How strong are the public high schools in Pittsburgh?
With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year, as well as those that top the city's best public high school rankings.
Brashear High School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Pittsburgh, rising from a C to a C+, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 590 Crane Ave., enrolls 1,247 students. Brashear High School serves a diverse population: 41% of students identify as black, 36% identify as white and 11% identify as Asian. Niche gave the school mixed grades: C on an A-D scale for academics, B- for administration and B for clubs and activities.
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, 32% of Brashear High School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 52% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 55% in math and 66% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable since it serves a less affluent population, with 67% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 22% more than the city average.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Pittsburgh Science & Technology Academy saw its overall rating increase from an A- to an A. The school is located at 107 Thackeray St. and is much smaller, currently serving 522 students, of whom 46% identify as white and 39% identify as black.
Niche gave Pittsburgh Science & Technology Academy mixed grades: B+ on an A-D scale for academics, A for administration and B for clubs and activities. Pittsburgh Science & Technology Academy's latest math proficiency was at 59%, and reading proficiency was 77%.
Brentwood Senior High School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from a C+ to a B-. The school is located at 3601 Brownsville Road and has 371 students currently enrolled.
Niche gave Brentwood mixed grades — B- on an A-D scale for academics, C for administration and C for clubs and activities. Brentwood's latest math proficiency was at 62%, and reading proficiency was 82%.
While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- Mt. Lebanon Senior High School, with an overall rating of A+.
- Upper St. Clair High School, with an A+ rating overall.
- Fox Chapel Area High School, rated A+ overall.
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.
