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California Area Elementary School

Public Grades K-6

1190^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,511 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Better than 21% of Pennsylvania elementary schools

Summary

California Area Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Coal Center, PA, serving grades K-6 with a total enrollment of 483 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.

California Area Elementary School consistently ranks in the bottom half of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with a ranking between 820-1190 out of 1433-1554 schools over the past 9 years. The school's performance on PSSA tests is significantly below the state averages across all grades and subjects, with proficiency rates in Math and English Language Arts at 14.9% and 34.4% respectively, compared to the state averages of 41.7% and 48.5%. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as White students, Disabled students, and Low Socioeconomic Status students, who rank in the bottom 20-25% of Pennsylvania elementary schools. This is likely due to the school's very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 39.18% in 2021-2022 to 99.38% in 2023-2024.

In comparison, the nearby Carmichaels Area Elementary Center, Frazier Elementary School, and Charleroi Area Elementary Center generally perform better than California Area Elementary School on academic measures, with higher proficiency rates in Math and English Language Arts. These nearby schools also have lower percentages of economically disadvantaged students, ranging from 57.42% to 99.55% free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, compared to California Area Elementary School's 99.38% in 2023-2024. The nearby schools also tend to have higher per-student spending and lower student-teacher ratios, which may contribute to their better academic performance.

485

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,403

Per pupil spending ?

99.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

40 Trojan Way
Coal Center, PA 15423-9610

(724) 785-5800

District: California Area School District

Students who attend California Area Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	California Area Middle School
High:	California Area Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.8%

Two or more races:

11.3%

African American:

4.3%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

Compare California Area Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 61st percentile in 2015 → 21st in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Pennsylvania average (25% vs 45% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 40 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg30%

Pennsylvania avg45%

1,190^th of 1,511

Pennsylvania public elementary schools ?

Bottom 21%▼ down 39 pts since 2015

From top 39% (2015) to bottom 21% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Elementary 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	20.6	1190 of 1511	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.2	1039 of 1526	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.7	926 of 1534	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.7	959 of 1534	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.8	820 of 1433	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.8	944 of 1544	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.8	901 of 1530	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	62.7	682 of 1547	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.9	668 of 1554	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	65.7	580 of 1474	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	52.6	884 of 1467	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.2	929 of 1519	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	54.7	958 of 1599	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	38.8	1217 of 1597	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	46.1	1087 of 1579	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	56.7	836 of 1549	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	40.0	1143 of 1551	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	48.0	994 of 1555	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	42.3	1104 of 1545	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	15.6	962 of 1030	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.5	864 of 1084	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.3	772 of 1043	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	21.9	1151 of 1466	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.8	989 of 1488	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	35.6	925 of 1369	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.4	977 of 1432	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.2	712 of 1414	49.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	20.6	1171 of 1475	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.5	1037 of 1495	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	8.9	1139 of 1201	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.8	1075 of 1229	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.8	968 of 1236	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)32nd percentile+11 vs school

Female (2025)21st percentile~ school

Male (2025)21st percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)7th percentile-15 vs school

White (2025)5th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts34%-14 vs state

Math15%-27 vs state

★

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Schools Near California Area Elementary 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 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math 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
California Area Elementary School	Public	K-6	40 Trojan Way	Coal Center	15423	Washington County	California Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 785-5800	485	32	15.0	99.4%	387 (79.8%)	21 (4.3%)	19 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	55 (11.3%)	20.6	1190^th of 1511 public elementary schools	21.2%		37.2	1039^th of 1526 public elementary schools	31.9%	151	19.7	10.4	12.1	16.7	14.9	32.0	22.7	40.9	43.3	34.4	$13,403	$653	$12,751
Brownsville Area Elementary School	Public	K-5	7 Falcon Drive	Brownsville	15417	Fayette County	Brownsville Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 785-9600	617	47	13.2	105.2%	445 (72.1%)	81 (13.1%)	19 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	65 (10.5%)	11	1338^th of 1511 public elementary schools	11.4%		15.8	1278^th of 1526 public elementary schools	16.3%	60	24.8	11.4	7.8		14.6	29.9	21.5	16.5		22.6	$18,147	$3,542	$14,605
Bethlehem-Center Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	194 Crawford Rd	Fredericktown	15333	Washington County	Bethlehem-Center School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 267-4910	483	36	13.6	100.6%	446 (92.3%)	9 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.6%)	46	880^th of 1511 public elementary schools	41.8%		50.6	855^th of 1526 public elementary schools	44.0%	25	54.4	40.2	42.0	27.5	41.3	55.9	55.6	27.5	37.7	44.5	$17,976	$539	$17,436
Marion Elementary School	Public	K-6	500 Perry Ave	Belle Vernon	15012	Fayette County	Belle Vernon Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 808-2500	635	41	15.4	99.5%	547 (86.1%)	30 (4.7%)	14 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (6.8%)	39.7	968^th of 1511 public elementary schools	35.9%		58.3	736^th of 1526 public elementary schools	51.8%	232	42.7	32.6	49.4	29.2	38.4	37.5	35.7	44.8	42.2	40.1	$12,943	$580	$12,363
Bentworth Elementary Center	Public	K-4	100 Bearcat Dr	Bentleyville	15314	Washington County	Bentworth School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 239-3606	413	30	13.7	95.4%	359 (86.9%)	13 (3.1%)	8 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.5%)	76.6	344^th of 1511 public elementary schools	77.2%		70.6	474^th of 1526 public elementary schools	68.9%	130	68.1	60.2			63.8	72.2	62.5			66.9	$16,374	$178	$16,196
Monessen Elementary Center	Public	PK, KG-5	1275 Rostraver St	Monessen	15062	Westmoreland County	Monessen City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 684-4456	330	28	11.7	86.1%	95 (28.8%)	130 (39.4%)	9 (2.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	94 (28.5%)	9.1	1373^rd of 1511 public elementary schools	9.1%		9.3	1370^th of 1526 public elementary schools	10.2%	3	23.1	11.8	14.7		16.8	21.0	11.8	17.6		16.9	$76	$12	$64
Charleroi Area Elementary Center	Public	K-5	75 Fecsen Dr	Charleroi	15022	Washington County	Charleroi School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 483-5554	621	46	13.5	60.5%	342 (55.1%)	175 (28.2%)	23 (3.7%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	72 (11.6%)	48.2	852^nd of 1511 public elementary schools	43.6%		56.8	767^th of 1526 public elementary schools	49.7%	85	54.4	52.1	28.6		44.8	51.1	44.9	42.3		46.3	$16,192	$829	$15,363
Ringgold Elementary School South	Public	K-4	120 Alexander Avenue	Monongahela	15063	Washington County	Ringgold School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 258-8454	517	44	11.8	70.6%	357 (69.1%)	71 (13.7%)	25 (4.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (12.2%)	33.1	1049^th of 1511 public elementary schools	30.6%		36.4	1052^nd of 1526 public elementary schools	31.1%	3	45.4	31.9			37.2	44.0	38.6			40.8	$18,349	$2,276	$16,073
Frazier Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	142 Constitution St	Perryopolis	15473	Fayette County	Frazier School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 736-9507	425	29	14.9	61.9%	402 (94.6%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.0%)	39.2	973^rd of 1511 public elementary schools	35.6%		47.5	899^th of 1526 public elementary schools	41.1%	74	44.9	39.7	28.2		37.7	46.2	45.2	38.5		43.3	$19,399	$1,063	$18,336
Carmichaels Area Elementary Center	Public	PK, KG-5	225 N Vine St	Carmichaels	15320	Greene County	Carmichaels Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(724) 966-5045	433	30	14.4	99.3%	425 (98.2%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	32	1063^rd of 1511 public elementary schools	29.6%		31.3	1096^th of 1526 public elementary schools	28.2%	33	36.0	45.2	16.1		32.6	39.5	46.8	30.6		39.0	$16,953	$1,549	$15,403

Frequently Asked Questions about California Area Elementary School

What schools do graduates of California Area Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : California Area Middle School
High : California Area Senior High School

Is California Area Elementary School a good school?

California Area Elementary School ranks in the bottom 21.2% of Pennsylvania elementary schools.

How many students attend California Area Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 485 students attended California Area Elementary School.

What district is California Area Elementary School in?

California Area School District

What is the racial makeup of California Area Elementary School?

Students at California Area Elementary School are 80% White, 11% Two or more races, 4% African American, 4% Hispanic.

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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.