A
Very Good
86/100

Southern Columbia MS

📚 05 – 08 🏫 School
📍 810 Southern Drive, Catawissa, PA 17820
Overall
A
86/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
B+
Reading 72% · Math 50% proficient · 74th percentile in Pennsylvania
Resources
A+
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against Pennsylvania schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

86
Repit Score
out of 100
382
Students
enrolled
13.4:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$19K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Academics (reading & math)75%74/100reading 76th percentile, math 72nd percentile among Pennsylvania middle schools (2018–19 state tests)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)25%92/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 38% students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with Pennsylvania schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are +7 points better than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in Pennsylvania. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency72% (+10 pts vs. state avg 62%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19
➗ Math proficiency50% (+3 pts vs. state avg 47%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the Pennsylvania state test (2018–19), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White71%51%reading +2 pts, math +3 pts63rd percentile (list)
Low-income62%32%reading +18 pts, math +9 pts79th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 810 Southern Drive
City Catawissa
ZIP Code 17820
District 4222260
NCES School ID 422226000558
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 17820

Understanding the community around Southern Columbia MS helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $65,270
Per Capita Income $36,737
Poverty Rate 5.2%
Households Earning $100K+ 31.2%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.6%
High School or Higher 93.7%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $202,200
Median Rent $782
Owner-Occupied 76.8%
Renter-Occupied 23.2%
View full data for ZIP 17820 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 17820 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 17820 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for Southern Columbia MS.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 50.8%
Female 49.2%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 92.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.9%
Two or More Races 2.4%
Black 0.3%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian 0.3%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 382
Teachers (FTE) 28.4
Student:Teacher Ratio 13.4:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for Southern Columbia MS?
Southern Columbia MS has a Repit School Score of 86 out of 100, earning a grade of A. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend Southern Columbia MS?
Southern Columbia MS has 382 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1.
What grades does Southern Columbia MS serve?
Southern Columbia MS serves grades 05 – 08 and is classified as a School. This is a public school.
How much funding does Southern Columbia MS receive per student?
Southern Columbia MS receives $19,006 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is above the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around Southern Columbia MS in 17820 ▼
Avg Home Value
$261,985
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,017
1-Year Change
+9.5%
% Renters
23.2%

Other Schools in 17820

View all schools and real estate data for 17820 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026