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St Marys City Hall Apr 10Photo: Pubdog · Public domain
B−
Schools in St. Marys · St. Marys Area School District

St. Marys’s public schools score below 52% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving St. Marys, 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.

#680of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–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
49%
▼ 6 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▼ 0 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.9K
▼ 22% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.6
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
1,614 students on the public path
In brief

St. Marys’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1980 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of St. Marys’s, its schools beat 39%, lower than their 48% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 49% of tested students were proficient in reading and 36% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania (the state reports St. Marys’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,906 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 6 the district’s path is St Marys Area MS, then St Marys Area SHS. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Marys Catholic Elementary School (private), St. Marys Catholic Elementary (private), St. Marys Catholic Middle School (private) and Elk County Catholic High School (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 St. Marys’s grade

C+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 48% of Pennsylvania school districts, #680 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Graduation is above the Pennsylvania average; test scores are below it.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 48%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1980)Better than 39%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 928 test results and a graduating class of 163 could put St. Marys anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of St. Marys’s students in the tested grades sat them (905 in math, 952 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5South St Marys Street El SchSt. Marys Area School DistrictB+
6–8St Marys Area MSSt. Marys Area School DistrictC
9–12St Marys Area SHSSt. Marys Area School DistrictB+

St. Marys’s public schools are run by St. Marys Area School District, which also serves Benezette, Fox and Jay. 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.

St. Marys Area School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,845 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 14.6 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$16,906PA $21,758 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading49%
State average 55.1% · 952 students tested
Math36%
State average 36.1% · 905 students tested

St. Marys vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
St. MarysB−St. Marys Area
RidgwayAJohnsonburg Area PK–12 · Ridgway Area K–12
FoxB−St. Marys Area
JonesAJohnsonburg Area
ShippenA−Cameron County
JayB−St. Marys Area

2 of the 5 neighbors share St. Marys Area with St. Marys, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in St. Marys

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 St. Marysby address
South St Marys Street El Sch
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Saint Marys
B+
583 students16:1Rate it →
St Marys Area MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Saint Marys
C
459 students15:1Rate it →
St Marys Area SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Saint Marys
B+
572 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Marys Catholic Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Saint Marys
Private · Catholic
317 students19:1Rate it →
St. Marys Catholic Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Saint Marys
Private · Catholic
315 students19:1Rate it →
St. Marys Catholic Middle School
Grades 6–12 · Saint Marys
Private · Catholic
275 students28:1Rate it →
Elk County Catholic High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Saint Marys
Private · Catholic
179 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about St. Marys’s schools

Are St. Marys’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools St. Marys children attend score below 52% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #680 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 39%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is St. Marys in?

St. Marys Area School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,845 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do St. Marys kids go to high school?

St Marys Area SHS in Saint Marys, with 572 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is St. Marys’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in St. Marys Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does St. Marys spend per student?

$16,906 in St. Marys Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in St. Marys?

Yes: St. Marys Catholic Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 317 students), St. Marys Catholic Elementary (Catholic, grades PK–5, 315 students), St. Marys Catholic Middle School (Catholic, grades 6–12, 275 students) and Elk County Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 179 students).

Parents talk

What St. Marys families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near St. Marys → 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.