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Deer Lakes High School

Q: Is Deer Lakes High School a good school?

Deer Lakes High School ranks 303 rd of 681 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

303^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 681 Pennsylvania High Schools

Better than 56% of Pennsylvania high schools

Summary

Deer Lakes High School is a public high school located in Cheswick, Pennsylvania, serving 589 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Deer Lakes School District, which is ranked 214 out of 606 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Deer Lakes High School has shown strong academic performance, particularly in Keystone Exams, with higher proficiency rates than the state average in Literature (68.3% vs. 62.1%) and Algebra I (52% vs. 44.3%), though lower in Biology (41.6% vs. 49.3%). The school maintains a relatively high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 87.5% to 96.4% over the past few years, and a low dropout rate of 0.2% to 1.6%. However, the school's performance varies across different student subgroups, with the female and disabled student populations performing well, but the white and low socioeconomic status student populations struggling in comparison to the state.

When compared to nearby schools, Deer Lakes High School's performance is mixed. While it outperforms Burrell High School and Valley Junior/Senior High School in academic metrics, it lags behind higher-performing schools like Mars Area Senior High School, Riverview Junior/Senior High School, and Fox Chapel Area High School. The school's higher percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients (34.3%) compared to nearby schools may be a contributing factor to the lower performance of its low socioeconomic status student population.

581

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,437

Per pupil spending ?

34.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

163 East Union Rd
Cheswick, PA 15024

(724) 265-5320

District: Deer Lakes School District

Feeder schools for Deer Lakes High School:

Elementary:	Curtisville Pri Center
	East Union Intrmd School
Middle:	Deer Lakes Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.8%

Hispanic:

2.6%

Two or more races:

1.5%

See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

Compare Deer Lakes High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 80th percentile in 2022 → 56th in 2025

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Pennsylvania average (89%)

✓Above the Pennsylvania median (56th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 80th-percentile peak (2022) to 56th (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school54%

District avg54%

Pennsylvania avg52%

303^rd of 681

Pennsylvania public high schools ?

Top 44%▲ up 14 pts since 2015

From bottom 42% (2015) to top 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

214^th of 606Deer Lakes 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	59.2	303 of 681	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.3	279 of 686	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.3	328 of 674	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	78.2	126 of 634	80.1%	★★★★☆
2021	35.3	408 of 537	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	71.3	213 of 693	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.5	367 of 673	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	55.8	379 of 663	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	56.6	377 of 677	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	54.3	397 of 680	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	31.6	459 of 580	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	45.3	395 of 591	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	52.7	395 of 664	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	69.9	211 of 660	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.1	241 of 649	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	79.6	92 of 632	85.4%	★★★★☆
2008	72.2	150 of 621	75.8%	★★★★☆
2007	79.3	85 of 615	86.2%	★★★★☆
2006	70.1	181 of 604	70.0%	★★★★☆
2005	63.4	239 of 593	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2004	55.9	308 of 590	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2003	63.7	225 of 583	61.4%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	55.5	183 of 524	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.9	152 of 513	70.4%	★★★★☆
2023	60.1	155 of 502	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	55.9	328 of 657	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.1	242 of 665	63.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	35.9	435 of 651	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.6	278 of 664	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.1	382 of 652	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	60.5	272 of 660	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.0	359 of 662	45.8%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	43.3	346 of 583	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.2	320 of 595	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.5	345 of 577	40.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2025)65th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)59th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)50th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)41st percentile-15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)33rd percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

Literature68%+6 vs state

Algebra I52%+8 vs state

Biology42%-8 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Thursday, August 6, 2020

The worst teachers ever!Mediocrity is to say what this school is about. They cater to the slowest learners just to get federal money. Close Quote

Schools Near Deer Lakes High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Keystone Exams Algebra I (2025)	Keystone Exams Biology (2025)	Keystone Exams Literature (2025)	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	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th Grade	PSSA Math 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	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
Deer Lakes High School	Public	9-12	163 East Union Rd	Cheswick	15024	Allegheny County	Deer Lakes School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 265-5320	581	42	13.7	34.8%	551 (94.8%)	4 (0.7%)	15 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (1.5%)	59.2	303^rd of 681 public high schools	55.5%		61.3	279^th of 686 public high schools	59.3%	24	52.0	41.6	68.3							$13,437	$930	$12,507
Hampton High School	Public	9-12	2929 McCully Rd	Allison Park	15101	Allegheny County	Hampton Township School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 492-6376	865	60	14.3	19.4%	796 (92.0%)	2 (0.2%)	9 (1.0%)	35 (4.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.4%)	93.5	26^th of 681 public high schools	96.2%		95.7	12^th of 686 public high schools	98.3%	14	70.1	79.8	89.7							$25	$00	$24
Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center	Public	9-12	705 Stevenson Boulevard	New Kensington	15068	Westmoreland County	Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center	No	No	No	No	(724) 335-9389	7	17	.4		6 (85.7%)	1 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Valley Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	703 Stevenson Blvd	New Kensington	15068	Westmoreland County	New Kensington-Arnold School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 337-4536	905	59	15.3	97.8%	386 (42.7%)	312 (34.5%)	33 (3.6%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	169 (18.7%)	7.2	612^th of 681 public high schools	10.1%		8	619^th of 686 public high schools	9.8%	7	13.9	15.4	28.8	5.7	5.0	5.4	19.3	22.1	20.5	$18,975	$1,542	$17,432
Springdale Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	501 Butler Rd	Springdale	15144	Allegheny County	Allegheny Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 274-8100	421	60	6.9	99.5%	379 (90.0%)	21 (5.0%)	8 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.9%)	47.2	406^th of 681 public high schools	40.4%		60.7	285^th of 686 public high schools	58.5%	121	42.2	44.6	56.7	31.3	12.2	21.0	53.1	48.7	50.7	$25,655	$753	$24,903
Highlands Senior High School	Public	9-12	1500 Pacific Ave	Natrona Heights	15065	Allegheny County	Highlands School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 226-1000	665	46	14.4	106.9%	511 (76.8%)	60 (9.0%)	19 (2.9%)	5 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (10.4%)	47.1	407^th of 681 public high schools	40.2%		44.3	436^th of 686 public high schools	36.4%	29	43.4	41.0	58.6							$20,896	$3,628	$17,268
Riverview Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	100 Hulton Rd	Oakmont	15139	Allegheny County	Riverview School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 828-1800	441	37	11.9	36.5%	362 (82.1%)	30 (6.8%)	11 (2.5%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	30 (6.8%)	62.2	278^th of 681 public high schools	59.2%		45	429^th of 686 public high schools	37.5%	151	38.6	55.9	71.9	60.0	42.6	51.8	68.0	63.2	65.8	$34,110	$1,826	$32,283
Fox Chapel Area High School	Public	9-12	611 Field Club Rd	Pittsburgh	15238	Allegheny County	Fox Chapel Area School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 967-2430	1,360	94	14.5	22.6%	1,066 (78.4%)	43 (3.2%)	68 (5.0%)	111 (8.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (5.2%)	97.7	4^th of 681 public high schools	99.4%		96.7	7^th of 686 public high schools	99.0%	3	89.8	91.7	92.0							$26,325	$61	$26,264
Mars Area Senior High School	Public	9-12	520 Route 228	Mars	16046	Butler County	Mars Area School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 625-1581	1,044	96	10.8	12.2%	977 (93.6%)	10 (1.0%)	20 (1.9%)	32 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.5%)	87	62^nd of 681 public high schools	90.9%		84.1	88^th of 686 public high schools	87.2%	26	64.7	71.4	79.8							$15,515	$105	$15,410
Burrell High School	Public	9-12	1021 Puckety Church Rd	Lower Burrell	15068	Westmoreland County	Burrell School District	No	No	No	No	(724) 334-1403	566	39	14.5	38.3%	518 (91.5%)	13 (2.3%)	12 (2.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.5%)	38.7	461^st of 681 public high schools	32.3%		25.8	528^th of 686 public high schools	23.0%	67	42.0	33.8	53.9							$19,745	$573	$19,171

Frequently Asked Questions about Deer Lakes High School

Is Deer Lakes High School a good school?

Deer Lakes High School ranks 303^rd of 681 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Deer Lakes High School?

Deer Lakes High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Curtisville Pri Center
Elementary : East Union Intrmd School
Middle : Deer Lakes Middle School

What district is Deer Lakes High School in?

Deer Lakes School District

What is the racial makeup of Deer Lakes High School?

Students at Deer Lakes High School are 95% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Deer Lakes High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 581 students attended Deer Lakes High School.

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Schools in Cheswick, 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.