- Enrollment
- 567
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Mercer, PA
Mercer Area Shs
Federal NCES profile for Mercer Area Shs, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 421512003158
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mercer Area Shs earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Mercer · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 87.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Mercer Area Shs has class sizes near the Pennsylvania median. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mercer Area Shs ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Mercer, PA.
School address
District: Mercer Area Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421512003158 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-23 students YoY
Mercer Area Shs shrank from 334 students in 2022-23 to 311 in 2023-24 (-6.9%).
Teacher FTE held 20.8 → 21.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-23 students YoY 421512003158 · Mercer, PA High · SMALL · TRAD
282 enr · 14.1:1 · 87.7% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Mercer Area El Sch (567 students)
Mercer Area Shs shrank from 334 students in 2022-23 to 311 in 2023-24 (-6.9%). Teacher FTE held 20.8 → 21.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Pennsylvania schools → · Find another →
Mercer Area Shs in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mercer Area El
Mercer Area El Sch
567 students
- This school
Mercer Area Shs
282 students
- Mercer Area Ms 136
Mercer Area Ms
136 students
What this shows Mercer Area Shs reports 282 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mercer Area Shs compares
Mercer Area Shs is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.1:1 | ▲ 4% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 87.7% | ▲ 51% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 282 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
282
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
87.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 64% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
51.4%
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
$15,777
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $18,725
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 282 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 95.0%
Two or More 3.5%
Asian 0.7%
African American 0.4%
Hispanic or Latino 0.4%
Largest group: White at 95.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 9.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 9.6, Mercer Area Shs is less mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mercer Area Sd reports $15,777 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mercer Area Shs Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Area El Sch | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mercer Area Ms | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mercer Area Shs's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 136
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar high schools in Mercer
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~282 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mercer Area Shs
How many students attend Mercer Area Shs?
Mercer Area Shs has 282 students enrolled. It is a high school in Mercer, PA. CCD year-over-year: 334 (2022-23) → 311 (2023-24), down 23.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mercer Area Shs?
The student-teacher ratio at Mercer Area Shs is 14.1:1, which is 4% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mercer Area Shs?
87.7% of students at Mercer Area Shs are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mercer Area Shs?
The largest demographic group at Mercer Area Shs is White at 95.0% of enrollment, in Mercer, PA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mercer Area Shs?
Mercer Area Shs has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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).
How does Mercer Area Shs rank among public schools in Mercer?
By Resource Investment Index, Mercer Area Shs ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Mercer, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Mercer Area Sd?
Besides Mercer Area Shs, Mercer Area Sd also operates Mercer Area El Sch (567 students) and Mercer Area Ms (136 students). See the Mercer Area Sd district page for the complete list.