Steelton-Highspire High School

Summary:

Steelton-Highspire High School is a public high school serving grades 7-12 in the Steelton-Highspire School District, with a student population of 599. The school's student body is predominantly African American (53.09%) and Hispanic (27.55%), with a smaller percentage of White students (13.02%).

Steelton-Highspire High School consistently ranks among the lowest-performing high schools in Pennsylvania, with a statewide rank between 551-652 out of 674-693 high schools over the past decade. The school's performance on standardized tests is significantly below the state averages, with only 3% of students proficient or better in PSSA Math in 2022-2023, compared to the state average of 39.3%. Additionally, the school has struggled with low graduation rates, with a four-year graduation rate of only 74.1% in 2022-2023, well below the state average. The school's student population is also characterized by a high level of economic disadvantage, with 100% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

Compared to nearby high schools, such as Camp Hill Senior High School, Middletown Area High School, and Cedar Cliff High School, Steelton-Highspire High School's performance lags significantly. These nearby schools have higher academic achievement, graduation rates, and socioeconomic status. Despite the high level of economic disadvantage among Steelton-Highspire High School's students, the school's per-student spending has increased over the years, but this increased funding has not translated into improved academic outcomes. The stark racial achievement gaps at the school, with African American and Hispanic students performing significantly worse than their White peers, suggest a need for targeted interventions and a focus on educational equity.


Detail:

Public 7-12

 250 Reynders Ave.
       Steelton, PA  17113


(717) 704-3809

District: Steelton-Highspire School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
652nd of 674 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $7,602 Help


Feeder schools for Steelton-Highspire High School:

Elementary:    Steelton-Highspire Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.3 Help
Number of students:  599

Racial breakdown:

African American:
53.1%
Hispanic:
27.5%
White:
13.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Steelton-Highspire High School ranks worse than 90% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 9.49. (See more...)
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Compare Details Steelton-Highspire High School ranks worse than 96.7% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 4.05. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Steelton-Highspire High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
Help
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 Student population at Steelton-Highspire High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (53.1%), Hispanic (27.5%), White (13%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Steelton-Highspire High School is 12.3. (See more...)
Help
Compare Steelton-Highspire High School employs 48.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Steelton-Highspire High School is $7,602.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Steelton-Highspire High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Steelton-Highspire High School 804th of 893 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Steelton-Highspire High School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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

SchoolDigger ranks Steelton-Highspire High School 652nd of 674 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Steelton-Highspire High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:


Steelton-Highspire School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Steelton-Highspire School District 590th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Steelton-Highspire High School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Steelton-Highspire High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 5.84 595th 643 7.5%
2004 4.12 622nd 663 6.2%
2005 2.25 666th 687 3.1%
2006 4.20 706th 736 4.1%
2007 5.87 710th 749 5.2%
2008 7.57 699th 753 7.2%
2009 16.85 669th 770 13.1%
2010 13.45 724th 805 10.1%
2011 9.59 761st 825 7.8%
2012 8.20 767th 834 8.0%
2013 3.81 704th 758 7.1%
2014 2.92 691st 728 5.1%
2015 5.18 803rd 835 3.8%
2016 6.96 793rd 870 8.9%
2017 6.11 817th 877 6.8%
2018 5.13 826th 861 4.1%
2019 4.63 860th 891 3.5%
2021 4.81 793rd 797 0.5%
2022 6.71 850th 883 3.7%
2023 9.49 804th 893 10.0%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Steelton-Highspire High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 13.29 777th 874 11.1%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Disabled students at Steelton-Highspire High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 22.21 557th 660 15.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Steelton-Highspire High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 24.12 346th 421 17.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Steelton-Highspire High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 23.38 296th 362 18.2%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Hispanic Students!

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

Rank History for Steelton-Highspire High School

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Compare

Rank History for all high school students at Steelton-Highspire High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 10.72 521st 583 10.6%
2004 10.69 532nd 590 9.8%
2005 12.13 534th 593 9.9%
2006 4.04 577th 604 4.5%
2007 5.74 580th 615 5.7%
2008 5.66 588th 621 5.3%
2009 12.69 570th 632 9.8%
2010 2.17 627th 649 3.4%
2011 8.00 613th 660 7.1%
2012 1.76 639th 664 3.8%
2013 3.00 554th 591 6.3%
2014 2.14 551st 580 5.0%
2015 3.70 627th 680 7.8%
2016 4.76 613th 677 9.5%
2017 3.40 615th 663 7.2%
2018 2.39 634th 673 5.8%
2019 5.92 626th 693 9.7%
2022 5.02 595th 634 6.2%
2023 4.05 652nd 674 3.3%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Steelton-Highspire High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 5.52 631st 652 3.2%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school African American students at Steelton-Highspire High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 10.96 250th 260 3.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at Steelton-Highspire High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 10.30 237th 252 6.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Hispanic 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.

Steelton-Highspire High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, November 20, 2017

Open Quote This school has been consistently horrible for the last 20 years. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Steelton-Highspire High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 377 212 1 10 0 n/a n/a 0 600
1989 385 226 1 11 0 n/a n/a 0 623
1990 353 220 3 19 0 n/a n/a 0 595
1991 323 228 2 26 0 n/a n/a 0 579
1992 341 232 3 26 0 n/a n/a 0 602
1993 326 246 9 21 0 n/a n/a 0 602
1994 331 287 6 26 0 n/a n/a 0 650
1995 275 261 5 35 0 n/a n/a 0 576
1996 275 261 5 35 0 n/a n/a 0 576
1997 283 249 9 41 0 n/a n/a 0 582
1998 296 260 10 53 0 n/a n/a 0 619
1999 294 244 6 56 0 n/a n/a 0 600
2000 298 265 10 51 0 n/a n/a 0 624
2001 288 287 12 69 0 n/a n/a 0 656
2002 261 308 5 59 0 n/a n/a 0 633
2003 261 308 5 59 0 n/a n/a 0 633
2004 251 317 2 55 0 n/a n/a 0 625
2005 239 343 2 61 0 n/a n/a 0 645
2006 212 343 2 72 0 n/a n/a 0 629
2007 169 338 4 62 0 n/a n/a 0 573
2008 136 300 3 68 2 n/a n/a 55 564
2009 127 292 6 73 0 n/a n/a 59 557
2010 103 238 5 79 0 n/a n/a 92 517
2011 107 220 7 73 0 0 72 0 479
2012 113 258 7 114 0 0 52 0 544
2013 109 279 4 123 0 0 51 0 566
2014 104 293 3 111 0 0 38 0 549
2015 105 292 3 114 1 0 36 0 551
2016 98 277 3 117 1 0 36 0 532
2017 97 303 2 136 1 0 37 0 576
2018 108 272 2 137 1 0 39 0 559
2019 105 305 3 143 1 0 36 0 593
2020 81 286 2 138 1 0 32 0 540
2021 80 301 0 157 0 0 34 0 572
2022 83 325 0 151 0 0 33 0 592
2023 78 318 1 165 0 0 37 0 599

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 Steelton-Highspire High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 600 51.0 11.7 n/a
1989 623 51.0 12.2 n/a
1990 595 48.0 12.3 0
1991 579 50.0 11.5 n/a
1992 602 52.0 11.5 n/a
1993 602 46.0 13.1 n/a
1994 650 46.0 14.1 n/a
1995 576 47.0 12.3 n/a
1996 576 47.0 12.3 n/a
1997 582 46.0 12.7 n/a
1998 619 45.0 13.8 n/a
1999 600 46.0 13.0 n/a
2000 624 47.0 13.3 35.9
2001 656 48.0 13.7 33.1
2002 633 49.0 12.9 43.8
2003 633 49.0 12.9 43.8
2004 625 50.0 12.5 53.6
2005 645 51.0 12.6 42.9
2006 629 53.0 11.9 49.3
2007 573 49.0 11.7 58.1
2008 564 64.0 8.8 69.4
2009 557 58.5 9.5 73.5
2010 517 52.0 9.9 82.4
2011 479 51.0 9.3 68.1
2012 544 44.0 12.3 72.1
2013 566 45.5 12.4 70.8
2014 549 41.5 13.2 76.9
2015 551 40.0 13.7 99.5
2016 532 38.0 14.0 100
2017 576 36.5 15.7 100
2018 559 36.0 15.5 99.6
2019 593 38.0 15.6 100
2020 540 52.0 10.3 99.8
2021 572 49.1 11.6 99.5
2022 592 47.0 12.5 99.5
2023 599 48.4 12.3 100

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 Steelton-Highspire High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 600 51.0 11.7 n/a
1989 623 51.0 12.2 n/a
1990 595 48.0 12.3 0
1991 579 50.0 11.5 n/a
1992 602 52.0 11.5 n/a
1993 602 46.0 13.1 n/a
1994 650 46.0 14.1 n/a
1995 576 47.0 12.3 n/a
1996 576 47.0 12.3 n/a
1997 582 46.0 12.7 n/a
1998 619 45.0 13.8 n/a
1999 600 46.0 13.0 n/a
2000 624 47.0 13.3 35.9
2001 656 48.0 13.7 33.1
2002 633 49.0 12.9 43.8
2003 633 49.0 12.9 43.8
2004 625 50.0 12.5 53.6
2005 645 51.0 12.6 42.9
2006 629 53.0 11.9 49.3
2007 573 49.0 11.7 58.1
2008 564 64.0 8.8 69.4
2009 557 58.5 9.5 73.5
2010 517 52.0 9.9 82.4
2011 479 51.0 9.3 68.1
2012 544 44.0 12.3 72.1
2013 566 45.5 12.4 70.8
2014 549 41.5 13.2 76.9
2015 551 40.0 13.7 99.5
2016 532 38.0 14.0 100
2017 576 36.5 15.7 100
2018 559 36.0 15.5 99.6
2019 593 38.0 15.6 100
2020 540 52.0 10.3 99.8
2021 572 49.1 11.6 99.5
2022 592 47.0 12.5 99.5
2023 599 48.4 12.3 100

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 Steelton-Highspire High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $350 (5.9%) $5,582 (94.1%) $5,932
2020 $166 (2.4%) $6,734 (97.6%) $6,900
2021 $2,284 (26.1%) $6,461 (73.9%) $8,745
2022 $1,081 (14.2%) $6,521 (85.8%) $7,602

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Steelton-Highspire 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 860th of 891 Middle schoolsRanks 804th of 893 Middle schools
 6.5%
Ranks 626th of 693 High schoolsRanks 652nd of 674 High schools
 6.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade Math (Steelton-Highspire High School)12.5
 1.5%
   7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)38.233.2
 5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Steelton-Highspire High School)1529.4
 14.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.554.5
 6%
8th Grade Math (Steelton-Highspire High School)13.4
 2.4%
   8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)32.226
 6.2%
8th Grade Science (Steelton-Highspire High School)14.121.1
 7%
   8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)58.257
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Steelton-Highspire High School)18.813.5
 5.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)57.952.8
 5.1%
11th Grade Algebra I (Steelton-Highspire High School)29.25.7
 23.5%
   11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)63.334.1
 29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Steelton-Highspire High School)14.67.7
 6.9%
   11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)63.250.7
 12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Steelton-Highspire High School)31.311.8
 19.5%
   11th Grade Literature (Pennsylvania)71.565.3
 6.2%
All Grades Math (Steelton-Highspire High School)13
 2%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (Steelton-Highspire High School)14.121.1
 7%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Steelton-Highspire High School)16.920.7
 3.8%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.953.8
 7.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students593599
 1%
African American305318
 4.3%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian31
 66.7%
Hispanic143165
 15.4%
Pacific Islander00
White10578
 25.7%
Two or More Races3637
 2.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near Steelton-Highspire High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Steelton-Highspire High School

Steelton-Highspire High School ranks in the bottom 3.3% of Pennsylvania high schools.

Steelton-Highspire High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Steelton-Highspire Elementary School

Students at Steelton-Highspire High School are 53% African American, 28% Hispanic, 13% White, 6% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 599 students attended Steelton-Highspire High School.


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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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