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Pottsville SkylinePhoto: Tc65306n · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Pottsville · Pottsville Area School District

Pottsville’s public schools score below 59% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Pottsville, 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.

#764of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
52%
▼ 3 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
34%
▼ 2 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
88%
▲ 0 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.9K
▼ 32% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.5
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
2,588 students on the public path
In brief

Pottsville’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1250 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Pottsville’s, its schools beat 35%, lower than their 41% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 52% of tested students were proficient in reading and 34% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,864 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 Lengel MS, then Pottsville Area HS. Enrollment is up 8% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Gillingham Charter School, Nativity BVM High School (private), Assumption BVM School (private) and The Perception Training Center, Inc. (private) are 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 Pottsville’s grade

B− Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 41% of Pennsylvania school districts, #764 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Graduation is above the Pennsylvania average; test scores are below it.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 41%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1250)Better than 35%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,142 test results and a graduating class of 207 could put Pottsville anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Pottsville’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,111 in math, 1,172 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–4Clarke El CtrPottsville Area School DistrictC+
5–8Lengel MSPottsville Area School DistrictC
9–12Pottsville Area HSPottsville Area School DistrictA−

Pottsville’s public schools are run by Pottsville Area School District, which also serves Mechanicsville, Mount Carbon, Norwegian and Palo Alto 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.

Pottsville Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 3 schools · 2,588 students, up 8% since 2020–21 · 14.5 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$14,864PA $21,758 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading52%
State average 55.1% · 1172 students tested
Math34%
State average 36.1% · 1111 students tested

Pottsville vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PottsvilleC+Pottsville Area
BranchCMinersville Area
North ManheimB+Blue Mountain
NorwegianC+Pottsville Area
Palo Alto—Pottsville Area
Mechanicsville—Pottsville Area
Mount Carbon—Pottsville Area

4 of the 6 neighbors share Pottsville Area with Pottsville, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Pottsville

7 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 Pottsvilleby address
Clarke El Ctr
Elementary · Grades K–4
C+
892 students13:1Rate it →
Lengel MS
Middle · Grades 5–8
C
720 students13:1Rate it →
Pottsville Area HS
High · Grades 9–12
A−
976 students17:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Gillingham Charter School
Grades K–12
C−
Charter
233 students10:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Nativity BVM High School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic
199 students6:1Rate it →
Assumption BVM School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
153 students14:1Rate it →
The Perception Training Center, Inc.
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
71 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Pottsville’s schools

Are Pottsville’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Pottsville children attend score below 59% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #764 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 35%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Pottsville in?

Pottsville Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,588 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Pottsville kids go to high school?

Pottsville Area HS, with 976 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Pottsville’s graduation rate?

88% of the class of 2023 in Pottsville Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Pottsville spend per student?

$14,864 in Pottsville Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Pottsville?

Yes: Nativity BVM High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 199 students), Assumption BVM School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 153 students) and The Perception Training Center, Inc. (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 71 students). Pottsville also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Pottsville families are saying about school.

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Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pottsville → 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.