West Branch Area High School

Summary:

West Branch Area High School is a public high school located in Morrisdale, Pennsylvania, serving 314 students in grades 9-12 as part of the West Branch Area School District. The school has shown fluctuating academic performance, with strong proficiency in Literature but more mixed results in Algebra I and Biology. However, West Branch Area High School has excelled in serving its low-income student population, ranking in the top 61 out of 664 Pennsylvania high schools in this category for the 2023-2024 school year.

Compared to nearby schools like Curwensville Area Junior/Senior High School and Clearfield Area Junior/Senior High School, West Branch Area High School has generally outperformed them on Keystone Exam proficiency rates, particularly in Literature. However, Curwensville Area Junior/Senior High School has shown stronger performance on PSSA exams for 7th and 8th grade students in Math, Science, and English Language Arts. Despite these strengths, West Branch Area High School's statewide ranking has declined over the years, from a high of 131 out of 674 Pennsylvania high schools in 2022-2023 to 260 out of 686 in 2023-2024.

Overall, West Branch Area High School has demonstrated notable strengths in serving its low-income student population and maintaining high graduation and low dropout rates. However, the school's fluctuating academic performance and declining statewide ranking suggest the need for continued focus on improving student outcomes across all subject areas and student subgroups to ensure the school remains competitive among other high schools in Pennsylvania.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 444 Allport Cutoff
       Morrisdale, PA  16858


(814) 345-5615

District: West Branch Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
260th of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $27,593 Help


Feeder schools for West Branch Area High School:

Elementary:    West Branch Area Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.3 Help
Number of students:  314

Racial breakdown:

White:
95.2%
Hispanic:
2.2%
Two or more races:
1.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  34.1% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details West Branch Area High School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2019 the calculated Average Standard Score was 47.48. (See more...)
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Compare Details West Branch Area High School ranks better than 62.1% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 63.13. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at West Branch Area High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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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: White (95.2%), Hispanic (2.2%), two or more races (1.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 34.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at West Branch Area High School is 14.3. (See more...)
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Compare West Branch Area High School employs 21.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at West Branch Area High School is $27,593.
Schooldigger Rankings:

West Branch Area High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks West Branch Area High School 260th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See West Branch Area High School in the ranking list.)

West Branch Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks West Branch Area School District 349th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for West Branch Area High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 33.98 493rd 643 23.3%
2004 55.00 365th 663 44.9%
2005 45.13 454th 687 33.9%
2006 31.45 575th 736 21.9%
2007 31.98 585th 749 21.9%
2008 44.43 511th 753 32.1%
2009 47.63 502nd 770 34.8%
2010 44.85 550th 805 31.7%
2011 40.12 594th 825 28.0%
2012 49.00 532nd 834 36.2%
2013 32.86 577th 758 23.9%
2014 43.27 487th 728 33.1%
2015 36.37 552nd 835 33.9%
2016 41.08 549th 870 36.9%
2017 42.22 535th 877 39.0%
2018 44.39 521st 861 39.5%
2019 47.48 508th 891 43.0%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

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

Rank History for West Branch Area High School

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Rank History for all high school students at West Branch Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 64.38 220th 583 62.3%
2004 41.12 408th 590 30.8%
2005 65.01 222nd 593 62.6%
2006 61.13 271st 604 55.1%
2007 49.60 389th 615 36.7%
2008 58.18 309th 621 50.2%
2009 39.28 473rd 632 25.2%
2010 33.67 514th 649 20.8%
2011 59.12 328th 660 50.3%
2012 56.26 359th 664 45.9%
2013 31.97 476th 591 19.5%
2014 38.11 426th 580 26.6%
2015 46.91 446th 680 34.4%
2016 38.24 499th 677 26.3%
2017 39.73 477th 663 28.1%
2018 47.94 450th 673 33.1%
2019 48.82 441st 693 36.4%
2021 48.79 349th 537 35.0%
2022 47.08 408th 634 35.6%
2023 77.76 131st 674 80.6%
2024 63.13 260th 686 62.1%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at West Branch Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 90.12 40th 652 93.9%
2024 86.18 61st 664 90.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at West Branch Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 39.64 446th 665 32.9%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Disabled students at West Branch Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 40.79 270th 502 46.2%
2024 69.55 108th 513 78.9%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at West Branch Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 80.82 106th 662 84.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school White students at West Branch Area High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 67.92 179th 577 69.0%
2024 49.64 312th 595 47.6%
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.

West Branch Area High School Test Scores
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Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for West Branch Area 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 688 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 688
1989 641 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 642
1990 631 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 631
1991 619 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 620
1992 620 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 621
1993 609 1 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 611
1994 618 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 619
1995 607 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 608
1996 607 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 608
1997 588 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 589
1998 598 0 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 599
1999 626 0 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 628
2000 594 2 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 598
2001 619 2 2 3 0 n/a n/a 0 626
2002 639 3 1 6 1 n/a n/a 0 650
2003 639 3 1 6 1 n/a n/a 0 650
2004 626 3 1 6 3 n/a n/a 0 639
2005 629 4 1 5 5 n/a n/a 0 644
2006 715 5 0 3 10 n/a n/a 0 733
2007 619 5 0 4 5 n/a n/a 0 633
2008 645 6 0 4 7 n/a n/a 0 662
2009 619 4 0 5 6 n/a n/a 0 634
2010 614 5 0 4 5 n/a n/a 2 630
2011 573 5 0 6 3 0 0 0 587
2012 570 5 2 4 4 0 1 0 586
2013 540 2 0 5 2 0 0 0 549
2014 549 0 0 7 2 0 0 0 558
2015 511 0 0 7 1 0 0 0 519
2016 494 1 0 4 3 0 0 0 502
2017 491 2 0 4 5 0 0 0 502
2018 473 2 0 5 5 0 4 0 489
2019 481 3 1 5 4 0 5 0 499
2020 279 2 0 3 4 0 7 0 295
2021 311 3 1 4 4 0 4 0 327
2022 303 1 1 5 3 0 9 0 322
2023 299 1 1 7 2 0 4 0 314

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 West Branch Area High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 688 41.0 16.7 n/a
1989 642 39.0 16.4 n/a
1990 631 35.0 18.0 0
1991 620 37.0 16.7 n/a
1992 621 38.0 16.3 n/a
1993 611 35.0 17.5 n/a
1994 619 37.0 16.7 n/a
1995 608 38.0 16.0 n/a
1996 608 38.0 16.0 n/a
1997 589 38.0 15.5 n/a
1998 599 37.0 16.2 n/a
1999 628 37.0 17.0 n/a
2000 598 37.6 15.9 29.3
2001 626 38.0 16.5 33.2
2002 650 43.1 15.1 34.5
2003 650 43.1 15.1 34.5
2004 639 43.4 14.7 31.8
2005 644 42.8 15.0 34.8
2006 733 50.0 14.7 44.1
2007 633 41.0 15.4 39.2
2008 662 52.0 12.7 39.9
2009 634 51.0 12.4 45.6
2010 630 47.0 13.4 44.1
2011 587 42.0 13.9 45.8
2012 586 42.0 13.9 43.9
2013 549 38.0 14.4 44.3
2014 558 34.8 16.0 41.9
2015 519 33.0 15.7 40.8
2016 502 34.0 14.7 44.2
2017 502 34.5 14.5 37.5
2018 489 34.1 14.3 38.9
2019 499 34.1 14.6 40.1
2020 295 20.3 14.5 36.3
2021 327 20.5 15.9 36.4
2022 322 20.2 15.9 34.2
2023 314 21.8 14.3 34.1

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 West Branch Area High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 688 41.0 16.7 n/a
1989 642 39.0 16.4 n/a
1990 631 35.0 18.0 0
1991 620 37.0 16.7 n/a
1992 621 38.0 16.3 n/a
1993 611 35.0 17.5 n/a
1994 619 37.0 16.7 n/a
1995 608 38.0 16.0 n/a
1996 608 38.0 16.0 n/a
1997 589 38.0 15.5 n/a
1998 599 37.0 16.2 n/a
1999 628 37.0 17.0 n/a
2000 598 37.6 15.9 29.3
2001 626 38.0 16.5 33.2
2002 650 43.1 15.1 34.5
2003 650 43.1 15.1 34.5
2004 639 43.4 14.7 31.8
2005 644 42.8 15.0 34.8
2006 733 50.0 14.7 44.1
2007 633 41.0 15.4 39.2
2008 662 52.0 12.7 39.9
2009 634 51.0 12.4 45.6
2010 630 47.0 13.4 44.1
2011 587 42.0 13.9 45.8
2012 586 42.0 13.9 43.9
2013 549 38.0 14.4 44.3
2014 558 34.8 16.0 41.9
2015 519 33.0 15.7 40.8
2016 502 34.0 14.7 44.2
2017 502 34.5 14.5 37.5
2018 489 34.1 14.3 38.9
2019 499 34.1 14.6 40.1
2020 295 20.3 14.5 36.3
2021 327 20.5 15.9 36.4
2022 322 20.2 15.9 34.2
2023 314 21.8 14.3 34.1

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 West Branch Area High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $570 (2.9%) $19,031 (97.1%) $19,601
2020 $843 (4.2%) $19,232 (95.8%) $20,075
2021 $2,464 (10.3%) $21,458 (89.7%) $23,922
2022 $3,241 (11.7%) $24,352 (88.3%) $27,592

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

Impact of COVID-19 on West Branch 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 441st of 693 High schoolsRanks 131st of 674 High schools
 44.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (West Branch Area High School)48.550.7
 2.2%
   11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)63.334.1
 29.2%
11th Grade Biology (West Branch Area High School)68.262.6
 5.6%
   11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)63.250.7
 12.5%
11th Grade Literature (West Branch Area High School)66.172.8
 6.7%
   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 Students499314
 37.1%
African American31
 66.7%
American Indian42
 50%
Asian11
Hispanic57
 40%
Pacific Islander00
White481299
 37.8%
Two or More Races54
 20%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients40.1%34.1%
 6%


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Frequently Asked Questions about West Branch Area High School

Students at West Branch Area High School are 95% White, 2% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

West Branch Area High School ranks 260th of 686 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

West Branch Area High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : West Branch Area Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 314 students attended West Branch Area 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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