78	38	71	5	1	43	2494
2016	2066	77	27	85	5	2	57	2319
2017	1971	70	33	82	6	2	58	2222
2018	1923	79	39	88	3	3	66	2201
2019	1850	73	43	91	2	2	60	2121
2020	1865	74	60	85	4	2	73	2163
2021	1863	78	63	82	4	2	102	2194
2022	1818	75	80	100	7	1	117	2198
2023	1801	77	90	99	5	1	132	2205
2024	1755	72	95	101	6	0	132	2161

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 McDowell High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	2426	116.0	20.9	24.2
2011	2359	159.9	14.7	18.5
2012	2359	152.9	15.4	27.8
2013	2368	154.9	15.2	28.9
2014	2342	150.9	15.5	29.2
2015	2494	141.0	17.6	35.7
2016	2319	144.0	16.1	38.2
2017	2222	139.0	15.9	35.7
2018	2201	141.5	15.5	35.8
2019	2121	140.5	15.0	36.7
2020	2163	142.5	15.1	36.6
2021	2194	142.5	15.3	36.4
2022	2198	137.0	16.0	34.3
2023	2205	134.1	16.4	40.4
2024	2161	140.0	15.4	48.2

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 McDowell High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	2426	116.0	20.9	24.2
2011	2359	159.9	14.7	18.5
2012	2359	152.9	15.4	27.8
2013	2368	154.9	15.2	28.9
2014	2342	150.9	15.5	29.2
2015	2494	141.0	17.6	35.7
2016	2319	144.0	16.1	38.2
2017	2222	139.0	15.9	35.7
2018	2201	141.5	15.5	35.8
2019	2121	140.5	15.0	36.7
2020	2163	142.5	15.1	36.6
2021	2194	142.5	15.3	36.4
2022	2198	137.0	16.0	34.3
2023	2205	134.1	16.4	40.4
2024	2161	140.0	15.4	48.2

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 McDowell High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$380 (2.8%)	$13,156 (97.2%)	$13,536
2020	$456 (3.4%)	$12,817 (96.6%)	$13,273
2021	$626 (4.4%)	$13,728 (95.6%)	$14,354
2022	$1,008 (6.8%)	$13,797 (93.2%)	$14,805

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on McDowell 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 159^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 136^th of 674 High schools	2.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (McDowell High School)	79.8	43.5	36.3%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (McDowell High School)	78.2	64.8	13.4%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (McDowell High School)	78.5	75.2	3.3%
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	2121	2205	4%
African American	73	77	5.5%
American Indian	2	5	150%
Asian	43	90	109.3%
Hispanic	91	99	8.8%
Pacific Islander	2	1	50%
White	1850	1801	2.6%
Two or More Races	60	132	120%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	36.7%	40.4%	3.6%

Schools Near McDowell High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th 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 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
McDowell High School	Public	9-12	3580 West 38th St	Erie	16506	Erie County	Millcreek Township School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 835-5403	2,161	140	15.4	48.2%	1,755 (81.2%)	72 (3.3%)	101 (4.7%)	95 (4.4%)	6 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	132 (6.1%)	78.2	129^th of 686 public high schools	81.2%		77.1	136^th of 674 public high schools	79.8%	7	63.9	63.2	69.6											$14,805	$1,008	$13,797
Erie High School	Public	9-12	3325 Cherry St	Erie	16508	Erie County	Erie City School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 874-6200	2,417	179	13.5	100.0%	838 (34.7%)	1,048 (43.4%)	332 (13.7%)	96 (4.0%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	99 (4.1%)	3.1	663^rd of 686 public high schools	3.4%		6.3	622^nd of 674 public high schools	7.7%	41	4.2	9.2	13.1											$10,225	$3,104	$7,121
Erie County Technical School	Public	9-12	8500 Oliver Road	Erie	16509	Erie County	Erie County Technical School	No	No	No	No	(814) 464-8600	3	20	.1		3 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Northwest PA Collegiate Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	2825 State St	Erie	16508	Erie County	Erie City School District	No	Yes	No	No	(814) 874-6300	748	54	13.8	99.6%	431 (57.6%)	151 (20.2%)	69 (9.2%)	48 (6.4%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.1%)	92.2	39^th of 686 public high schools	94.3%		84.9	81^st of 674 public high schools	88.0%	42	66.2	78.2	88.6											$14,516	$3,367	$11,149
Perseus House Charter School of Excellence	Public, Charter	6-12	1511 Peach Street	Erie	16501	Erie County	Perseus House Charter School of Excellence	Yes	No	No	Yes	(814) 480-5914	601	37	16.1	81.5%	145 (24.1%)	241 (40.1%)	130 (21.6%)	44 (7.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (6.7%)	2.1	675^th of 686 public high schools	1.6%		2.9	670^th of 674 public high schools	0.6%	5	1.8	3.8	12.3	7.4	0.0	4.9	3.1	26.9	26.9	22.2	6.8	12.2	11.8	$17,530	$3,772	$13,758
Fairview High School	Public	9-12	7460 McCray Rd	Fairview	16415	Erie County	Fairview School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 474-2600	604	40	15.1	26.8%	511 (84.6%)	6 (1.0%)	29 (4.8%)	29 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (4.8%)	93.4	29^th of 686 public high schools	95.8%		88.2	54^th of 674 public high schools	92.0%	25	89.2	78.7	82.8											$17,122	$77	$17,045
Iroquois Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	4301 Main Street	Erie	16511	Erie County	Iroquois School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 899-7643	547	39	14.0	100.2%	458 (83.7%)	22 (4.0%)	22 (4.0%)	5 (0.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.8%)	67.5	227^th of 686 public high schools	66.9%		77	137^th of 674 public high schools	79.7%	90	40.3	64.5	70.5		20.6	33.8	27.0	53.1	53.1		44.8	50.0	47.3	$20,152	$1,228	$18,924
Girard High School	Public	9-12	1135 Lake St	Girard	16417	Erie County	Girard School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 774-5607	505	32	15.7	100.0%	464 (91.9%)	4 (0.8%)	15 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.0%)	75.7	156^th of 686 public high schools	77.3%		84.8	83^rd of 674 public high schools	87.7%	73	61.1	55.9	73.4											$18,367	$2,330	$16,037
General McLane High School	Public	9-12	11761 Edinboro Rd	Edinboro	16412	Erie County	General McLane School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 273-1033	689	45	15.1	44.1%	625 (90.7%)	5 (0.7%)	24 (3.5%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (4.5%)	62.8	263^rd of 686 public high schools	61.7%		60.4	292^nd of 674 public high schools	56.7%	29	49.3	52.2	65.5											$18,696	$324	$18,372
Fort LeBoeuf Senior High School	Public	9-12	931 N High St	Waterford	16441	Erie County	Fort LeBoeuf School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 796-2616	679	48	14.1	54.2%	647 (95.3%)	4 (0.6%)	12 (1.8%)	6 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.5%)	88.2	55^th of 686 public high schools	92.0%		88.3	53^rd of 674 public high schools	92.1%	2	68.2	69.9	81.7											$16,986	$1,439	$15,546

Frequently Asked Questions about McDowell High School

What district is McDowell High School in?

Millcreek Township School District

What schools feed into McDowell High School?

McDowell High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Asbury Elementary School
Elementary : Belle Valley Elementary School
Elementary : Chestnut Hill Elementary School
Elementary : Grandview Elementary School
Elementary : Tracy Elementary School
Middle : James S Wilson Middle School
Middle : Walnut Creek Middle School
Middle : Westlake Middle School

Is McDowell High School a good school?

McDowell High School ranks 129^th of 686 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend McDowell High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 2,161 students attended McDowell High School.

What is the racial makeup of McDowell High School?

Students at McDowell High School are 81% White, 6% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 3% African American.

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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.