North Star Sd

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Boswell, Pennsylvania - 3 schools

An equity score of 69/100 ranks North Star Sd #121 of 649 districts in Pennsylvania (state average 49). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $16,839 per pupil, North Star Sd ranks #467 of 672 Pennsylvania districts by per-pupil spending (Pennsylvania districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,001
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$16,839
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

North Star Sd operates 3 public schools serving 1,001 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Pennsylvania. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Somerset County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,839 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 672 Pennsylvania districts by per-pupil spending. See how Pennsylvania compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 28.7% local, 60.5% state, and 10.8% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 69/100, ranked #121 of 649 in Pennsylvania against a state average of 49, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 261.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 11.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 97.0% White, 0.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is North Star Central El Sch, with a diversity index of 7.6/100.

Its largest campus is North Star Central El Sch, enrolling 385 students (39% of the district's total enrollment).

North Star Central El Sch accounts for 38.5% of all North Star Sd student enrollment

That dominant concentration means North Star Sd-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

North Star Sd reports 89.9% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is above 87.5%, so economic need is widespread across the measured student population. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

North Star Sd student-counselor ratio is 261:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within North Star Sd is typically wider than the North Star Sd-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

North Star Sd chronic absenteeism rate is 11.1% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.8%
Federal
60.5%
State
28.7%
Local

Funding Equity

69
Equity Score
121 / 649
State Rank
49
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in North Star Sd.

White 97.0%
Hispanic or Latino 0.8%
African American 0.7%
Multiracial 1.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 5.9/100

Average Simpson diversity index across North Star Sd's schools, below the Pennsylvania average of 37.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 North Star Central El Sch 7.6
  2. 2 North Star Hs 7.2
  3. 3 North Star East Ms 3.0

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
261.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
11.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in North Star Sd

School Enrollment
North Star Central El Sch
385
North Star Hs
327
North Star East Ms
272

How North Star Sd Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Pennsylvania districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Shenango Area Sd Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Frazier Sd Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Blue Ridge Sd Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Line Mountain Sd Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Esperanza Cyber Cs Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to North Star Sd's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Pennsylvania

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Philadelphia City Sd
118,335 students · 219 schools · $18,329/pupil
Compare vs North Star Sd →
Commonwealth Charter Academy Cs
20,355 students · 1 schools · $16,549/pupil
Compare vs North Star Sd →
Pittsburgh Sd
20,034 students · 56 schools · $24,008/pupil
Compare vs North Star Sd →
Central Bucks Sd
17,540 students · 23 schools · $18,884/pupil
Compare vs North Star Sd →
Reading Sd
17,363 students · 19 schools · $14,509/pupil
Compare vs North Star Sd →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare North Star Sd

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Philadelphia City Sd →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in North Star Sd?

North Star Sd has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,001 students.

How much does North Star Sd spend per student?

North Star Sd spends $16,839 per student. The district has an equity score of 69/100, ranking #121 in Pennsylvania.

What is the demographic composition of North Star Sd?

North Star Sd students are 97.0% White, 0.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for North Star Sd?

North Star Sd has an equity score of 69/100, ranking #121 out of 649 districts in Pennsylvania.