Elk County Schools & Education
Elk County, Pennsylvania
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
74/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
91.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,108
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,336
School Score
74/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 72/100
State Score Position
#30
of 67 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Elk County
Measured School Summary
Elk County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 74/100 and a graduation rate of 91.3%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Elk County spends $10,108 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 3% above the Pennsylvania average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Elk 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
10 public schools and 3 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
74/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #30 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data.
Completion
91.3%
1.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$10,108
$228 below the state average
School coverage
10
3 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Elk County has 10 public schools across 3 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.
What Elk 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.
Higher-signal county
Elk County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.
State position
#30
of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points above 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.
Saint Marys Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
1,863 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Ridgway Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
776 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Johnsonburg Area SD
Elementary and high visible
542 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Saint Marys Area 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 Elk County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Elk 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 Elk 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 Small-Scale Rural School System
Elk County operates 10 public schools across just 3 districts, serving 3,181 students. The system is concise, with 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools serving the entire region.
Saint Marys Area Leads Local Education
Saint Marys Area SD is the largest district, educating 1,863 students in 5 schools. Ridgway Area and Johnsonburg Area districts manage the rest of the student population, and there are no charter schools in the county.
Close-Knit Schools in a Quiet Rural Setting
With an average school size of just 318 students, Elk County offers one of the most personalized learning environments in the state. Most schools are rural, with the largest campus, St Marys Area Senior High, hosting only 609 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
10
in Elk County
Reported Enrollment
3,181
10 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Elk County
Saint Marys Area SD
Ridgway Area SD
Johnsonburg Area SD
10 Public Schools in Elk County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 10 of 10 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Marys Area SHS | Record | Saint Marys Area SD | Saint Marys, 15857Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 609 |
| South St Marys Street El Sch | Record | Saint Marys Area SD | Saint Marys, 15857Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 577 |
| St Marys Area MS | Record | Saint Marys Area SD | Saint Marys, 15857Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 426 |
| Francis S Grandinetti El Sch | Record | Ridgway Area SD | Ridgway, 15853Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 362 |
| Johnsonburg Area El Sch | Record | Johnsonburg Area SD | Johnsonburg, 15845Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 290 |
| Johnsonburg Area HS | Record | Johnsonburg Area SD | Johnsonburg, 15845Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 252 |
| Ridgway Area HS | Record | Ridgway Area SD | Ridgway, 15853Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 212 |
| Ridgway Area MS | Record | Ridgway Area SD | Ridgway, 15853Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 202 |
| Fox Twp El Sch | Record | Saint Marys Area SD | Kersey, 15846Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 166 |
| Bennetts Valley El Sch | Record | Saint Marys Area SD | Weedville, 15868Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 85 |
South St Marys Street El Sch
Saint Marys Area SD
Saint Marys, 15857 / Town: Remote
Francis S Grandinetti El Sch
Ridgway Area SD
Ridgway, 15853 / Rural: Fringe
Johnsonburg Area El Sch
Johnsonburg Area SD
Johnsonburg, 15845 / Rural: Distant
Bennetts Valley El Sch
Saint Marys Area SD
Weedville, 15868 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,108
State avg $10,336
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Elk County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Pennsylvania counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Pennsylvania?
How should I read the school score in Elk County?
What is the graduation rate in Elk County?
How much does Elk County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Elk County, Pennsylvania — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Elk County, Pennsylvania?
Elk County operates 10 public schools across just 3 districts, serving 3,181 students. The system is concise, with 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools serving the entire region.
What are the major school districts in Elk County, Pennsylvania?
Saint Marys Area SD is the largest district, educating 1,863 students in 5 schools. Ridgway Area and Johnsonburg Area districts manage the rest of the student population, and there are no charter schools in the county.
What is the school experience like in Elk County?
With an average school size of just 318 students, Elk County offers one of the most personalized learning environments in the state. Most schools are rural, with the largest campus, St Marys Area Senior High, hosting only 609 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.