The goal of most high schools is to have students graduate with skills that prepare them for success in life.

One indication the school is making good on that intention is its building-level performance score — which is used to evaluate teachers and principals under Pennsylvania’s Educator Effectiveness System (Act 82 of 2012). The measure was previously known as the School Performance Profile.

Tops in Allegheny County for 2019 was Upper St. Clair High School, with a score of 97.6 out of 100. It was followed by North Allegheny (91), Hampton (90.1) and West Allegheny (89.6).

In Westmoreland County, Franklin Regional ranked first with a score of 94.1, followed by Penn-Trafford (93.8) and Norwin (84.4).

Fox Chapel (88.8) ranked first in the Alle-Kiski Valley, followed by Plum (86) and Freeport Area (82).

The score reflects students’ collective achievement on standardized math, language arts and science assessment tests, how well they have advanced academically during the school year, and other factors, including school attendance and graduation rates. Advanced Placement and college-credit courses offered also affect the building score at the senior high level.

Here is a complete ranking of schools in Allegheny, Westmoreland and the A-K Valley:

Visit the state Department of Education website (education.pa.gov) and search “Building Level Score” to see 2019 results for all of Pennsylvania’s 2,850 public, charter and cyber charter schools.

In November 2018, the state Department of Education introduced the alternative Future Ready PA Index. Rather than relying on a single score to summarize the annual performance of a school and its students, it sets forth a series of measurements to gauge academic performance, student progress and college and career readiness at the building level. Visit futurereadypa.org to search the most recent data, from the 2018-19 school year.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)