Summary:
Zip code 15539 is home to a single school, Chestnut Ridge Middle School, which serves grades 3 through 7 and is part of the Chestnut Ridge School District, a rural area where the school has made a remarkable turnaround to become a high-performing institution.
Chestnut Ridge Middle School has achieved a 4-star rating and is ranked 120th out of 873 Pennsylvania middle schools for the 2024-2025 school year, placing it in the 86th percentile. This is a significant jump from the previous two years when it ranked in the 65th-67th percentile. The school's overall proficiency rates exceed state averages, with 50.3% of students proficient in Math (vs. 41.7% statewide) and 56.1% proficient in English Language Arts (vs. 48.5% statewide). Notably, the 6th grade class is an exceptional standout, achieving a 78.8% proficiency rate in ELA—28 points above the state average—and 66.7% in Math, nearly 29 points above the state average. The school also boasts a 0.0% dropout rate, better than the district (0.5%) and state (1.1%) averages, and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.7:1.
Despite 54.72% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, indicating economic challenges, the school outperforms state averages in both core subjects, suggesting effective resource use. However, 4th grade is a notable weakness, with Math proficiency (38.6%) falling 12 points below the state average and ELA proficiency (39.8%) 8.5 points below. With per-student spending at $17,277, the school appears to be investing wisely, as evidenced by its strong academic results and low dropout rate. The dramatic improvement in ranking from 2023-2024 to 2024-2025 suggests recent positive changes in instruction or support systems, making this school a compelling choice for families in the area.
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