Southern Columbia Area School District

800 Southern Drive
Catawissa, PA 17820-8410
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

Southern Columbia Area School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there is 1 public high school serving 348 students in Southern Columbia Area School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public high schools in Pennsylvania.
Public High School in Southern Columbia Area School District have an average math proficiency score of 62% (versus the Pennsylvania public high school average of 30%), and reading proficiency score of 77% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Southern Columbia Area School District have a Graduation Rate of 92%, which is more than the Pennsylvania average of 88%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Southern Columbia High School, with 90-94% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Pennsylvania or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Pennsylvania public high school average of 40% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (PA)
# Schools
3 Schools
793 Schools
# Students
1,195 Students
643,021 Students
# Teachers
92 Teachers
46,368 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Southern Columbia Area School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 677 school districts in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (PA)
#98 out of 685 school districts
(Top 20%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

50%
38%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

69%
55%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

68%
57%
92%
87.5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
13%
23.3%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.11
0.60

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
4%

Showing 2001–2022. Full 25-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
2%
16%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 28-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
1%
15%

Showing 1989–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
95%
60%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $23,004 in this school district is less than the state median of $26,978. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,664 is less than the state median of $26,274. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (PA)
Total Revenue
$28 MM
$44,930 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$24 MM
$43,758 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$23,004
$26,978

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$19,664
$26,274

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Southern Columbia Area School District Public High Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Southern Columbia High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
812 Southern Drive
Catawissa, PA 17820
(570) 356-3450
Gr: 9-12 | 348 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 7%

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: K-12
  • Enrollment: 1,195 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 6%
  • : 92% (Top 20% in PA)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 50% (Top 20%)
  • : 69% (Top 20%)
  • : 68% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education

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