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Snyder Covered Bridge 9Photo: Ruhrfisch · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−
Schools in Locust Township · Southern Columbia Area School District

Locust Township’s public schools outscore 82% of Pennsylvania districts

On the state math tests, 51% of Locust Township’s students scored proficient, above the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Locust 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 98% 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
69%
▲ 14 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
51%
▲ 15 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.7K
▼ 19% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.9
PA 13.4
Schools in town
0
1,195 students on the public path
In brief

Locust Township’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 2028 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Locust Township’s, its schools beat 87%, higher than their 82% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 69% and math 51% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,728 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 Southern Columbia MS, then Southern Columbia HS. See the path ↓

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 Locust Township’s grade

A Test scoresC+ Graduation

A−: better than 82% of Pennsylvania school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 82%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (2028)Better than 87%
Towns in Columbia County (24)Better than 54%
BAA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 640 test results and a graduating class of 92 could put Locust Township anywhere from B to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Locust Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (621 in math, 658 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–4Hartman El Ctrin CatawissaB+
5–8Southern Columbia MSin CatawissaB−
9–12Southern Columbia HSin CatawissaA

Locust Township’s public schools are run by Southern Columbia Area School District, which also serves Catawissa, Catawissa, Cleveland and Franklin and others. 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.

Southern Columbia Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 3 schools · 1,195 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 12.9 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$17,728PA $21,758 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading69%
State average 55.1% · 658 students tested
Math51%
State average 36.1% · 621 students tested

Locust Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Locust TownshipA−Southern Columbia Area
Conyngham—North Schuylkill
Roaring Creek—Southern Columbia Area
Catawissa—Southern Columbia Area
ClevelandA−Southern Columbia Area

3 of the 4 neighbors share Southern Columbia Area with Locust Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Locust Township

3 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 Locust Townshipin other towns
Hartman El Ctr
Elementary · Grades K–4 · Catawissa
B+
480 students13:1Rate it →
Southern Columbia MS
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Catawissa
B−
367 students14:1Rate it →
Southern Columbia HS
High · Grades 9–12 · Catawissa
A
348 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Locust Township’s schools

Are Locust Township’s schools good?

By Pennsylvania’s own tests, yes: the public schools Locust Township children attend outscore 82% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 87%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Locust Township in?

Southern Columbia Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 1,195 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Locust Township kids go to high school?

Southern Columbia HS in Catawissa, with 348 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Locust Township’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Southern Columbia Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Locust Township spend per student?

$17,728 in Southern Columbia Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Locust Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Locust 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.