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Schools in Barr Township · Northern Cambria School District

Barr Township’s public schools score below 65% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Barr Township’s districts is 31%, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Barr Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Pennsylvania, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
50%
▼ 5 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
31%
▼ 5 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.9K
▲ 1% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
10.2
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
758 students on the public path
In brief

Barr Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 2013 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Barr Township’s, its schools beat 15%, lower than their 35% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 50% of tested students were proficient in reading and 31% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 93% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania (the state reports Barr Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $21,878 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 5 the district’s path is Northern Cambria MS, then Northern Cambria HS. Enrollment is down 15% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Nicholas Catholic School, Northern Cambria (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Barr Township’s grade

C+ Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 35% of Pennsylvania school districts. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 35%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (2013)Better than 15%
Towns in Cambria County (30)Better than 23%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 386 test results and a graduating class of 93 could put Barr Township anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 93% of Barr Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (365 in math, 407 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Barr Township, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–4Northern Cambria El Schin Northern CambriaC+
5–8Northern Cambria MSin Northern CambriaC
9–12Northern Cambria HSin Northern CambriaA+

Barr Township’s public schools are run by Northern Cambria School District, which also serves Northern Cambria and Susquehanna. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Northern Cambria School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 758 students, down 15% since 2020–21 · 10.2 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$21,878PA $21,758 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading50%
State average 55.1% · 407 students tested
Math31%
State average 36.1% · 365 students tested

Barr Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share Barr Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Barr TownshipC+Northern Cambria
CambriaA−Central Cambria
BlacklickCBlacklick Valley
Northern CambriaC+Northern Cambria
West CarrollB+Cambria Heights
SusquehannaC+Northern Cambria
PineB−Penns Manor Area

2 of the 6 neighbors share Northern Cambria with Barr Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Barr Township

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Pennsylvania’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Barr Townshipin other towns
Northern Cambria El Sch
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Northern Cambria
C+
262 students10:1Rate it →
Northern Cambria MS
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Northern Cambria
C
234 students9:1Rate it →
Northern Cambria HS
High · Grades 9–12 · Northern Cambria
A+
262 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Nicholas Catholic School, Northern Cambria
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Nicktown
Private · Catholic
138 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Barr Township’s schools

Are Barr Township’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Barr Township children attend score below 65% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 15%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Barr Township in?

Northern Cambria School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 758 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Barr Township kids go to high school?

Northern Cambria HS in Northern Cambria, with 262 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Barr Township’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Northern Cambria School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Barr Township spend per student?

$21,878 in Northern Cambria School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Barr Township?

Yes: St. Nicholas Catholic School, Northern Cambria (Catholic, grades PK–8, 138 students).

Parents talk

What Barr Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Barr Township → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Pennsylvania. Stars are from neighbors.