Summary:
The city of Portage, Pennsylvania is home to two schools: Portage Area Elementary School and Portage Area Junior/Senior High School, both part of the Portage Area School District. The elementary school stands out as a high-performing institution, consistently ranking in the top 20% of Pennsylvania elementary schools with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. In contrast, the junior/senior high school lags behind in some key metrics, such as math and science proficiency rates.
Portage Area Elementary boasts significantly above-average test scores across PSSA Math, Science, and English Language Arts assessments, as well as a low 1.6% dropout rate. The school also spends $14,864 per student, higher than the state average, and maintains a favorable 12.4 student-teacher ratio. Meanwhile, the junior/senior high school has an 87.5% 4-year graduation rate and a slightly higher student-teacher ratio of 13.9.
The notable difference in free/reduced lunch rates between the two schools, with the elementary school having a higher percentage of 54.46% compared to 33.98% at the junior/senior high, may suggest socioeconomic factors play a role in student outcomes. The district should consider targeted support and interventions to address any performance gaps between the elementary and secondary schools, ensuring all students receive a high-quality education.
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