Public School Review - Established 2003

Central High School vs. Altoona Area High School

Should you attend Central High School or Altoona Area High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Central High School
718 Central High Road
Martinsburg, PA 16662
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Altoona Area High School
1404 6th Ave
Altoona, PA 16602
: 
8/
10
Top 30%
Top Rankings

Central High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)

Altoona Area High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute
Most improved public schools
Most improved public schools (Top 5%)
Overview
Serving 554 students in grades 9-12, Central High School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 65-69% (which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 36%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 65-69% (which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 55%).
The student:teacher ratio of 15:1 is higher than the Pennsylvania state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 6% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 38% (majority Black).
Serving 2,228 students in grades 6-12, Altoona Area High School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 55-59% (which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 36%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 71% (which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 55%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the Pennsylvania state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 15% of the student body (majority Black), which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 38% (majority Black).
Grades Offered
9-12
6-12
Total Students
554 students
2,228 students
This chart displays total students of Central High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Altoona Area High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
55% | 45%
51% | 49%
This chart displays gender of Central High School
This chart displays gender of Altoona Area High School
Total Classroom Teachers
38 teachers
137 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Central High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Altoona Area High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
16:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Central High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Altoona Area High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#517 out of 2733 schools in PA
(Top 20%)
#597 out of 2733 schools in PA
(Top 30%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Central High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Altoona Area High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
65-69%
(Top 20% in PA)
55-59%
(Top 30% in PA)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Altoona Area High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
65-69%
(Top 30% in PA)
71%
(Top 30% in PA)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Altoona Area High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
50-54%
(Bottom 50% in PA)
25-29%
(Bottom 50% in PA)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Altoona Area High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
≥95%
(Top 10% in PA)
80%
(Bottom 50% in PA)
This chart displays graduation rate of Central High School and public school graduation rate of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Altoona Area High School and public school graduation rate of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Central High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Altoona Area High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
134
636
Grade 10 Students
136
589
Grade 11 Students
144
519
Grade 12 Students
140
484

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Central High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2004-05 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Altoona Area High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
2%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Central High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Altoona Area High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
1%
10%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Central High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Altoona Area High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
94%
85%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Central High School and the percentage of White public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Altoona Area High School and the percentage of White public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Central High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Altoona Area High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.12
0.27
This chart displays the diversity score of Central High School and the public school average diversity score of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Altoona Area High School and the public school average diversity score of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
33%
47%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Central High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Altoona Area High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
2%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Central High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Altoona Area High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
 
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