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Cairnbrook Elementary School

Q: Is Cairnbrook Elementary School a good school?

Cairnbrook Elementary School ranks 1002 nd of 1511 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

1002^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,511 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Better than 34% of Pennsylvania elementary schools

Summary

Cairnbrook Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Cairnbrook, Pennsylvania, serving grades K-6 with a total enrollment of 171 students. The school is part of the Shade-Central City School District, which is ranked 207 out of 606 districts in Pennsylvania and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Cairnbrook Elementary School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with a ranking between 661 and 1076 over the past 10 years. The school's performance on PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) tests is generally below the state and district averages, particularly in 4th and 6th grade Math. The school has a very high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 99.42% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year. Despite the school's relatively low student-to-teacher ratio and increased per-student spending, its academic outcomes have not yet reflected these investments.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Forest Hills Elementary School, Richland Elementary School, and Conemaugh Township Area Elementary School, Cairnbrook Elementary School's performance is generally lower, and these nearby schools also have lower percentages of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Exploring best practices and strategies from these higher-performing schools could provide insights into how Cairnbrook Elementary School can improve its student outcomes.

180

Students ?

10.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,927

Per pupil spending ?

94.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

235 McGregor Ave
Cairnbrook, PA 15924

(814) 754-5021

District: Shade-Central City School District

Students who attend Cairnbrook Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Shade Junior/Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

98.9%

Two or more races:

1.1%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

Compare Cairnbrook Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 36th percentile in 2015 → 34th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Pennsylvania average (37% vs 45% meeting standards)

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

!English Language Arts scores 11 pts below the Pennsylvania average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school37%

District avg39%

Pennsylvania avg45%

1,002^nd of 1,511

Pennsylvania public elementary schools ?

Bottom 34%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

207^th of 606Shade-Central City 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	37.0	1002 of 1511	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.1	1076 of 1526	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.5	997 of 1534	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.8	751 of 1534	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.7	913 of 1433	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.8	661 of 1544	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.5	715 of 1530	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	52.7	877 of 1547	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.3	1018 of 1554	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	44.9	942 of 1474	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	41.0	1060 of 1467	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	51.3	951 of 1519	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	52.6	1000 of 1599	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	62.8	707 of 1597	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	50.6	997 of 1579	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	64.2	634 of 1549	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	68.6	519 of 1551	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.6	672 of 1555	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	66.3	560 of 1545	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2005	56.4	697 of 1299	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	75.4	345 of 1308	73.6%	★★★★☆
2003	28.2	1011 of 1302	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	46.9	843 of 1466	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.6	1097 of 1488	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	54.9	637 of 1369	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.9	770 of 1432	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.1	584 of 1414	58.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	35.1	1005 of 1475	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.8	1135 of 1495	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	19.7	1049 of 1201	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.9	1118 of 1229	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.4	1066 of 1236	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)53rd percentile+20 vs school

Female (2025)42nd percentile+9 vs school

Male (2025)32nd percentile~ school

White (2025)13th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts38%-11 vs state

Math36%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Cairnbrook 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
Cairnbrook Elementary School	Public	K-6	235 McGregor Ave	Cairnbrook	15924	Somerset County	Shade-Central City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 754-5021	180	18	10.2	94.4%	178 (98.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	37	1002^nd of 1511 public elementary schools	33.7%		34.1	1076^th of 1526 public elementary schools	29.5%	74	54.2	27.8	41.6	21.4	36.2	62.5	27.8	25.0	33.3	37.6	$22,927	$1,418	$21,509
Windber Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	421 Sugar Maple Dr	Windber	15963	Somerset County	Windber Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 467-4567	617	44	13.9	99.5%	568 (92.1%)	7 (1.1%)	18 (2.9%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.2%)	56.8	717^th of 1511 public elementary schools	52.5%		66.7	557^th of 1526 public elementary schools	63.5%	160	58.9	56.6	48.0		54.8	40.0	50.0	53.4		47.3	$6,962	$1,155	$5,807
Shanksville-Stonycreek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1325 Corner Stone Rd	Shanksville	15560	Somerset County	Shanksville-Stonycreek School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 267-4649	133	11	11.5		131 (98.5%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27	1113^th of 1511 public elementary schools	26.3%		34.1	1077^th of 1526 public elementary schools	29.4%	36	44.4	29.4	9.1		26.3	55.6	41.2	4.5		31.6	$143	$08	$135
Conemaugh Township Area Elementary School	Public	K-5	1516 Tire Hill Rd	Johnstown	15905	Somerset County	Conemaugh Township Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 479-4080	381	32	11.7	50.4%	352 (92.4%)	4 (1.0%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.2%)	92.9	64^th of 1511 public elementary schools	95.8%		87.7	139^th of 1526 public elementary schools	90.9%	75	89.3	81.0	73.7		82.0	79.3				75.4	$14,616	$888	$13,727
Richland Elementary School	Public	K-6	338 Theatre Dr	Johnstown	15904	Cambria County	Richland School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 266-5757	831	53	15.6	35.7%	718 (86.4%)	21 (2.5%)	14 (1.7%)	25 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (6.4%)	75.6	365^th of 1511 public elementary schools	75.8%		82	242^nd of 1526 public elementary schools	84.1%	123	71.6	57.2	77.1	57.6	66.3	57.5	53.4	58.0	59.2	57.1	$12,248	$727	$11,521
North Star Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1215 Morris Ave	Boswell	15531	Somerset County	North Star School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 629-5627	385	39	9.9	103.4%	370 (96.1%)	4 (1.0%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (1.8%)	91.9	78^th of 1511 public elementary schools	94.8%		88.2	130^th of 1526 public elementary schools	91.5%	52	92.2	76.1			83.9	79.7	74.7			77.1	$15,834	$1,049	$14,785
Chestnut Ridge Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	2534 Quaker Valley Road	New Paris	15554	Bedford County	Chestnut Ridge School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 839-4195	303	23	13.1	66.7%	295 (97.4%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)								(n/a)											$15,715	$2,273	$13,442
Forest Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	547 Locust Street	Sidman	15955	Cambria County	Forest Hills School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 487-7613	994	70	14.1	97.2%	952 (95.8%)	5 (0.5%)	17 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	19 (1.9%)	65.1	575^th of 1511 public elementary schools	61.9%		69.9	497^th of 1526 public elementary schools	67.4%	78	49.3	68.7	64.4	45.9	56.6	49.6	55.9	51.3	53.3	52.5	$12,859	$1,549	$11,309
Ferndale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	100 Dartmouth Ave	Johnstown	15905	Cambria County	Ferndale Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 535-6724	325	26	12.2		217 (66.8%)	55 (16.9%)	20 (6.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.8%)	11.9	1320^th of 1511 public elementary schools	12.6%		32.1	1089^th of 1526 public elementary schools	28.6%	231	23.5	15.2	31.3	2.7	17.4	17.6	21.8	12.5	24.3	19.4	$20,162	$4,150	$16,013
Westmont Hilltop Elementary School	Public	K-6	827 Diamond Blvd	Johnstown	15905	Cambria County	Westmont Hilltop School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 255-8707	749	54	13.8	49.4%	593 (79.2%)	36 (4.8%)	41 (5.5%)	8 (1.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (9.1%)	80.7	269^th of 1511 public elementary schools	82.2%		73.2	431^st of 1526 public elementary schools	71.8%	162	73.1	73.5	63.8	61.9	68.2	53.7	65.3	64.5	64.9	61.8	$12,741	$1,245	$11,496

Frequently Asked Questions about Cairnbrook Elementary School

What district is Cairnbrook Elementary School in?

Shade-Central City School District

What is the racial makeup of Cairnbrook Elementary School?

Students at Cairnbrook Elementary School are 99% White, 1% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Cairnbrook Elementary School attend?

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

High : Shade Junior/Senior High School

Is Cairnbrook Elementary School a good school?

Cairnbrook Elementary School ranks 1002^nd of 1511 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Cairnbrook Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 180 students attended Cairnbrook Elementary School.

Rate Cairnbrook Elementary School!

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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.