Is Pen Argyl Area High School a good school?

Pen Argyl Area High School ranks 363 rd of 686 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Pen Argyl Area High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 466 students attended Pen Argyl Area High School.

What is the racial makeup of Pen Argyl Area High School?

Students at Pen Argyl Area High School are 83% White, 8% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American, 1% Asian.

What schools feed into Pen Argyl Area High School?

Pen Argyl Area High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Plainfield Elementary School Middle : Wind Gap Middle School

Pen Argyl Area High School

Summary:

Pen Argyl Area High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, part of the Pen Argyl Area School District. The school has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, currently ranking 363 out of 686 Pennsylvania high schools with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pen Argyl Area High School's performance on Keystone Exams is generally below the state average, with lower proficiency rates in Algebra I, Biology, and Literature compared to the Pennsylvania average. However, the school's performance on the Literature exam is relatively stronger. The school's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated, ranging from 87.0% to 95.0%, and its dropout rate has also varied. Student subgroup performance varies, with female students, white students, and low socioeconomic status students performing below the state average, while disabled students perform relatively better.

Compared to nearby high-performing schools like Nazareth Area High School and Bangor Area High School, Pen Argyl Area High School's performance is generally lower. However, it outperforms some nearby schools, such as Easton Area High School and East Stroudsburg Senior High School South. The school's relatively high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch suggests that it serves a population with a higher proportion of students from low-income families, which may contribute to the school's overall academic performance.

Detail:

Public 9-12

501 W Laurel Ave
Pen Argyl, PA 18072-1052

(610) 863-1293

District: Pen Argyl Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
363^rd of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,338

Feeder schools for Pen Argyl Area High School:

Elementary:	Plainfield Elementary School
Middle:	Wind Gap Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.4

Number of students: 466

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.0%

Hispanic:

7.9%

Two or more races:

4.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 49.6%

See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

Compare Pen Argyl Area High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Pen Argyl Area High School ranks worse than 52.9% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.01. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Pen Argyl Area 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 (83%), Hispanic (7.9%), two or more races (4.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 49.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pen Argyl Area High School is 12.4. (See more...)

Compare Pen Argyl Area High School employs 37.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pen Argyl Area High School is $21,338.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Pen Argyl Area High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Pen Argyl Area High School 363^rd of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Pen Argyl Area High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

White students:

Pen Argyl Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Pen Argyl Area School District 317^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Pen Argyl Area High School.

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Rank History for Pen Argyl Area High School

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Rank History for all students at Pen Argyl Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	44.75	389^th	583	33.3%
2004	47.10	361^st	590	38.8%
2005	46.52	389^th	593	34.4%
2006	52.96	345^th	604	42.9%
2007	68.82	198^th	615	67.8%
2008	63.07	255^th	621	58.9%
2009	72.90	158^th	632	75.0%
2010	66.26	230^th	649	64.6%
2011	55.00	372^nd	660	43.6%
2012	67.51	241^st	664	63.7%
2013	56.64	288^th	591	51.3%
2014	66.82	195^th	580	66.4%
2015	58.99	355^th	680	47.8%
2016	52.13	418^th	677	38.3%
2017	63.26	304^th	663	54.1%
2018	55.68	395^th	673	41.3%
2019	67.88	275^th	693	60.3%
2022	70.67	205^th	634	67.7%
2023	70.30	201^st	674	70.2%
2024	53.01	363^rd	686	47.1%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	58.64	276^th	652	57.7%
2024	34.68	464^th	664	30.1%

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

Rank History for Female students at Pen Argyl Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	58.86	299^th	665	55.0%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Pen Argyl Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	58.02	167^th	502	66.7%
2024	32.74	329^th	513	35.9%

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

Rank History for Male students at Pen Argyl Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	44.48	399^th	662	39.7%

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

Rank History for White students at Pen Argyl Area High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	65.16	196^th	577	66.0%
2024	35.36	408^th	595	31.4%

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: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Tuesday, January 16, 2018

This school is truly sad. Given the exorbitant school taxes that are paid by homeowners, there should be many different honors, AP classes, and interesting elective courses offered to help better prepare our students for college and for adult life in general. PAHS is sorely lacking in that area. Coaches for our athletic teams are for the most part, members of the good ole boy club and our student athletes remain underdeveloped as a result of the lack of coaching they receive. Use of technology lags, the HS does not even have air conditioning for the hot early and late summer months! Some one needs to hold the business department accountable for blatant misuse of school funds, but I very much doubt anyone cares enough to do so. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Pen Argyl 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	367	0	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	372
1989	344	1	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	349
1990	356	0	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	359
1991	351	0	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	354
1992	618	3	4	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	630
1993	617	4	3	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	631
1994	508	4	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	517
1995	513	3	2	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	522
1996	513	3	2	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	522
1997	517	4	2	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	533
1998	530	5	7	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	551
1999	537	7	10	5	1	n/a	n/a	0	560
2000	562	5	13	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	590
2001	545	4	15	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	573
2002	593	2	11	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	619
2003	593	2	11	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	619
2004	612	4	12	7	1	n/a	n/a	0	636
2005	631	2	6	13	1	n/a	n/a	0	653
2006	628	5	8	14	0	n/a	n/a	0	655
2007	621	5	6	22	0	n/a	n/a	0	654
2008	631	6	4	21	0	n/a	n/a	0	662
2009	644	4	3	18	0	n/a	n/a	14	683
2010	612	5	5	12	0	n/a	n/a	13	647
2011	559	5	6	19	0	0	8	0	597
2012	564	4	7	16	0	0	7	0	598
2013	516	4	3	16	0	0	13	0	552
2014	490	6	4	12	0	0	16	0	528
2015	482	6	5	15	0	0	7	0	515
2016	491	5	8	17	0	0	7	0	528
2017	492	7	7	19	0	0	13	0	538
2018	494	7	6	25	0	0	13	0	545
2019	472	3	9	19	1	0	14	0	518
2020	455	7	8	17	1	0	13	0	501
2021	453	10	7	21	1	0	15	0	507
2022	459	9	8	22	2	0	18	0	518
2023	434	10	6	29	1	0	22	0	502
2024	387	11	6	37	3	0	22	0	466

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 Pen Argyl Area High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	372	28.0	13.2	n/a
1989	349	28.0	12.4	n/a
1990	359	28.0	12.8	0
1991	354	28.0	12.6	n/a
1992	630	41.0	15.3	n/a
1993	631	38.0	16.6	n/a
1994	517	31.0	16.7	n/a
1995	522	35.0	14.9	n/a
1996	522	35.0	14.9	n/a
1997	533	34.0	15.7	n/a
1998	551	34.0	16.2	n/a
1999	560	34.0	16.5	n/a
2000	590	38.0	15.5	9.8
2001	573	37.0	15.5	9.2
2002	619	38.7	16.0	9.4
2003	619	38.7	16.0	9.4
2004	636	38.4	16.6	9.4
2005	653	40.8	16.0	8.9
2006	655	42.5	15.4	10.8
2007	654	42.9	15.2	13.9
2008	662	42.8	15.5	13.1
2009	683	42.4	16.1	17.8
2010	647	42.9	15.0	22.7
2011	597	41.3	14.4	18.4
2012	598	40.1	14.9	23.7
2013	552	39.0	14.1	24.8
2014	528	39.1	13.4	25.6
2015	515	39.0	13.2	27.8
2016	528	39.0	13.5	33.3
2017	538	38.8	13.8	28.6
2018	545	37.6	14.4	26.6
2019	518	39.9	12.9	24.7
2020	501	39.1	12.7	25.1
2021	507	37.7	13.4	28.4
2022	518	39.9	12.9	29
2023	502	40.1	12.4	34.9
2024	466	37.5	12.4	49.6

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 Pen Argyl Area High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	372	28.0	13.2	n/a
1989	349	28.0	12.4	n/a
1990	359	28.0	12.8	0
1991	354	28.0	12.6	n/a
1992	630	41.0	15.3	n/a
1993	631	38.0	16.6	n/a
1994	517	31.0	16.7	n/a
1995	522	35.0	14.9	n/a
1996	522	35.0	14.9	n/a
1997	533	34.0	15.7	n/a
1998	551	34.0	16.2	n/a
1999	560	34.0	16.5	n/a
2000	590	38.0	15.5	9.8
2001	573	37.0	15.5	9.2
2002	619	38.7	16.0	9.4
2003	619	38.7	16.0	9.4
2004	636	38.4	16.6	9.4
2005	653	40.8	16.0	8.9
2006	655	42.5	15.4	10.8
2007	654	42.9	15.2	13.9
2008	662	42.8	15.5	13.1
2009	683	42.4	16.1	17.8
2010	647	42.9	15.0	22.7
2011	597	41.3	14.4	18.4
2012	598	40.1	14.9	23.7
2013	552	39.0	14.1	24.8
2014	528	39.1	13.4	25.6
2015	515	39.0	13.2	27.8
2016	528	39.0	13.5	33.3
2017	538	38.8	13.8	28.6
2018	545	37.6	14.4	26.6
2019	518	39.9	12.9	24.7
2020	501	39.1	12.7	25.1
2021	507	37.7	13.4	28.4
2022	518	39.9	12.9	29
2023	502	40.1	12.4	34.9
2024	466	37.5	12.4	49.6

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 Pen Argyl Area High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$139 (0.7%)	$19,264 (99.3%)	$19,403
2020	$183 (0.9%)	$19,868 (99.1%)	$20,051
2021	$416 (1.8%)	$23,024 (98.2%)	$23,440
2022	$1,141 (5.3%)	$20,198 (94.7%)	$21,338

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pen Argyl 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 275^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 201^st of 674 High schools	9.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Pen Argyl Area High School)	69.3	46.3	23%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Pen Argyl Area High School)	67.3	62.5	4.8%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Pen Argyl Area High School)	79.6	65	14.6%
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	518	502	3.1%
African American	3	10	233.3%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	9	6	33.3%
Hispanic	19	29	52.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	472	434	8.1%
Two or More Races	14	22	57.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	24.7%	34.9%	10.2%

Schools Near Pen Argyl Area 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)	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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pen Argyl Area High School	Public	9-12	501 W Laurel Ave	Pen Argyl	18072	Northampton County	Pen Argyl Area School District	No	No	No	No	(610) 863-1293	466	38	12.4	49.6%	387 (83.0%)	11 (2.4%)	37 (7.9%)	6 (1.3%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.7%)	53	363^rd of 686 public high schools	47.1%		70.3	201^st of 674 public high schools	70.2%	162	39.6	49.2	61.9	$21,338	$1,141	$20,198
Bangor Area High School	Public	9-12	187 Five Points Richmond Rd	Bangor	18013	Northampton County	Bangor Area School District	No	No	No	No	(610) 599-7011	903	60	15.1	49.5%	747 (82.7%)	16 (1.8%)	83 (9.2%)	9 (1.0%)	14 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (3.8%)	74.6	162^nd of 686 public high schools	76.4%		77.3	135^th of 674 public high schools	80.0%	27	51.4	58.8	76.6	$5,961	$725	$5,236
Career Institute of Technology	Public	9-12	5335 Kesslersville Road	Easton	18040	Northampton County	Career Institute of Technology	No	No	No	No	(610) 258-2857	9	23	.3	66.7%	9 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Pleasant Valley High School	Public	9-12	1671 Route 209	Brodheadsville	18322	Monroe County	Pleasant Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(570) 402-1000	1,352	76	17.6		938 (69.4%)	101 (7.5%)	233 (17.2%)	16 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	62 (4.6%)	59.2	305^th of 686 public high schools	55.5%		64	261^st of 674 public high schools	61.3%	44	37.7	51.7	70.6	$18,383	$23	$18,360
Stroudsburg High School	Public	10-12	1100 W Main St	Stroudsburg	18360	Monroe County	Stroudsburg Area School District	No	No	No	No	(570) 421-1991	1,245	77	16.2	45.8%	569 (45.7%)	266 (21.4%)	328 (26.3%)	43 (3.5%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	35 (2.8%)	76.3	150^th of 686 public high schools	78.1%		67.9	227^th of 674 public high schools	66.3%	77	53.9	61.2	74.9	$20,122	$346	$19,776
Nazareth Area High School	Public	9-12	501 East Center Street	Nazareth	18064	Northampton County	Nazareth Area School District	No	No	No	No	(610) 759-1730	1,627	106	15.3	25.9%	1,285 (79.0%)	35 (2.2%)	161 (9.9%)	95 (5.8%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	48 (3.0%)	73	176^th of 686 public high schools	74.3%		78	127^th of 674 public high schools	81.2%	49	49.2	62.3	72.0	$16,745	$253	$16,492
Monroe Career and Technical Institute	Public	9-12	194 Laurel Lake Road	Bartonsville	18321	Monroe County	Monroe Career and Technical Institute	No	No	No	No	(570) 629-2001	77	32	2.4	96.1%	46 (59.7%)	9 (11.7%)	18 (23.4%)	2 (2.6%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.3%)								(n/a)
East Stroudsburg Senior High School South	Public	9-12	279 N Courtland St	East Stroudsburg	18301	Monroe County	East Stroudsburg Area School District	No	No	No	No	(570) 424-8471	1,320	94	14.1	52.0%	550 (41.7%)	320 (24.2%)	257 (19.5%)	23 (1.7%)	43 (3.3%)	2 (0.2%)	125 (9.5%)	48.1	399^th of 686 public high schools	41.8%		43.4	434^th of 674 public high schools	35.6%	35	35.2	45.1	62.8	$23,296	$595	$22,702
Wilson Area High School	Public	9-12	424 Warrior Ln	Easton	18042	Northampton County	Wilson Area School District	No	No	No	No	(484) 373-6030	729	46	15.7	51.4%	375 (51.4%)	75 (10.3%)	186 (25.5%)	34 (4.7%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	56 (7.7%)	66.8	232^nd of 686 public high schools	66.2%		71	197^th of 674 public high schools	70.8%	35	42.5	55.1	74.7	$15,427	$82	$15,345
Easton Area High School	Public	9-12	2601 William Penn Hwy	Easton	18045	Northampton County	Easton Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(610) 250-2481	2,824	176	16.0	101.3%	1,148 (40.7%)	465 (16.5%)	896 (31.7%)	160 (5.7%)	1 (0.0%)	8 (0.3%)	146 (5.2%)	27	519^th of 686 public high schools	24.3%		34.6	484^th of 674 public high schools	28.2%	35	26.6	37.3	44.9	$16,765	$1,125	$15,641

Pen Argyl Area High School

Pen Argyl Area High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Pen Argyl Area School District:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Pen Argyl Area High School

Rank History for all students at Pen Argyl Area High School

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

Rank History for Female students at Pen Argyl Area High School

Rank History for Disabled students at Pen Argyl Area High School

Rank History for Male students at Pen Argyl Area High School

Rank History for White students at Pen Argyl Area High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Pen Argyl Area High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pen Argyl Area High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Pen Argyl Area High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pen Argyl Area High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Pen Argyl Area High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Pen Argyl Area High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Pen Argyl Area High School

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