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California Area Middle School

Q: Is California Area Middle School a good school?

California Area Middle School ranks 371 st of 873 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

371^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 873 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Better than 58% of Pennsylvania middle schools

Summary

California Area Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 7-8 in Coal Center, PA, with 147 students. The school is part of the California Area School District, which is ranked 437 out of 606 school districts in Pennsylvania and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, California Area Middle School has consistently underperformed compared to the state average on PSSA tests in both Math and English Language Arts. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 22.6% of students were proficient or better in PSSA Math, compared to the state average of 41.7%. The school also has a relatively high dropout rate, ranging from 0.0% to 1.6% over the past few years, which is higher than the state average. When compared to the nearby Laurel Highlands Middle School, which is 13.9 miles away, California Area Middle School generally underperforms academically.

Another key factor is the socioeconomic status of the student population. California Area Middle School has a very high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 97.96% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year. This is significantly higher than the state average and most of the nearby schools. The school's leadership and the California Area School District should focus on developing targeted strategies to improve student outcomes, particularly for its White and disabled student populations, and examine how the increased per-student spending can be more effectively utilized to drive academic improvements.

158

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,853

Per pupil spending ?

93%

Free/discounted lunch ?

11 Trojan Way
Coal Center, PA 15423-1013

(724) 785-5800

District: California Area School District

Students who attend California Area Middle School usually attend:

High:

California Area Senior High School

Feeder schools for California Area Middle School:

Elementary:

California Area Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.9%

Two or more races:

10.1%

Hispanic:

3.8%

See top rated Pennsylvania middle schools

Compare California Area Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 42nd percentile in 2024 → 58th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 58th (2025) from a 42nd-percentile low (2024)

✓Above the Pennsylvania median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Pennsylvania average (39% vs 45% meeting standards)

!Math scores 19 pts below the Pennsylvania average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

District avg30%

Pennsylvania avg45%

371^st of 873

Pennsylvania public middle schools ?

Top 42%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From top 31% (2015) to top 42% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

437^th of 606California Area School District among Pennsylvania districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	56.4	371 of 873	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.5	519 of 891	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.2	468 of 893	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.9	480 of 883	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	72.3	182 of 797	77.2%	★★★★☆
2019	77.9	173 of 891	80.6%	★★★★☆
2018	68.8	267 of 861	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.6	401 of 877	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	73.8	210 of 870	75.9%	★★★★☆
2015	68.4	258 of 835	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	44.8	468 of 728	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	57.8	402 of 758	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	61.6	396 of 834	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	62.3	376 of 825	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	53.4	470 of 805	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	66.0	281 of 770	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	65.4	289 of 753	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	69.3	245 of 749	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	63.9	292 of 736	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	65.0	276 of 687	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	26.3	542 of 663	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	55.4	352 of 643	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	44.6	292 of 643	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	23.5	554 of 672	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.3	635 of 660	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	59.7	321 of 835	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.2	482 of 860	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	76.8	128 of 843	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	38.1	559 of 877	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.8	532 of 874	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	49.5	417 of 839	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.3	537 of 870	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	42.5	362 of 649	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.1	499 of 673	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.1	476 of 681	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)85th percentile+27 vs school

Female (2025)62nd percentile+4 vs school

Disabled (2025)55th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)50th percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)44th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts56%+8 vs state

Math23%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near California Area Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PSSA Math (2025)					PSSA English Language Arts (2025)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	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
California Area Middle School	Public	7-8	11 Trojan Way	Coal Center	15423	Washington County	California Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 785-5800	158	10	16.5	93.0%	131 (82.9%)	4 (2.5%)	6 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (10.1%)	56.4	371^st of 873 public middle schools	57.5%		44.5	519^th of 891 public middle schools	41.8%	148			25.4	19.7	22.6			54.7	57.8	56.2	$14,853	$928	$13,924
Brownsville Area Middle School	Public	6-8	Three Falcon Drive	Brownsville	15417	Fayette County	Brownsville Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 785-2155	329	23	14.1	106.1%	274 (83.3%)	21 (6.4%)	8 (2.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (7.0%)	20.7	676^th of 873 public middle schools	22.6%		25.7	646^th of 891 public middle schools	27.5%	30		18.2	18.0	15.2	17.2		17.7	26.8	25.3	23.4	$19,890	$3,882	$16,007
Belle Vernon Area Middle School	Public	7-8	500 Perry Ave	Belle Vernon	15012	Fayette County	Belle Vernon Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 808-2500	386	25	15.4	89.9%	322 (83.4%)	11 (2.8%)	15 (3.9%)	13 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.5%)	59.2	343^rd of 873 public middle schools	60.7%		64.2	321^st of 891 public middle schools	64.0%	22			31.7	31.9	31.8			51.4	46.0	48.8	$14,225	$638	$13,587
Monessen Middle School	Public	6-8	1245 State Rd	Monessen	15062	Westmoreland County	Monessen City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 684-7100	128	15	8.6	93.0%	48 (37.5%)	50 (39.1%)	8 (6.3%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (16.4%)	12.4	757^th of 873 public middle schools	13.3%		11.5	774^th of 891 public middle schools	13.1%	17		7.5	0.0	11.5	5.8		17.0	21.1	29.6	21.7	$181	$29	$152
Charleroi Area Middle School	Public	6-8	100 Fecsen Dr	Charleroi	15022	Washington County	Charleroi School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 483-3600	299	22	13.8	60.9%	198 (66.2%)	56 (18.7%)	11 (3.7%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (10.0%)	39.6	527^th of 873 public middle schools	39.6%		49.2	469^th of 891 public middle schools	47.4%	58		21.3	13.9	24.7	19.9		58.2	37.2	36.5	43.6	$45,439	$2,326	$43,113
Bentworth Middle School	Public	5-8	563 Lincoln Avenue	Bentleyville	15314	Washington County	Bentworth School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 239-4431	288	26	11.1	109.4%	266 (92.4%)	5 (1.7%)	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.2%)	48.5	452^nd of 873 public middle schools	48.2%		52.1	438^th of 891 public middle schools	50.8%	14	44.1	14.1	26.5	21.7	25.9	56.0	42.2	60.3	50.6	52.2	$13,160	$88	$13,073
Frazier Middle School	Public	6-8	142 Constitution St	Perryopolis	15473	Fayette County	Frazier School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 736-9507	221	18	12.2	56.1%	210 (95.0%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.7%)	41.5	517^th of 873 public middle schools	40.8%		45.6	507^th of 891 public middle schools	43.1%	10		20.9	17.9	12.5	17.0		48.4	49.4	47.3	48.3	$19,235	$1,048	$18,187
Carmichaels Area Middle School	Public	6-8	215 North Vine Street	Carmichaels	15320	Greene County	Carmichaels Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 966-5045	208	17	12.1	98.6%	196 (94.2%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	6 (2.9%)	37.2	546^th of 873 public middle schools	37.5%		40.7	549^th of 891 public middle schools	38.4%	3		17.6	16.4	16.1	16.7		40.4	47.8	43.6	44.1	$11,182	$00	$11,182
Ringgold Middle School	Public	5-8	2 Ram Dr	Monongahela	15063	Washington County	Ringgold School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 348-7154	738	58	12.6	49.7%	573 (77.6%)	56 (7.6%)	34 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	72 (9.8%)	38	540^th of 873 public middle schools	38.1%		32.1	605^th of 891 public middle schools	32.1%	65	28.9	24.9	20.4	15.2	22.7	41.8	39.9	42.1	44.4	42.0	$16,719	$440	$16,279
Albert Gallatin North Middle School	Public	6-8	113 College Avenue	Mc Clellandtown	15458	Fayette County	Albert Gallatin Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 737-5423	375	25	14.9	98.9%	332 (88.5%)	20 (5.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.6%)	46.5	479^th of 873 public middle schools	45.1%		45.8	504^th of 891 public middle schools	43.4%	25		48.2	27.4	29.8	35.7		36.3	34.9	36.3	35.9	$17,372	$1,891	$15,481

Frequently Asked Questions about California Area Middle School

What high school do graduates of California Area Middle School attend?

Students who attend California Area Middle School usually go on to attend California Area Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of California Area Middle School?

Students at California Area Middle School are 83% White, 10% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 3% African American.

Is California Area Middle School a good school?

California Area Middle School ranks 371^st of 873 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is California Area Middle School in?

California Area School District

How many students attend California Area Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 158 students attended California Area Middle School.

Rate California Area Middle School!

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PAPennsylvania Middle School Rankings

PAPennsylvania District Rankings

Schools in Coal Center, PA

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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.