schoolsbycounty

Cambria County Schools & Education

School Score

68/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

90.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 90.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,349

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,336

School Score

68/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 72/100

State Score Position

#43

of 67 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Cambria County

Measured School Summary

Cambria County performs at an average level with a school score of 68/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.5%.

Funding Context

Cambria County spends $9,349 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 5% below the Pennsylvania average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Cambria County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

37 public schools and 15 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

68/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #43 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data.

Completion

90.5%

0.2 pts above the state average

Funding context

$9,349

$987 below the state average

School coverage

37

15 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Cambria County has 37 public schools across 15 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Cambria County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Cambria County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#43

of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data. The county score is 4 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Greater Johnstown SD

Elementary to high school visible

2,941 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 1

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Forest Hills SD

Elementary and high visible

1,732 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Central Cambria SD

Elementary to high school visible

1,596 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Richland SD

Elementary and high visible

1,526 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Penn Cambria SD is the largest listed district slice, with 5 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Cambria County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cambria County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Cambria County, Pennsylvania

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Diverse Network of Local Districts

Cambria County features a fragmented but localized school system with 15 school districts managing just 37 schools. This network serves 16,240 students across 16 elementary, five middle, and 15 high schools. The high number of districts relative to schools ensures that many communities maintain their own local educational identities.

Johnstown Districts Anchor the Region

Greater Johnstown School District is the largest in the county, educating 2,941 students across four schools. Other significant districts include Central Cambria and Penn Cambria, which serve 1,596 and 1,522 students respectively. There are no charter schools in the county, meaning 100% of public students attend traditional district schools.

Small Schools in Traditional Settings

With an average school size of 439 students, Cambria County offers a more personal educational experience than neighboring suburban hubs. The largest facility is Greater Johnstown Elementary School, which enrolls 1,269 students. The locale mix is diverse, spanning 14 rural, 12 town, eight suburban, and three city-based schools.

School Overview

Total Schools

37

in Cambria County

Reported Enrollment

16,240

37 schools reporting

School Districts

15

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary16
Middle5
High15
Other1

15 School Districts in Cambria County

Greater Johnstown SD

4 schools
2,941 students

Forest Hills SD

2 schools
1,732 students

Central Cambria SD

4 schools
1,596 students

Richland SD

2 schools
1,526 students

Penn Cambria SD

5 schools
1,522 students

Westmont Hilltop SD

2 schools
1,464 students

Cambria Heights SD

3 schools
1,278 students

Portage Area SD

2 schools
807 students

Northern Cambria SD

3 schools
796 students

Conemaugh Valley SD

2 schools
711 students

37 Public Schools in Cambria County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 37 matching schools

Greater Johnstown El Sch

Greater Johnstown SD

Johnstown, 15905 / Suburb: Small

ProfilePK–4Primary1,269 students

Forest Hills El Sch

Forest Hills SD

Sidman, 15955 / Rural: Fringe

ProfilePK–6Primary957 students

Greater Johnstown SHS

Greater Johnstown SD

Johnstown, 15902 / City: Small

Record8–12High894 students

Richland El Sch

Richland SD

Johnstown, 15904 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–6Primary811 students

Forest Hills JSHS

Forest Hills SD

Sidman, 15955 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12High775 students

Westmont Hilltop El Sch

Westmont Hilltop SD

Johnstown, 15905 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–6Primary739 students

Westmont Hilltop JSHS

Westmont Hilltop SD

Johnstown, 15905 / Suburb: Small

Record7–12High725 students

Richland HS

Richland SD

Johnstown, 15904 / Suburb: Small

Record7–12High715 students

Greater Johnstown MS

Greater Johnstown SD

Johnstown, 15902 / City: Small

Record5–7Middle660 students

Penn Cambria HS

Penn Cambria SD

Cresson, 16630 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High567 students

Central Cambria HS

Central Cambria SD

Ebensburg, 15931 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High559 students

Cambria Heights El Sch

Cambria Heights SD

Carrolltown, 15722 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary535 students

Penn Cambria MS

Penn Cambria SD

Gallitzin, 16641 / Town: Fringe

Record5–8Middle468 students

Cambria El Sch

Central Cambria SD

Ebensburg, 15931 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary450 students

Portage Area El Sch

Portage Area SD

Portage, 15946 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–6Primary448 students

Cambria Heights SHS

Cambria Heights SD

Patton, 16668 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High437 students

Conemaugh Valley El Sch

Conemaugh Valley SD

Johnstown, 15906 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–6Primary392 students

Central Cambria MS

Central Cambria SD

Ebensburg, 15931 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle379 students

Portage Area JSHS

Portage Area SD

Portage, 15946 / Town: Fringe

Record7–12High359 students

Glendale JSHS

Glendale SD

Flinton, 16640 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High340 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,349

State avg $10,336

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Cambria County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Pennsylvania counties have the highest graduation rates?
Montour County (97.0%), Wyoming County (97.0%), and Wayne County (95.8%) currently lead Pennsylvania among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Pennsylvania?
Across Pennsylvania counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $10,336. The highest current county values are Forest County ($14,731), Wayne County ($14,055), and Pike County ($13,711). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Cambria County?
Cambria County has a school score of 68/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Cambria County?
The high school graduation rate in Cambria County is 90.5%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Cambria County spend per student?
Cambria County spends $9,349 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Cambria County, Pennsylvania — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Cambria County, Pennsylvania?

Cambria County features a fragmented but localized school system with 15 school districts managing just 37 schools. This network serves 16,240 students across 16 elementary, five middle, and 15 high schools. The high number of districts relative to schools ensures that many communities maintain their own local educational identities.

What are the major school districts in Cambria County, Pennsylvania?

Greater Johnstown School District is the largest in the county, educating 2,941 students across four schools. Other significant districts include Central Cambria and Penn Cambria, which serve 1,596 and 1,522 students respectively. There are no charter schools in the county, meaning 100% of public students attend traditional district schools.

What is the school experience like in Cambria County?

With an average school size of 439 students, Cambria County offers a more personal educational experience than neighboring suburban hubs. The largest facility is Greater Johnstown Elementary School, which enrolls 1,269 students. The locale mix is diverse, spanning 14 rural, 12 town, eight suburban, and three city-based schools.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.