School Performance

Peters Township consistently ranks among the highest achieving districts in our region and throughout the state. Take a look at a few of the Academic Highlights from across our District. 

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) is given to students in grades 3-8 annually in the Peters Township School District and throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Assessments in Math and English/Language Arts (ELA) are given to all six grade levels, with grades 4 and 8 taking an additional Science assessment. With all grades and subjects combined, Peters Township RANKED 6th in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the number of students scoring Advanced or Proficient on the exams. All PT tested grades and subjects are ranked within the top 4% in the state. These rankings are among the 783 districts in Pennsylvania. Below are other notable rankings for specific grade levels:

Source: EIDEX

In November 2023, U.S. News released their Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools and Bower Hill Elementary has ranked #1 in Pennsylvania. Schools were assessed based on the number of students who scored proficient or advanced on PSSA exams from the 2020-21 School Year. Half of their proprietary ranking formula was the results themselves; the other half was the results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. 

In their 2024 Annual Guide to Schools, the Pittsburgh Business Times has ranked Peters Township 3rd in our region and 5th overall across the state. 

This year’s rankings are based on the past three years of available standardized test scores - 2021, 2022, 2023 for grades 3-8 (PSSAs) and high school (Keystone Exams). Counties included in the regional ranking are: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland.

The National Merit Scholarship Program annually recognizes students nationwide based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT exam. In 2024, two students were named semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Seniors Kaitlyn Strine and Kritin Sharma are among an elite group of students from across the nation being considered for these scholarships. These students have been selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. 

In addition, 13 students from PTHS were named Commended Students in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These students are: George Abbato, Tyler Aloise, Zennik Bublak, Logan Desaw, Faith Fackrell, Calvin Falls, Connor Heinsen, Faith Lepisto, Ashley Logan, Avyakta Sharma, Kyle Thomas, Justin Tornatore and Ethan White. These students received a Letter of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise.   

Peters Township High School has been named to the 2024 AP School Honor Roll as a Platinum member! PTHS earned this distinction by expanding the school's college culture by enabling 81% of the Class of 2025 to experience at least one AP course before graduating, assisting with college affordability with 63% of the Class of 2025 earning college credit with an AP Exam score of 3, and optimizing our students’ college readiness by creating opportunities for 30% of the senior class to take a total of 5 APs across their high school years, with at least one taken in 9th or 10th grade.

Research shows students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. The students who enter four-year colleges with credit from AP accelerate their path to graduation and build confidence for college success. And even for those who don’t earn college credit, AP coursework provides early exposure to college-level work and contributes to a college-going school culture.