Summary:
The 18704 zip code area has only one high school, the West Side Career & Technology Center, which serves students in grades 9-12. This school is struggling academically, with significantly lower proficiency rates on state exams compared to the Pennsylvania averages. The school has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a predominantly low-income student population.
The West Side Career & Technology Center has a four-year graduation rate of 87.9%, slightly below the state average, and a dropout rate of 1.4%, which is lower than the state average. However, the school's performance on Keystone Exams is a major concern, with only 7.1% of 11th graders proficient or better in Algebra I, compared to the state average of 44.3%. The school's ranking has also declined in recent years, going from 645 out of 674 high schools in Pennsylvania in 2022-2023 to 616 out of 681 in 2024-2025, indicating it is not keeping pace with other schools in the state.
With only one high school in the 18704 zip code area, there are no other local schools to directly compare the West Side Career & Technology Center to. However, the school's consistently low academic performance, high poverty levels, and declining statewide ranking suggest it is struggling to provide a quality education to its students. The lack of competition and comparison within the local area may be a contributing factor to the school's challenges.
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