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Highcliff Elementary School

Q: Is Highcliff Elementary School a good school?

Highcliff Elementary School ranks 278 th of 1511 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

278^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,511 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Better than 82% of Pennsylvania elementary schools

Summary

Highcliff Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, serving grades K-5 with a total enrollment of 549 students. The school is part of the North Hills School District, which is ranked 77 out of 606 school districts in Pennsylvania and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Highcliff Elementary consistently ranks in the top 20-25% of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates in PSSA Math and English Language Arts (ELA) are significantly higher than the state averages, often exceeding the district averages as well. Highcliff's 4th-grade students stand out, with 80.7% proficient or better in PSSA Math and 74.7% in PSSA ELA, outperforming both the North Hills School District and the state. The school's performance on PSSA Science is also impressive, with 92.2% of students proficient or better, well above the district and state levels.

Highcliff Elementary performs exceptionally well for its subgroups, ranking in the top 15-20% of Pennsylvania elementary schools for disabled students and low socioeconomic status students. The school's rankings for female and male students are also strong, placing in the top 20-30% of the state. However, the school's performance for white students is slightly lower, ranking in the top 25-35% of the state. Highcliff Elementary has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 12.6 to 13.2 over the past few years, which is lower than the nearby McKnight Elementary School and Avonworth Elementary School. The school's per-student spending is also higher than the state average, indicating a focus on providing adequate resources for student learning.

519

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,136

Per pupil spending ?

31.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

156 Peony Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15229

(412) 318-1582

District: North Hills School District

Students who attend Highcliff Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	North Hills Middle School
High:	North Hills High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.9%

Two or more races:

8.1%

Hispanic:

5.2%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 82nd percentile in 2015 → 82nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Pennsylvania average (67% vs 45% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of Pennsylvania elementary schools

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school67%

District avg65%

Pennsylvania avg45%

278^th of 1,511

Pennsylvania public elementary schools ?

Top 18%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 4Elementary Schools in the North Hills School District

77^th of 606North Hills 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	80.2	278 of 1511	81.6%	★★★★☆
2024	75.0	395 of 1526	74.1%	★★★★☆
2023	72.8	435 of 1534	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	79.5	297 of 1534	80.6%	★★★★☆
2021	75.5	343 of 1433	76.1%	★★★★☆
2019	83.5	204 of 1544	86.8%	★★★★☆
2018	82.7	225 of 1530	85.3%	★★★★☆
2017	82.7	229 of 1547	85.2%	★★★★☆
2016	80.0	276 of 1554	82.2%	★★★★☆
2015	79.6	272 of 1474	81.5%	★★★★☆
2014	81.5	176 of 1467	88.0%	★★★★☆
2013	75.1	368 of 1519	75.8%	★★★★☆
2012	74.9	390 of 1599	75.6%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	77.0	153 of 1030	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	69.7	242 of 1084	77.7%	★★★★☆
2023	71.3	210 of 1043	79.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	79.0	278 of 1466	81.0%	★★★★☆
2024	72.0	430 of 1488	71.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	76.6	211 of 1369	84.6%	★★★★☆
2024	65.7	476 of 1432	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.2	288 of 1414	79.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	79.0	287 of 1475	80.5%	★★★★☆
2024	75.4	353 of 1495	76.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	73.1	300 of 1201	75.0%	★★★★☆
2024	64.2	437 of 1229	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.7	478 of 1236	61.3%	★★★☆☆

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)85th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)85th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)81st percentile~ school

Male (2025)81st percentile~ school

White (2025)75th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts67%+19 vs state

Math66%+25 vs state

★

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Schools Near Highcliff Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th 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 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
Highcliff Elementary School	Public	K-5	156 Peony Ave	Pittsburgh	15229	Allegheny County	North Hills School District	No	No	No	Yes	(412) 318-1582	519	44	11.6	31.6%	430 (82.9%)	19 (3.7%)	27 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	42 (8.1%)	80.2	278^th of 1511 public elementary schools	81.6%		75	395^th of 1526 public elementary schools	74.1%	117	55.3	80.7	64.9				66.5	63.9	74.7	64.5				67.4	$12,136	$846	$11,290
West View Elementary School	Public	K-5	47 Chalfonte Ave	Pittsburgh	15229	Allegheny County	North Hills School District	No	No	No	Yes	(412) 318-1502	446	33	13.6	37.2%	347 (77.8%)	25 (5.6%)	20 (4.5%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (11.0%)	78.3	313^th of 1511 public elementary schools	79.3%		78.4	321^st of 1526 public elementary schools	79.0%	8	52.0	74.7	64.4				63.8	60.6	83.5	62.8				69.6	$19,616	$986	$18,630
Avalon Elementary School	Public	K-6	721 California Ave	Pittsburgh	15202	Allegheny County	Northgate School District	No	No	No	Yes	(412) 732-3300	252	25	9.9	104.4%	155 (61.5%)	59 (23.4%)	5 (2.0%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (11.9%)	53.5	770^th of 1511 public elementary schools	49.0%		56	778^th of 1526 public elementary schools	49.0%	8	58.5	41.1	52.0	22.2			44.9	51.3	53.0	53.8	44.4			50.8	$24,381	$2,288	$22,093
Bellevue Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	435 Lincoln Ave	Pittsburgh	15202	Allegheny County	Northgate School District	No	No	No	Yes	(412) 732-3300	348	29	12.2	94.0%	185 (53.2%)	71 (20.4%)	45 (12.9%)	10 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (10.6%)	53.8	765^th of 1511 public elementary schools	49.4%		50.6	854^th of 1526 public elementary schools	44.0%	89	67.5	50.0	52.5	26.4			49.7	48.6	50.0	45.0	38.3			45.9	$20,589	$2,395	$18,195
Avonworth Primary Center	Public	K-2	1310 Roosevelt Road	Pittsburgh	15237	Allegheny County	Avonworth School District	No	No	No	Yes	(412) 366-7171	423	32	13.2	16.8%	357 (84.4%)	8 (1.9%)	17 (4.0%)	11 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.9%)								(n/a)															$14,273	$111	$14,161
Avonworth Elementary School	Public	3-5	1320 Roosevelt Rd	Pittsburgh	15237	Allegheny County	Avonworth School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 366-7170	478	35	13.5	21.5%	417 (87.2%)	11 (2.3%)	11 (2.3%)	10 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.1%)	76.9	342^nd of 1511 public elementary schools	77.4%		83.9	211^th of 1526 public elementary schools	86.2%	131	74.2	62.8	58.9				65.4	72.4	54.7	56.5				61.4	$14,375	$112	$14,263
Ross Elementary School	Public	K-5	90 Houston Rd	Pittsburgh	15237	Allegheny County	North Hills School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 318-1542	498	44	11.3	25.1%	432 (86.7%)	14 (2.8%)	11 (2.2%)	11 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.0%)	91.5	88^th of 1511 public elementary schools	94.2%		88.6	119^th of 1526 public elementary schools	92.2%	31	78.4	74.6	83.5				79.0	73.9	76.3	81.0				77.3	$18,712	$441	$18,271
Sto-Rox Primary Center	Public	K-3	300 Ewing Rd	Mc Kees Rocks	15136	Allegheny County	Sto-Rox School District	No	No	No	Yes	(412) 771-3213	317	20	15.5	95.0%	49 (15.5%)	182 (57.4%)	16 (5.0%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (21.1%)								(n/a)	17.1						17.1	18.5						18.5	$26,424	$10,605	$15,819
McIntyre Elementary School	Public	K-5	200 McIntyre Rd	Pittsburgh	15237	Allegheny County	North Hills School District	No	No	No	No	(412) 318-1622	594	44	13.4	25.8%	392 (66.0%)	16 (2.7%)	63 (10.6%)	92 (15.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	28 (4.7%)	77.1	336^th of 1511 public elementary schools	77.8%		77.9	332^nd of 1526 public elementary schools	78.2%	4	64.7	65.3	65.0				65.0	61.2	63.3	63.7				62.7	$15,913	$315	$15,598
Pittsburgh Morrow K-8	Public	PK, KG-8	1611 Davis Ave	Pittsburgh	15212	Allegheny County	Pittsburgh School District	No	No	No	Yes	(412) 529-6600	486	36	13.5	101.6%	61 (12.6%)	335 (68.9%)	16 (3.3%)	6 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	66 (13.6%)	7.8	1400^th of 1511 public elementary schools	7.3%		8.1	1389^th of 1526 public elementary schools	9.0%	11	16.2	11.7	8.6	0.0	2.3	0.0	6.2	23.7	20.0	15.1	15.0	9.3	11.8	15.6	$37,157	$6,364	$30,793

Frequently Asked Questions about Highcliff Elementary School

Is Highcliff Elementary School a good school?

Highcliff Elementary School ranks 278^th of 1511 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Highcliff Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Highcliff Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : North Hills Middle School
High : North Hills High School

How many students attend Highcliff Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 519 students attended Highcliff Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Highcliff Elementary School?

Students at Highcliff Elementary School are 83% White, 8% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 4% African American.

What district is Highcliff Elementary School in?

North Hills School District

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Latest Pennsylvania data All new data »

2024–25 graduation ratesMar 29, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesMar 27, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataJan 29, 2026

2024–25 Keystone Exams & PSSA scoresNov 13, 2025

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.