Photo: Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0Pittsburgh’s public schools score below 73% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation
On the state math tests, 23% of Pittsburgh’s students scored proficient, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Pittsburgh, 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.
From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% 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.
Pittsburgh’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 1941 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Pittsburgh’s, its schools beat 9%, lower than their 27% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 42% of tested students were proficient in reading and 23% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 94% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $25,747 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
34 elementary schools, then 24 middle and ten high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 9% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Manchester Academic CS, Urban Pathways 6-12 CS, Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh CS, City CHS, The New Academy CS, Environmental CS at Frick Park, Urban Pathways K-5 College CS, Propel CS-Northside, Propel CS-Hazelwood, Passport Academy CS, Provident CS, Catalyst Academy CS, Central Catholic High School (private), Falk Laboratory School (private), Sacred Heart Elementary School (private), Ellis School (private), Hillel Academy Pittsburgh (private), Oakland Catholic High School (private), St. Edmund's Academy (private), Shady Side Academy Junior School (private), Hillel Academy-Boys H.S. (private), Community Day School (private), St. Bede School (private), Grace Non-Traditional Christian Academy (private), Bishop Canevin High School (private), Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (private), The Day School at Childrens Institute Pittsburgh (private), Northside Catholic Assumption Academy (private), Imani Christian Academy (private), The Campus Laboratory School of Carlow University (private), Yeshiva Girls School (private), Yeshiva Boys School (private), St. Benedict the Moor School (private), Waldorf School of Pittsburgh (private), Watson Institute Friendship Academy the (private), Bright Horizons at Agh (private), Agh Center for Children (private), Depaul School for Hearing & Speech (private), Carnegie Mellon Univ Children's School (private), City of Bridges High School (private), Pressley Ridge Day School - Pittsburgh (private), New Outlook Academy (private), Margaret Shadick Cyert Center for Early Ed & Prog (private), Upmc Western Psychiatric Hospital (private), Pressley Ridge School for Autism (private), The University School (private), Three Rivers Village School (private), Pittsburgh New Church School (private), Carriage House Childrens Center (private), Tolatr Academy (private) and Abk Learnng & Development Center (private) are in town. Pittsburgh Online Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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.
What’s behind Pittsburgh’s grade
C: better than 27% of Pennsylvania school districts, #913 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Pittsburgh, with each school’s own grade.
Pittsburgh’s public schools are run by Pittsburgh School District, which also serves Mount Oliver. 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.
Well below the state in reading
Pittsburgh vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share Pittsburgh’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | C | Pittsburgh |
| Baldwin | B+ | Baldwin-Whitehall |
| Penn Hills | C− | Penn Hills |
| Ross | A | North Hills |
| Green Tree | B+ | Keystone Oaks |
| Reserve | A− | Shaler Area |
| Crafton | C+ | Carlynton |
| Ingram | A | Montour |
| West Mifflin | C | West Mifflin Area |
| Wilkinsburg | C− | Wilkinsburg Borough |
| McKees Rocks | D | Sto-Rox |
| Bellevue | B− | Northgate |
| Munhall | C | Steel Valley |
| Swissvale | D | Woodland Hills |
| Kennedy | A | Montour |
| West Homestead | C | Steel Valley |
| Dormont | B+ | Keystone Oaks |
| Robinson | A | Montour |
| Rosslyn Farms | — | Carlynton |
| Scott | B+ | Chartiers Valley |
| Brentwood | B | Brentwood Borough |
| Whitehall | B+ | Baldwin-Whitehall |
| O'Hara | A+ | Fox Chapel Area |
| Millvale | A− | Shaler Area |
| Mount Lebanon | A+ | Mount Lebanon |
| Shaler | A− | Shaler Area |
| Castle Shannon | B+ | Keystone Oaks |
| Sharpsburg | A+ | Fox Chapel Area |
| Homestead | C | Steel Valley |
| Aspinwall | A+ | Fox Chapel Area |
| Stowe | D | Sto-Rox |
| Etna | A− | Shaler Area |
Every school in Pittsburgh
108 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).
Questions about Pittsburgh’s schools
Are Pittsburgh’s schools good?
On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Pittsburgh children attend score below 73% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #913 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 9%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Pittsburgh in?
Pittsburgh School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 19,211 students in 56 schools (2024–25).
Where do Pittsburgh kids go to high school?
One of 10 high schools, depending on your address: Pittsburgh Allderdice HS, Pittsburgh Brashear HS, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, Pittsburgh Obama 6-12, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy 6-12, Pittsburgh Westinghouse, Pittsburgh Carrick HS, Pittsburgh Perry HS, Pittsburgh Milliones 6-12 and Pittsburgh Online Academy.
What is Pittsburgh’s graduation rate?
86% of the class of 2023 in Pittsburgh School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.
How much does Pittsburgh spend per student?
$25,747 in Pittsburgh School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Pittsburgh?
Yes: Central Catholic High School (catholic · all-boys, grades 9–12, 712 students), Falk Laboratory School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 432 students), Sacred Heart Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 425 students), Ellis School (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades PK–12, 407 students), Hillel Academy Pittsburgh (religious, grades PK–12, 401 students), Oakland Catholic High School (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 400 students), St. Edmund's Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 322 students), Shady Side Academy Junior School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 316 students), Hillel Academy-Boys H.S. (religious, grades K–12, 293 students), Community Day School (religious, grades PK–8, 287 students), St. Bede School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 261 students), Grace Non-Traditional Christian Academy (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 234 students), Bishop Canevin High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 204 students), Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (special education, grades PK–12, 193 students), The Day School at Childrens Institute Pittsburgh (special education, grades K–12, 170 students), Northside Catholic Assumption Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 161 students), Imani Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 161 students), The Campus Laboratory School of Carlow University (religious, grades PK–8, 157 students), Yeshiva Girls School (religious · all-girls, grades K–12, 156 students), Yeshiva Boys School (religious · all-boys, grades K–11, 146 students), St. Benedict the Moor School (Catholic, grades K–8, 130 students), Waldorf School of Pittsburgh (nonsectarian, grades 1–8, 121 students), Watson Institute Friendship Academy the (special education, grades 1–12, 93 students), Bright Horizons at Agh (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 86 students), Agh Center for Children (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 82 students), Depaul School for Hearing & Speech (special education, grades PK–K, 69 students), Carnegie Mellon Univ Children's School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 67 students), City of Bridges High School (religious, grades 9–12, 60 students), Pressley Ridge Day School - Pittsburgh (special education, grades 1–12, 56 students), New Outlook Academy (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades 7–12, 53 students), Margaret Shadick Cyert Center for Early Ed & Prog (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 46 students), Upmc Western Psychiatric Hospital (special education, grades 1–12, 44 students), Pressley Ridge School for Autism (special education, grades 4–12, 41 students), The University School (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 36 students), Three Rivers Village School (nonsectarian, grades , 35 students), Pittsburgh New Church School (religious, grades 1–8, 30 students), Carriage House Childrens Center (nonsectarian, grades K, 16 students), Tolatr Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 15 students) and Abk Learnng & Development Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 15 students). Pittsburgh also has 12 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Pittsburgh families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pittsburgh → 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.