How do the public elementary schools in Pittsburgh stack up?
We analyzed newly released data from Niche.com — including comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews — to find out how schools in your area are performing and which have made the biggest leaps over the past year.
Woolslair Elementary School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in Pittsburgh, rising from a C to a B-, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 501 40th St., enrolls 185 students. Woolslair Elementary School serves a diverse population: 61% of students identify as black and 25% identify as white. Niche graded the school a C+ for academics (on an A-D scale).
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 45% of Woolslair Elementary School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 55% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 54% in math and 67% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 74% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 29% more than the city average.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Allegheny Traditional Academy Elementary School saw its overall rating jump from a C+ to a B-. The school is located at 810 Arch St. and is much larger, currently serving 525 students, of whom 68% identify as black and 18% identify as white.
Niche graded Allegheny Traditional Academy Elementary School a B- for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 48%, and reading proficiency was 59%. It also serves a less-affluent population, with 75% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Kerr Elementary School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from A to A+. The school is located at 341 Kittanning Pike and has 387 students currently enrolled, of whom 75% identify as white.
Niche graded Kerr Elementary School an A for academics on an A-D scale. Its latest math proficiency was at 69%, and reading proficiency was 79%.
While some public elementary schools in Pittsburgh are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- McKnight Elementary School, with an overall rating of A+.
- O'Hara Elementary School, with an A+ rating overall.
- Streams Elementary School, rated A+ overall.
Want more of the latest intel on Pittsburgh schools? Hoodline also analyzed the latest Niche ratings for the city's public high schools.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
