Southwest Middle School

300 Chestnut St
Reading, PA 19602
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 671 students in grades 5-8, Southwest Middle School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 3% (which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 36%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 21% (which is lower 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 95% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 38% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 5-8
  • Enrollment: 671 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 95%
  • : Bottom 50% in PA
  • : 3% (Btm 50%)
  • : 21% (Btm 50%)
  • : 10-14% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Southwest Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

Southwest Middle School's student population of 671 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 44 teachers has declined by 8% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 5-8
Total Students
671 students
This chart displays total students of Southwest Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Southwest Middle School
Total Classroom Teachers
44 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Southwest Middle School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Southwest Middle School by grade.

School Rankings

Southwest Middle School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 2,733 schools in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Southwest Middle School is 0.22, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.58. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (PA)
#2631 out of 2733 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Southwest Middle School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
3%
36%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Southwest Middle 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.
21%
55%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Southwest Middle 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.
10-14%
57%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Southwest Middle 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.
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
13:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Southwest Middle School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
n/a
5%
Hispanic
88%
14%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Southwest Middle School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
6%
14%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Southwest Middle School and the percentage of Black public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
5%
62%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Southwest Middle 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
1%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Southwest Middle 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.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Southwest Middle School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in Pennsylvania.
0.22
This chart displays the diversity score of Southwest Middle School and the public school average diversity score of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Free Lunch
100%
54%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Southwest Middle 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.
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Southwest Middle School's ranking?
Southwest Middle School is ranked #2631 out of 2,733 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Pennsylvania.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
3% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 36% PA state average), while 21% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 55% PA state average).
How many students attend Southwest Middle School?
671 students attend Southwest Middle School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
88% of Southwest Middle School students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Black, 5% of students are White, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Southwest Middle School?
Southwest Middle School has a student ration of 15:1, which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 13:1.
What grades does Southwest Middle School offer ?
Southwest Middle School offers enrollment in grades 5-8
What school district is Southwest Middle School part of?
Southwest Middle School is part of Reading School District.

School Reviews

Review Southwest Middle School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

Vouchers for Special Education: Are They a Good Idea?
Vouchers for Special Education: Are They a Good Idea?
The article examines the pros and cons of using school vouchers for special education students. It discusses how vouchers can provide more educational options for families but also raises concerns about accountability, funding for public schools, and the implementation of special education laws in private school settings.
What is the Connection Between Home Values and School Performance?
What is the Connection Between Home Values and School Performance?
This article explores the relationship between school performance and home values in neighborhoods. It discusses studies showing correlations between school expenditures, ratings, and housing prices, highlighting how this connection affects families' choices and contributes to educational disparities between communities.
Understanding Rubrics
September 27, 2024
Understanding Rubrics
This article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 5-8
  • Enrollment: 671 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 95%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 3% (Btm 50%)
  • : 21% (Btm 50%)
  • : 10-14% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education

Quick Links