Portage Area Elementary School

Q: Is Portage Area Elementary School a good school?

Portage Area Elementary School ranks 260 th of 1526 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Portage Area Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 448 students in grades PK-6 in Portage, Pennsylvania, which is part of the Portage Area School District. This high-performing school consistently ranks in the top 20% of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with students significantly outperforming the state average on standardized tests across all grades and subjects.

Portage Area Elementary School's academic performance is particularly noteworthy, with 65.7% of students proficient or better in Math and 71.2% in English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 40.4% and 53%, respectively. The school's Science scores are also impressive, with 89.8% of students proficient or better, well above the state average of 65.8%. Portage Area Elementary School's performance is also exceptional among student subgroups, ranking in the top 20% of Pennsylvania elementary schools for low socioeconomic status and disabled students.

Compared to nearby schools, Foot of Ten Elementary and Conemaugh Valley Elementary, Portage Area Elementary School outperforms them in academic metrics, including PSSA test scores and rankings. The school also has a lower percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients than some of its neighbors, such as Blacklick Valley Elementary Center. Portage Area Elementary School's consistent high performance, low dropout rates, and efficient use of resources make it a standout educational institution in the region.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

84 Mountain Ave
Portage, PA 15946-1806

(814) 736-9636

District: Portage Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
260^th of 1,526 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,864

Students who attend Portage Area Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Portage Area Junior/Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.4

Number of students: 448

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.3%

Two or more races:

3.8%

Hispanic:

2.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 54.5%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Portage Area Elementary School ranks better than 83% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 81.1. (See more...)

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 (93.3%), two or more races (3.8%), Hispanic (2.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 54.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Portage Area Elementary School is 12.4. (See more...)

Compare Portage Area Elementary School employs 35.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Portage Area Elementary School is $14,864.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Portage Area Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Portage Area Elementary School 260^th of 1526 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Portage Area Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

White students:

Portage Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Portage Area School District 100^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Portage Area Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Portage Area Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile
2010	65.88	610^th	1579	61.4%
2011	68.17	557^th	1597	65.1%
2012	59.20	847^th	1599	47.0%
2013	63.61	683^rd	1519	55.0%
2014	67.75	551^st	1467	62.4%
2015	64.54	607^th	1474	58.8%
2016	62.01	707^th	1554	54.5%
2017	64.35	637^th	1547	58.8%
2018	70.16	496^th	1530	67.6%
2019	71.28	474^th	1544	69.3%
2021	76.52	318^th	1433	77.8%
2022	81.53	261^st	1534	83.0%
2023	81.74	248^th	1534	83.8%
2024	81.10	260^th	1526	83.0%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Portage Area Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	82.91	147^th	1414	89.6%
2024	83.51	135^th	1432	90.6%

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

Rank History for Female students at Portage Area Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	79.37	271^st	1488	81.8%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Portage Area Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	69.40	225^th	1043	78.4%
2024	83.67	117^th	1084	89.2%

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

Rank History for Male students at Portage Area Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	79.87	268^th	1495	82.1%

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

Rank History for White students at Portage Area Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	73.18	303^rd	1236	75.5%
2024	70.39	344^th	1229	72.0%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Dept 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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Portage Area Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2008	523	2	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	527
2009	533	7	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	540
2010	533	10	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	544
2011	532	10	0	0	1	0	0	543
2012	552	5	0	0	0	0	0	557
2013	539	5	1	1	0	0	0	546
2014	524	5	2	2	0	0	1	534
2015	498	6	2	3	0	0	4	513
2016	496	4	2	4	0	0	6	512
2017	473	3	2	4	0	0	9	491
2018	455	2	4	8	0	0	10	479
2019	412	3	4	9	0	0	13	441
2020	430	4	3	9	0	0	14	460
2021	379	5	3	9	0	0	12	408
2022	388	4	2	11	0	0	12	417
2023	418	0	2	11	0	0	17	448

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 Portage Area Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	527	35.4	14.9	n/a
2009	540	35.3	15.3	54.1
2010	544	36.6	14.8	52.2
2011	543	35.5	15.2	56.4
2012	557	34.1	16.3	55.5
2013	546	37.0	14.7	55.1
2014	534	36.8	14.4	56.6
2015	513	36.0	14.2	59.6
2016	512	36.0	14.2	55.7
2017	491	37.4	13.1	54.6
2018	479	37.3	12.8	73.7
2019	441	36.1	12.1	49.9
2020	460	36.0	12.7	50.7
2021	408	34.9	11.6	52
2022	417	35.9	11.5	48
2023	448	35.9	12.4	54.5

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 Portage Area Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	527	35.4	14.9	n/a
2009	540	35.3	15.3	54.1
2010	544	36.6	14.8	52.2
2011	543	35.5	15.2	56.4
2012	557	34.1	16.3	55.5
2013	546	37.0	14.7	55.1
2014	534	36.8	14.4	56.6
2015	513	36.0	14.2	59.6
2016	512	36.0	14.2	55.7
2017	491	37.4	13.1	54.6
2018	479	37.3	12.8	73.7
2019	441	36.1	12.1	49.9
2020	460	36.0	12.7	50.7
2021	408	34.9	11.6	52
2022	417	35.9	11.5	48
2023	448	35.9	12.4	54.5

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 Portage Area Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$821 (6.3%)	$12,224 (93.7%)	$13,045
2020	$776 (6.0%)	$12,130 (94.0%)	$12,905
2021	$1,398 (9.3%)	$13,685 (90.7%)	$15,082
2022	$1,876 (12.6%)	$12,988 (87.4%)	$14,864

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Portage Area Elementary 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 474^th of 1544 Elementary schools	Ranks 248^th of 1534 Elementary schools	14.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Portage Area Elementary School)	68.2	77.5	9.3%
3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	56	51.7	4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Portage Area Elementary School)	59.1	67.4	8.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	61.9	54	7.9%
4th Grade Math (Portage Area Elementary School)	56.9	73.3	16.4%
4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	46.2	46.5	0.3%
4th Grade Science (Portage Area Elementary School)	94.2	93.3	0.9%
4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	77.8	74.1	3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Portage Area Elementary School)	78.5	71.7	6.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63.6	51.8	11.8%
5th Grade Math (Portage Area Elementary School)	47.6	49	1.4%
5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	43	42.7	0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Portage Area Elementary School)	63.5	73.6	10.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	58.5	53.6	4.9%
6th Grade Math (Portage Area Elementary School)	61.1	50.7	10.4%
6th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	39	36.4	2.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Portage Area Elementary School)	81.8	73.2	8.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63	55.6	7.4%
All Grades Math (Portage Area Elementary School)	57.5	62	4.5%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Portage Area Elementary School)	94.2	93.3	0.9%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Portage Area Elementary School)	70.9	71.7	0.8%
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	441	448	1.6%
African American	3	0	100%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	4	2	50%
Hispanic	9	11	22.2%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	412	418	1.5%
Two or More Races	13	17	30.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	49.9%	54.5%	4.6%

Schools Near Portage Area Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				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	PSSA Math 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA Science 4th 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 All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Portage Area Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	84 Mountain Ave	Portage	15946	Cambria County	Portage Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 736-9636	448	36	12.4	54.5%	418 (93.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.8%)	81.1	260^th of 1526 public elementary schools	83.0%		81.7	248^th of 1534 public elementary schools	83.8%	12	72.6	75.5	77.2	36.0	65.7	89.8	89.8	76.5	62.0	77.2	68.0	71.2	$14,864	$1,876	$12,988
Penn Cambria Intrmd School	Public	3-4	376 Wood St	Lilly	15938	Cambria County	Penn Cambria School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 886-8532	211	16	13.2	52.1%	202 (95.7%)	3 (1.4%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	53.1	824^th of 1526 public elementary schools	46.0%		61.6	661^st of 1534 public elementary schools	56.9%	163	59.2	36.6			46.5	75.0	75.0	67.6	51.9			58.8	$13,046	$1,275	$11,771
Penn Cambria Primary School	Public	1-2	400 Main St	Lilly	15938	Cambria County	Penn Cambria School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 886-2151	184	17	11.1	47.8%	173 (94.0%)	1 (0.5%)	4 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.3%)								(n/a)													$14,877	$2,544	$12,333
Forest Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	547 Locust Street	Sidman	15955	Cambria County	Forest Hills School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 487-7613	957	66	14.5	42.7%	921 (96.2%)	4 (0.4%)	15 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	15 (1.6%)	69.9	497^th of 1526 public elementary schools	67.4%		72.1	451^st of 1534 public elementary schools	70.6%	46	56.2	74.1	51.7	57.6	59.8	91.4	91.4	57.9	57.4	55.8	57.6	57.2	$13,692	$1,641	$12,051
Penn Cambria Pre-Primary	Public	PK-K	205 6th St	Cresson	16630	Cambria County	Penn Cambria School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 886-8166	92	9	9.9	51.1%	87 (94.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.3%)								(n/a)													$17,762	$1,749	$16,013
Cambria Elementary School	Public	K-5	212 Schoolhouse Rd	Ebensburg	15931	Cambria County	Central Cambria School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 472-8432	450	37	12.0	41.8%	426 (94.7%)	6 (1.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.3%)	65.1	584^th of 1526 public elementary schools	61.7%		66.5	563^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	63.3%	21	56.3	60.6	62.6		59.7	87.3	87.3	51.3	53.5	60.8		55.2	$9,583	$1,093	$8,490
Jackson Elementary School	Public	K-5	3704 William Penn Avenue	Johnstown	15909	Cambria County	Central Cambria School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 749-8421	208	16	13.0	41.8%	201 (96.6%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	68.4	527^th of 1526 public elementary schools	65.5%		72.6	441^st of 1534 public elementary schools	71.3%	86	59.2	71.4	51.7		61.6	82.9	82.9	48.1	68.5	62.0		60.5	$11,190	$1,535	$9,654
Blacklick Valley Elementary Center	Public	PK, KG-6	1000 W Railroad St	Nanty Glo	15943	Cambria County	Blacklick Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 749-9211	318	28	11.3	99.7%	298 (93.7%)	3 (0.9%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.8%)	51.8	838^th of 1526 public elementary schools	45.1%		66.3	567^th of 1534 public elementary schools	63.0%	271	50.0	77.1	45.7	19.2	45.1	85.7	85.7	52.3	62.8	25.7	51.9	48.8	$17,477	$2,887	$14,590
Foot of Ten Elementary School	Public	K-6	450 Foot of Ten Rd	Duncansville	16635	Blair County	Hollidaysburg Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 695-1941	514	40	12.8	36.8%	490 (95.3%)	3 (0.6%)	7 (1.4%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	70.4	483^rd of 1526 public elementary schools	68.3%		75.1	376^th of 1534 public elementary schools	75.5%	107	54.1	50.6	60.5	51.9	54.3	86.4	86.4	55.7	56.8	72.8	67.1	63.6	$12,465	$917	$11,547
Conemaugh Valley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1340 William Penn Avenue	Johnstown	15906	Cambria County	Conemaugh Valley School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 535-6970	392	39	9.9	100.0%	343 (87.5%)	13 (3.3%)	7 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.4%)	39.8	1009^th of 1526 public elementary schools	33.9%		31.7	1117^th of 1534 public elementary schools	27.2%	108	45.0	40.7	16.3	27.2	31.8	74.5	74.5	57.5	42.4	34.7	53.1	46.8	$14,483	$1,886	$12,597

Frequently Asked Questions about Portage Area Elementary School

What district is Portage Area Elementary School in?

Portage Area School District

Is Portage Area Elementary School a good school?

Portage Area Elementary School ranks 260^th of 1526 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Portage Area Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Portage Area Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Portage Area Junior/Senior High School

How many students attend Portage Area Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 448 students attended Portage Area Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Portage Area Elementary School?

Students at Portage Area Elementary School are 93% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% 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.