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New Kensington, Pennsylvania (8483279988)Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
C−
Schools in New Kensington · New Kensington-Arnold School District

New Kensington’s public schools score below 83% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

19% of students in New Kensington’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving New Kensington, 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.

#978of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 87% 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
33%
▼ 22 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
19%
▼ 17 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
75–79%
▼ 8–12 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.5K
▼ 15% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.1
PA 13.4
Schools in town
3
1,661 students on the public path
In brief

New Kensington’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 871 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of New Kensington’s, its schools beat 7%, lower than their 17% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 33% of tested students were proficient in reading and 19% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 87% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

75–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania (the state reports New Kensington’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $18,477 per student in FY2024, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. 21% of its revenue that year was federal (Pennsylvania 8%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one middle school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Roy A. Hunt El Sch, then Valley JSHS. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Mary Queen of Apostles School (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 New Kensington’s grade

C− Test scoresD Graduation

C−: better than 17% of Pennsylvania school districts, #978 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 17%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (871)Better than 7%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 846 test results and a graduating class of 142 could put New Kensington anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 87% of New Kensington’s students in the tested grades sat them (842 in math, 850 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–KMartin SchNew Kensington-Arnold School DistrictNo scores
3–6Roy A. Hunt El Schin ArnoldC−
7–12Valley JSHSNew Kensington-Arnold School DistrictC−

New Kensington’s public schools are run by New Kensington-Arnold School District, which also serves Arnold. 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.

New Kensington-Arnold School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,950 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 13.1 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$18,477PA $21,758 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading33%
State average 55.1% · 850 students tested
Math19%
State average 36.1% · 842 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 21% of the New Kensington district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 8% across Pennsylvania, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

New Kensington vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share New Kensington’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
New KensingtonC−New Kensington-Arnold
Lower BurrellB+Burrell
ArnoldC−New Kensington-Arnold
TarentumCHighlands
East DeerA−Deer Lakes
SpringdaleC+Allegheny Valley

Every school in New Kensington

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).

District schools in New Kensingtonby address
Martin Sch
Elementary · Grades PK–K
147 students13:1Rate it →
Valley JSHS
High · Grades 7–12
C−
905 students15:1Rate it →
Also serving New Kensingtonin other towns
Roy A. Hunt El Sch
Elementary · Grades 3–6 · Arnold
C−
609 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Mary Queen of Apostles School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
242 students13:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center).

Questions about New Kensington’s schools

Are New Kensington’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools New Kensington children attend score below 83% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #978 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 7%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is New Kensington in?

New Kensington-Arnold School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,950 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

What is New Kensington’s graduation rate?

75–79% of the class of 2023 in New Kensington-Arnold School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does New Kensington spend per student?

$18,477 in New Kensington-Arnold School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in New Kensington?

Yes: Mary Queen of Apostles School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 242 students).

Parents talk

What New Kensington families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near New Kensington → 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.