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Portage Historic DistrictPortage Historic District · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
A
Schools in Portage · Portage Area School District

Portage’s public schools outscore 89% of Pennsylvania districts

Math proficiency in Portage’s districts is 52%, above the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Portage, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. 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 100% 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
65%
▲ 10 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
52%
▲ 16 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Spent per student
$18.3K
▼ 16% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.6
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
740 students on the public path
In brief

Portage’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 644 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Portage’s, its schools beat 96%, higher than their 89% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 65% and math 52% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $18,286 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Portage Area JSHS. Enrollment is down 8% since 2020–21. 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 Portage’s grade

A Test scores

A: better than 89% of Pennsylvania school districts. Test scores are above the Pennsylvania average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 89%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (644)Better than 96%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 400 test results could put Portage anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Portage’s students in the tested grades sat them (383 in math, 417 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–6Portage Area El SchPortage Area School DistrictA−
7–12Portage Area JSHSPortage Area School DistrictB

Portage’s public schools are run by Portage Area School District, which also serves Cassandra and Portage. 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.

Portage Area School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 740 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 11.6 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$18,286PA $21,758 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading65%
State average 55.1% · 417 students tested
Math52%
State average 36.1% · 383 students tested

Portage vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PortageAPortage Area

Every school in Portage

2 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 Portageby address
Portage Area JSHS
High · Grades 7–12
B
339 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving Portagein other towns
Portage Area El Sch
Elementary · Grades PK–6
A−
401 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Portage’s schools

Are Portage’s schools good?

By Pennsylvania’s own tests, yes: the public schools Portage children attend outscore 89% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 96%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Portage in?

Portage Area School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 740 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

How much does Portage spend per student?

$18,286 in Portage Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Portage families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Portage → 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.