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Lewis Smalley Homestead housePhoto: Generic1139 · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Shirley Township · Mount Union Area School District

Shirley Township’s public schools score below 73% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

In Shirley Township, 23% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Shirley 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 96% 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
36%
▼ 19 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
23%
▼ 13 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.0K
▼ 17% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
9.8
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
1,101 students on the public path
In brief

Shirley Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 930 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Shirley Township’s, its schools beat 15%, lower than their 27% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 36% of tested students were proficient in reading and 23% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania (the state reports Shirley Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,954 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Shirley Twp El Sch, then Mount Union Area JHS, then Mount Union Area SHS. Enrollment is down 9% 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 Shirley Township’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 27% of Pennsylvania school districts. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 27%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (930)Better than 15%
Towns in Huntingdon County (30)Better than 0%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 550 test results and a graduating class of 93 could put Shirley Township anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Shirley Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (522 in math, 579 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–2Mount Union-Kistler El Schin Mount UnionNo scores
3–5Shirley Twp El SchMount Union Area School DistrictC−
6–8Mount Union Area JHSin Mount UnionC−
9–12Mount Union Area SHSin Mount UnionB−

Shirley Township’s public schools are run by Mount Union Area School District, which also serves Kistler, Mapleton, Mount Union and Newton Hamilton 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.

Mount Union Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 4 schools · 1,101 students, down 9% since 2020–21 · 9.8 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$17,954PA $21,758 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading36%
State average 55.1% · 579 students tested
Math23%
State average 36.1% · 522 students tested

Shirley Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Shirley TownshipCMount Union Area
CromwellCSouthern Huntingdon County
WayneCMount Union Area
Tell—Southern Huntingdon County
Mount UnionCMount Union Area
Union—Mount Union Area
CassCSouthern Huntingdon County
BradyB−Huntingdon Area
Lack—Juniata County

3 of the 8 neighbors share Mount Union Area with Shirley Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Shirley Township

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 Shirley Townshipby address
Shirley Twp El Sch
Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Mount Union
C−
279 students10:1Rate it →
Also serving Shirley Townshipin other towns
Mount Union-Kistler El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Mount Union
278 students9:1Rate it →
Mount Union Area JHS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Mount Union
C−
221 students10:1Rate it →
Mount Union Area SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Mount Union
B−
323 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Shirley Township’s schools

Are Shirley Township’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Shirley Township children attend score below 73% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 15%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Shirley Township in?

Mount Union Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 1,101 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Shirley Township kids go to high school?

Mount Union Area SHS in Mount Union, with 323 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Shirley Township’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Mount Union Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Shirley Township spend per student?

$17,954 in Mount Union Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Shirley Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Shirley 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.