Pittsburgh Online Academy

Summary:

Pittsburgh Online Academy is a small, alternative public school serving grades 4-12 in the Pittsburgh School District. With just 96 students, the school has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating it is performing below average compared to other schools in Pennsylvania.

Despite its low test scores, Pittsburgh Online Academy has maintained relatively high graduation rates, ranging from 83.8% to 91.6% over the past few years, which is higher than the district and state averages. The school also has had low dropout rates, ranging from 0% to 2.1%, lower than the district and state. However, the school's test scores are significantly lower than the district and state averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, only 3.7% of students were proficient or better in PSSA Math, compared to 26.7% in the district and 40.4% statewide. Interestingly, Pittsburgh Online Academy has had relatively low free/reduced lunch rates, ranging from 3% to 7.3%, much lower than the nearby alternative schools, which have rates over 60%.

The higher spending per student at Pittsburgh Online Academy, ranging from $21,032 to $37,994 over the past few years, may be an attempt to provide additional resources and support to its students, but the low test scores suggest these efforts have not yet translated to improved academic outcomes. Compared to the nearby alternative schools in the Pittsburgh School District, Pittsburgh Online Academy appears to be an outlier in terms of its performance and student population, warranting further investigation to understand the unique challenges and needs of the school and its students.

Detail:

Public, Alternative 4-12

341 S. Bellefield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

(412) 529-3510

District: Pittsburgh School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
616^th of 686 Pennsylvania Alternative Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $26,070

Student/teacher ratio: 66.5

Number of students: 96

Racial breakdown:

White:

43.8%

African American:

38.5%

Two or more races:

11.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 3.1%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

Compare Pittsburgh Online Academy to nearby alternative schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Pittsburgh Online Academy is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2022 the calculated Average Standard Score was 38.51. (See more...)

Compare Details Pittsburgh Online Academy ranks worse than 89.8% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.14. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Pittsburgh Online Academy 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 (43.8%), African American (38.5%), two or more races (11.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 3.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Pittsburgh School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pittsburgh Online Academy is $26,070. 2 alternative schools in the Pittsburgh School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Pittsburgh Online Academy was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Pittsburgh Online Academy 616^th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Pittsburgh Online Academy in the ranking list.)

Pittsburgh School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Pittsburgh School District 466^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Pittsburgh Online Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	PA State Percentile
2015	15.41	681^st	835	18.4%
2017	40.22	551^st	877	37.2%
2022	38.51	565^th	883	36.0%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Alternative School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Pittsburgh Online Academy

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Rank History for all high school students at Pittsburgh Online Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2015	20.48	554^th	680	18.5%
2016	11.04	587^th	677	13.3%
2017	11.23	579^th	663	12.7%
2018	20.32	549^th	673	18.4%
2019	23.84	556^th	693	19.8%
2024	8.14	616^th	686	10.2%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Male students at Pittsburgh Online Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	6.03	615^th	662	7.1%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Alternative Schools for Male 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 Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for Pittsburgh Online Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2014	53	30	4	0	0	0	10	97
2015	82	59	2	1	0	0	10	154
2016	97	52	5	2	0	0	7	163
2017	79	41	5	3	0	0	4	132
2018	84	36	1	4	1	0	7	133
2019	80	49	2	2	0	0	9	142
2020	60	41	1	1	0	0	9	112
2021	60	31	1	0	0	0	8	100
2022	81	78	1	4	0	0	14	178
2023	42	37	2	2	1	1	11	96

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 Pittsburgh Online Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	97	n/a	n/a	67
2015	154	n/a	n/a	68.8
2016	163	n/a	n/a	63.2
2017	132	n/a	n/a	n/a
2018	133	2.0	66.5	n/a
2019	142	0.0	n/a	2.8
2020	112	0.0	n/a	n/a
2021	100	0.0	n/a	3
2022	178	0.0	n/a	7.3
2023	96	0.0	n/a	3.1

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 Pittsburgh Online Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	97	n/a	n/a	67
2015	154	n/a	n/a	68.8
2016	163	n/a	n/a	63.2
2017	132	n/a	n/a	n/a
2018	133	2.0	66.5	n/a
2019	142	0.0	n/a	2.8
2020	112	0.0	n/a	n/a
2021	100	0.0	n/a	3
2022	178	0.0	n/a	7.3
2023	96	0.0	n/a	3.1

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 Pittsburgh Online Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,813 (8.6%)	$19,219 (91.4%)	$21,032
2020	$2,138 (9.4%)	$20,548 (90.6%)	$22,686
2021	$2,783 (7.3%)	$35,211 (92.7%)	$37,994
2022	$3,354 (12.9%)	$22,716 (87.1%)	$26,070

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pittsburgh Online Academy

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.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade Math (Pittsburgh Online Academy)	18.2	18.2
7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	38.2	27.1	11.1%
All Grades Math (Pittsburgh Online Academy)	18.7	4.8	13.9%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Pittsburgh Online Academy)	53.1	50	3.1%
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	142	96	32.4%
African American	49	37	24.5%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	2	2
Hispanic	2	2
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	80	42	47.5%
Two or More Races	9	11	22.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	2.8%	3.1%	0.3%

Schools Near Pittsburgh Online Academy

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th Grade	PSSA Math 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA Science 4th Grade	PSSA Science 8th Grade	PSSA Science All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	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
Pittsburgh Online Academy	Public, Alternative	4-12	341 S. Bellefield Avenue	Pittsburgh	15213	Allegheny County	Pittsburgh School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 529-3510	96	0		3.1%	42 (43.8%)	37 (38.5%)	2 (2.1%)	2 (2.1%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	11 (11.5%)								(n/a)	0.0	10.0	42.1						9.1	3.7			45.5							26.9	$26,070	$3,354	$22,716
Environmental Charter School at Frick Park	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	829 Milton Street	Pittsburgh	15218	Allegheny County	Environmental Charter School at Frick Park	Yes	No	No	Yes	(412) 247-7970	1,020	98	10.4	33.3%	587 (57.5%)	274 (26.9%)	64 (6.3%)	27 (2.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (6.6%)								(n/a)	8.3	19.5	38.9	80.5	71.0	82.1	42.2	44.5	23.7	57.5	93.4	63.5	78.2	83.5	85.9	85.2	58.1	62.2	57.3	72.2	$22,007	$2,499	$19,508
Propel Cs-Homestead	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	129 E 10th Ave	Homestead	15120	Allegheny County	Propel CS-Homestead	Yes	No	No	Yes	(412) 323-7305	512	42	12.1	99.8%	20 (3.9%)	430 (84.0%)	13 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (8.4%)								(n/a)	27.6	30.0	66.7	12.5	14.3	0.0	3.3	2.7	4.9	6.1	33.3	29.2	31.2	26.9	16.7	9.7	21.2	18.9	35.7	22.0	$24,358	$2,319	$22,039
Pittsburgh Conroy	Public, Alternative	K-12	1398 Page St	Pittsburgh	15233	Allegheny County	Pittsburgh School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 529-3105	171	36	4.7	67.8%	53 (31.0%)	105 (61.4%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.4%)								(n/a)																					$26,409	$3,398	$23,011
David B. Oliver Citywide Academy	Public, Alternative	3-12	2323 Brighton Rd	Pittsburgh	15212	Allegheny County	Pittsburgh School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 529-3125	85	21	4.1	87.1%	7 (8.2%)	62 (72.9%)	2 (2.4%)	2 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (14.1%)								(n/a)																					$24,392	$3,138	$21,254
Pittsburgh Pioneer	Public, Alternative	K-12	775 Dunster St	Pittsburgh	15226	Allegheny County	Pittsburgh School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 529-7405	57	12	4.6	63.2%	23 (40.4%)	24 (42.1%)	1 (1.8%)	4 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	4 (7.0%)								(n/a)																					$26,141	$3,363	$22,778
Propel Cs-Braddock Hills	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1500 Yost Blvd	Pittsburgh	15221	Allegheny County	Propel CS-Braddock Hills	Yes	No	No	Yes	(412) 325-7305	791	58	13.6	100.0%	51 (6.4%)	641 (81.0%)	11 (1.4%)	2 (0.3%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	80 (10.1%)								(n/a)	7.3	25.0	51.2	13.4	8.3	14.6	13.9	0.0	10.9	10.1	69.5	51.2	59.5	11.5	25.0	19.5	16.7	16.0	30.5	19.5	$23,819	$2,117	$21,702
Propel Cs-Montour	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	340 Bilmar Drive	Pittsburgh	15205	Allegheny County	Propel CS-Montour	Yes	No	No	Yes	(412) 325-7305	791	58	13.6		220 (27.8%)	427 (54.0%)	17 (2.1%)	3 (0.4%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	119 (15.0%)								(n/a)	13.2	31.7	43.9	18.9	14.9	0.0	15.9	8.2	3.8	10.3	61.2	24.1	44.6	20.7	14.9	11.9	38.1	27.4	22.2	22.4	$18,531	$2,272	$16,260
Pennsylvania Distance Learning Charter School	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2605 Nicolson Road	Sewickley	15143	Allegheny County	Pennsylvania Distance Learning Charter School	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	(724) 933-7300	1,226	104	11.8		507 (41.4%)	359 (29.3%)	263 (21.5%)	9 (0.7%)	11 (0.9%)	6 (0.5%)	71 (5.8%)								(n/a)	13.7	32.5	49.4	5.2	11.6	8.4	2.9	6.7	7.8	6.7	54.6	22.1	33.9	17.2	18.1	12.8	15.9	17.6	16.7	16.5	$14,945	$1,887	$13,058

Frequently Asked Questions about Pittsburgh Online Academy

Is Pittsburgh Online Academy a good school?

Pittsburgh Online Academy ranks in the bottom 10.2% of Pennsylvania alternative schools.

How many students attend Pittsburgh Online Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 96 students attended Pittsburgh Online Academy.

What district is Pittsburgh Online Academy in?

Pittsburgh School District

What is the racial makeup of Pittsburgh Online Academy?

Students at Pittsburgh Online Academy are 44% White, 39% African American, 11% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% Hispanic, 1% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander.

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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.