- Enrollment
- 1,006
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Swissvale, PA
Dickson Prep Steam Academy
Federal NCES profile for Dickson Prep Steam Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 421650007670
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dickson Prep Steam Academy earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Pennsylvania schools.
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.2:1
- small classes for Pennsylvania
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
- 579
- students enrolled
Dickson Prep Steam Academy has class sizes smaller than 90% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Woodland Hills Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421650007670 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-26 students YoY
Dickson Prep Steam Academy held near 616 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-26 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 57.2 → 50.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-26 students YoY 421650007670 · Swissvale, PA Middle · MID · TRAD
579 enr · 10.2:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Woodland Hills Hs (1,006 students)
Dickson Prep Steam Academy held near 616 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-26 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 57.2 → 50.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Dickson Prep Steam Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Woodland Hills
Woodland Hills Hs
1,006 students
- Turtle Creek E
Turtle Creek El Steam Academy
580 students
- This school
Dickson Prep Steam Academy
579 students
- Edgewood El St
Edgewood El Steam Academy
516 students
- Wilkins El Ste
Wilkins El Steam Academy
447 students
What this shows Dickson Prep Steam Academy reports 579 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dickson Prep Steam Academy compares
Dickson Prep Steam Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.2:1 | ▼ 25% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 579 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.2:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
579
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% 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
10.2:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 10% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
73.4%
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
$23,641
per pupil, district-wide
- above Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 290 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
205
in-school suspensions + 103 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 35.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 53.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 63.0%
White 19.0%
Hispanic or Latino 8.6%
Two or More 7.8%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 63.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.3, Dickson Prep Steam Academy is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Woodland Hills Sd reports $23,641 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dickson Prep Steam Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodland Hills Hs | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Turtle Creek El Steam Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edgewood El Steam Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wilkins El Steam Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dickson Prep Steam Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 580
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 447
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~579 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dickson Prep Steam Academy
How many students attend Dickson Prep Steam Academy?
Dickson Prep Steam Academy has 579 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Swissvale, PA. CCD year-over-year: 642 (2022-23) → 616 (2023-24), nearly flat (-26).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dickson Prep Steam Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Dickson Prep Steam Academy is 10.2:1, which is 25% lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 35% 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 Dickson Prep Steam Academy?
100.0% of students at Dickson Prep Steam Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dickson Prep Steam Academy?
The largest demographic group at Dickson Prep Steam Academy is African American at 63.0% of enrollment, in Swissvale, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dickson Prep Steam Academy?
Dickson Prep Steam Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Woodland Hills Sd?
Besides Dickson Prep Steam Academy, Woodland Hills Sd also operates Woodland Hills Hs (1,006 students), Turtle Creek El Steam Academy (580 students), and Edgewood El Steam Academy (516 students). See the Woodland Hills Sd district page for the complete list.