Enrollment
1,578
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Altoona, PA
Altoona Area Jr Hs
Federal NCES profile for Altoona Area Jr Hs, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 420234006850
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Altoona Area Jr Hs earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Pennsylvania.
- #4 of 12
- public schools in Altoona · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12:1
- small classes for Pennsylvania
- 68.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Altoona Area Jr Hs has class sizes smaller than 72% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Altoona Area Jr Hs ranks #4 of 12 public schools in Altoona, PA.
School address
District: Altoona Area Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 420234006850 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
131.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
-12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.0%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+17% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Altoona Area Jr Hs compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Altoona Area Jr Hs
Altoona Area Jr Hs is a higher-need, large middle school in Altoona, Pennsylvania, enrolling 1,578 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12:1 puts it in the smaller third of Pennsylvania schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Pennsylvania, bigger than 97% of state schools at 1,578 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Its student body is predominantly White (83% of enrollment) (diversity index 30/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 263 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 333 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,578 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Altoona Area Sd also operates Altoona Area Hs (2,255 students) and Juniata Gap El Sch (490 students) alongside Altoona Area Jr Hs.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Altoona Area Jr Hs compares
Altoona Area Jr Hs on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12:1 | ▼ 12% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.0% | ▲ 17% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,578 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
1,578
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 28% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
33.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,639
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 263 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
159
in-school suspensions + 174 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 83.3%
African American 8.7%
Two or More 4.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.3%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 83.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.6, Altoona Area Jr Hs is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Altoona Area Sd, which includes Altoona Area Jr Hs.
$14,639
Per student
-19%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
-12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.8%
State 56.9%
Federal 17.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Altoona Area Jr Hs Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona Area Hs | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Juniata Gap El Sch | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Juniata El Sch | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pleasant Valley El Sch | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Logan El Sch | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Altoona Area Jr Hs's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,255
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 490
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 470
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 439
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 428
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,578 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Altoona Area Jr Hs's federal record.
- Compare Altoona Area Jr Hs against another school. Compare schools
- Altoona Area Sd's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Altoona Area Jr Hs
How many students attend Altoona Area Jr Hs?
Altoona Area Jr Hs has 1,578 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Altoona, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Altoona Area Jr Hs?
The student-teacher ratio at Altoona Area Jr Hs is 12:1, which is 12% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 24% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Altoona Area Jr Hs?
68.0% of students at Altoona Area Jr Hs are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Altoona Area Jr Hs?
The largest demographic group at Altoona Area Jr Hs is White at 83.3% of enrollment, in Altoona, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Altoona Area Jr Hs?
Altoona Area Jr Hs has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Altoona Area Jr Hs rank among public schools in Altoona?
By Resource Investment Index, Altoona Area Jr Hs ranks #4 of 12 public schools in Altoona, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Altoona on the city page.
Is Altoona Area Jr Hs a good school?
Altoona Area Jr Hs earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Pennsylvania. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Altoona Area Sd?
Besides Altoona Area Jr Hs, Altoona Area Sd also operates Altoona Area Hs (2,255 students), Juniata Gap El Sch (490 students), and Juniata El Sch (470 students). See the Altoona Area Sd district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.