Penn Hills Senior High School

Summary:

Penn Hills Senior High School is a public high school serving 1,107 students in grades 9-12 in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, part of the Pittsburgh School District, which is ranked 534 out of 606 districts in the state.

Penn Hills Senior High School faces significant challenges, with a student population that is 69.65% African American, well above the range of 2.46% to 89.86% at nearby schools like Fox Chapel Area High School and Academy at Westinghouse. The school consistently underperforms the state average on Keystone Exams, with only 24.4% of students proficient or better in Algebra I compared to the state average of 34.1%. Penn Hills also has a lower 4-year graduation rate of 81.8% and a higher dropout rate of 0.6% compared to surrounding schools.

Socioeconomic factors appear to play a significant role, with 87.9% of Penn Hills students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. While the school district spends $39,488 per student, well above the state average, this funding does not seem to be translating into improved academic outcomes, suggesting that other factors like school climate, teacher quality, and community engagement may be more influential. The wide range of performance among nearby schools, from top-ranked Fox Chapel Area High School to the bottom 10% Academy at Westinghouse, highlights the significant educational disparities that can exist within a relatively small geographic area.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 309 Collins Drive
       Pittsburgh, PA  15235


(412) 793-7000

District: Penn Hills School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
569th of 674 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $39,488 Help


Feeder schools for Penn Hills Senior High School:

Elementary:    Penn Hills Elementary School
Middle:    Linton Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  17.6 Help
Number of students:  1,107

Racial breakdown:

African American:
69.6%
White:
22.1%
Two or more races:
4.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  87.9% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Penn Hills Senior High School ranks worse than 84.4% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 16.52. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Penn Hills Senior High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (69.6%), White (22.1%), two or more races (4.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 87.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Penn Hills Senior High School is 17.6. (See more...)
Help
Compare Penn Hills Senior High School employs 62.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Penn Hills Senior High School is $39,488.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Penn Hills Senior High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Penn Hills Senior High School 569th of 674 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Penn Hills Senior High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Disabled students:
African American students:
White students:


Penn Hills School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Penn Hills School District 534th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Penn Hills Senior High School?

Rank History for Penn Hills Senior High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Penn Hills Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 46.89 376th 583 35.5%
2004 28.80 472nd 590 20.0%
2005 35.45 461st 593 22.3%
2006 49.64 377th 604 37.6%
2007 29.95 507th 615 17.6%
2008 26.36 519th 621 16.4%
2009 24.53 540th 632 14.6%
2010 40.90 474th 649 27.0%
2011 29.06 542nd 660 17.9%
2012 26.22 547th 664 17.6%
2013 23.46 504th 591 14.7%
2014 11.61 520th 580 10.3%
2015 19.03 562nd 680 17.4%
2016 18.76 571st 677 15.7%
2017 18.54 550th 663 17.0%
2018 14.27 574th 673 14.7%
2019 15.17 580th 693 16.3%
2021 20.69 464th 537 13.6%
2022 21.75 520th 634 18.0%
2023 16.52 569th 674 15.6%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 17.45 564th 652 13.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Penn Hills Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 21.26 425th 502 15.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for African American students at Penn Hills Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 27.48 189th 260 27.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Penn Hills Senior High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 37.41 384th 577 33.4%
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.

Penn Hills Senior High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2.5)
25%

0%

25%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Sunday, September 23, 2012

Open Quote This school is average. Its not as great as I would like, but its not hard to get an education. I started going to PH in the 6th grade, and year after year, the problems stay the same, I didn't understand how stupid a school could be. Until I realized that it was the other kids. Most of the problems that occur is because of them, and sadly every year more and more bad kids come into PH and shoot canons at an already sunken ship. I say PH would be top notch if the other kids weren't so terrible. Close Quote


by a student
Thursday, September 13, 2012

Open Quote I had a great experience at Penn Hills. My teachers prepared me (and my sister) very well for college. I wasn't a straight-A student or a football star, just a regular kid in regular classes. I won't pretend that my school is perfect. We have a lot of poor kids and a lot of kids with bad families. I know that makes our average grades and test scores lower. But if you're a good kid and you want to do well, you will have a great time at Penn Hills. Close Quote


by a citizen
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Open Quote Horrible school and district. Spend money on buildings and kids can't read or write. I can't hire these kids because they can't do math and don't understand how to learn. They can surf the internet though. Close Quote


by a student
Saturday, March 14, 2009

Open Quote Penn Hills High School isn't the place you want to send your son or daughter. The teachers there dislike to teacher and give the students class work to use up class time. The guards in the school use to much force on the students to stop fighting that starts. At times used to much force on female and pregnant females slamming them on to floors or in to tables. Fights would happen daily no matter what. the school has many cameras around in the halls but the guards ether don't watch them or the camera are not working. most classes turn in to study halls meaning you don't learn a thing and sleep all day. Lunches are like at most 30 minutes long 15 minutes in line and 15 minutes to eat. The halls are other crowded and student to teacher ratio is less than this site really says. most times the school dosent even have the money to by books for the students let alone have a class set for everyone. Seems the money that they get only goes to the football team and nothing else, unless its grants for computers that do not work because the IT people do not care or are just plain to lazy to run the schools servers the right way, so you never have internet or cant save your work to the server so you can access it later.Take it from a Ex. student from the school you do not want your kids to go to Penn Hills High School. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Penn Hills Senior High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1512 497 7 1 0 n/a n/a -12 2005
1989 1381 415 5 3 1 n/a n/a 0 1805
1990 1190 390 6 0 1 n/a n/a 0 1587
1991 1059 379 7 2 1 n/a n/a 0 1448
1992 1017 389 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 1409
1993 988 400 2 1 1 n/a n/a 0 1392
1994 954 372 4 2 2 n/a n/a 0 1334
1995 958 394 6 5 0 n/a n/a 0 1363
1996 958 394 6 5 0 n/a n/a 0 1363
1997 975 446 10 2 0 n/a n/a 0 1433
1998 983 469 6 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1461
1999 983 478 5 2 0 n/a n/a 0 1468
2000 927 474 5 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1409
2001 903 528 5 4 0 n/a n/a 0 1440
2002 853 590 6 2 0 n/a n/a 0 1451
2003 853 590 6 2 0 n/a n/a 0 1451
2004 816 630 7 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1456
2005 798 633 9 2 0 n/a n/a 0 1442
2006 781 660 10 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1454
2007 724 689 13 2 2 n/a n/a 0 1430
2008 638 695 13 1 3 n/a n/a 0 1350
2009 580 680 10 1 3 n/a n/a 3 1277
2010 538 643 12 1 1 n/a n/a 11 1206
2011 607 875 17 1 7 0 20 0 1527
2012 552 840 14 1 5 0 23 0 1435
2013 519 838 17 3 2 1 19 0 1399
2014 517 883 11 2 2 2 28 0 1445
2015 486 917 13 7 0 1 29 0 1453
2016 447 923 15 5 1 0 5 0 1396
2017 405 863 14 14 5 1 31 0 1333
2018 378 775 14 22 4 1 32 0 1226
2019 350 749 10 29 3 2 43 0 1186
2020 305 753 7 27 4 3 38 0 1137
2021 297 745 7 34 3 2 37 0 1125
2022 262 726 5 35 3 2 44 0 1077
2023 245 771 6 37 3 0 45 0 1107

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 Hills Senior High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2005 106.3 18.8 n/a
1989 1805 105.8 17.0 n/a
1990 1587 100.4 15.8 0
1991 1448 91.0 15.9 n/a
1992 1409 87.0 16.1 n/a
1993 1392 78.0 17.8 n/a
1994 1334 74.0 18.0 n/a
1995 1363 77.0 17.7 n/a
1996 1363 77.0 17.7 n/a
1997 1433 76.0 18.9 n/a
1998 1461 81.0 18.0 n/a
1999 1468 91.5 16.0 n/a
2000 1409 90.0 15.7 17.4
2001 1440 89.0 16.2 21.5
2002 1451 86.2 16.8 22.5
2003 1451 86.2 16.8 22.5
2004 1456 92.2 15.8 21.6
2005 1442 86.9 16.6 22.7
2006 1454 91.6 15.9 26.6
2007 1430 90.6 15.8 29
2008 1350 188.0 7.2 33
2009 1277 87.0 14.7 34.8
2010 1206 88.5 13.6 42.8
2011 1527 104.0 14.6 47.3
2012 1435 98.5 14.5 47
2013 1399 99.5 14.0 52.9
2014 1445 101.5 14.2 50.9
2015 1453 98.0 14.8 60.6
2016 1396 96.0 14.5 61.7
2017 1333 84.5 15.7 55.1
2018 1226 82.5 14.8 53.8
2019 1186 76.0 15.6 52.5
2020 1137 61.5 18.4 88
2021 1125 63.3 17.7 91.7
2022 1077 59.8 18.0 91.7
2023 1107 62.8 17.6 87.9

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 Hills Senior High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2005 106.3 18.8 n/a
1989 1805 105.8 17.0 n/a
1990 1587 100.4 15.8 0
1991 1448 91.0 15.9 n/a
1992 1409 87.0 16.1 n/a
1993 1392 78.0 17.8 n/a
1994 1334 74.0 18.0 n/a
1995 1363 77.0 17.7 n/a
1996 1363 77.0 17.7 n/a
1997 1433 76.0 18.9 n/a
1998 1461 81.0 18.0 n/a
1999 1468 91.5 16.0 n/a
2000 1409 90.0 15.7 17.4
2001 1440 89.0 16.2 21.5
2002 1451 86.2 16.8 22.5
2003 1451 86.2 16.8 22.5
2004 1456 92.2 15.8 21.6
2005 1442 86.9 16.6 22.7
2006 1454 91.6 15.9 26.6
2007 1430 90.6 15.8 29
2008 1350 188.0 7.2 33
2009 1277 87.0 14.7 34.8
2010 1206 88.5 13.6 42.8
2011 1527 104.0 14.6 47.3
2012 1435 98.5 14.5 47
2013 1399 99.5 14.0 52.9
2014 1445 101.5 14.2 50.9
2015 1453 98.0 14.8 60.6
2016 1396 96.0 14.5 61.7
2017 1333 84.5 15.7 55.1
2018 1226 82.5 14.8 53.8
2019 1186 76.0 15.6 52.5
2020 1137 61.5 18.4 88
2021 1125 63.3 17.7 91.7
2022 1077 59.8 18.0 91.7
2023 1107 62.8 17.6 87.9

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 Hills Senior High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $377 (2.0%) $18,913 (98.0%) $19,290
2020 $344 (2.2%) $15,286 (97.8%) $15,630
2021 $511 (3.2%) $15,435 (96.8%) $15,946
2022 $5,848 (14.8%) $33,640 (85.2%) $39,488

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Penn Hills Senior 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 580th of 693 High schoolsRanks 569th of 674 High schools
 0.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Penn Hills Senior High School)28.124.4
 3.7%
   11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)63.334.1
 29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Penn Hills Senior High School)38.726.3
 12.4%
   11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)63.250.7
 12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Penn Hills Senior High School)46.635.6
 11%
   11th Grade Literature (Pennsylvania)71.565.3
 6.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students11861107
 6.7%
African American749771
 2.9%
American Indian33
Asian106
 40%
Hispanic2937
 27.6%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White350245
 30%
Two or More Races4345
 4.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients52.5%87.9%
 35.4%


Schools Near Penn Hills Senior High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Penn Hills Senior High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,107 students attended Penn Hills Senior High School.

Penn Hills Senior High School ranks in the bottom 15.6% of Pennsylvania high schools.

Penn Hills Senior High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Penn Hills Elementary School
Middle : Linton Middle School

Students at Penn Hills Senior High School are 70% African American, 22% White, 4% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic.


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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.





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