Cairnbrook El Sch

Set in Cairnbrook, Pennsylvania, Cairnbrook El Sch is a low-enrollment elementary-level community, part of Shade-Central City SD. It teaches 180 students across grades K through 6. Compared to the state average of about 443 students per school, that is 59% leaner than typical.

Within Shade-Central City SD, which oversees 2 schools and 303 students, Cairnbrook El Sch is one campus in the system.

Demographically, Cairnbrook El Sch shows that 99% of students identify as White, making the school strongly White-majority.

Looking at the economic backdrop, The school currently runs with 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 10.3:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 13.1:1 average. Around 94% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is north of Somerset County's rate of about 66%.

With demographic context factored in, Cairnbrook El Sch tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 37.1% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 39.5%.

In the area at large, the surrounding county (Somerset County) reports that median household income runs about $61,446, roughly 18% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. Across Somerset County's 29 public schools (combined enrollment of about 8,271 students), Cairnbrook El Sch is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Shade JSHS, around 0.1 miles off. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a ten-mile radius, suggesting a relatively low-density school footprint. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Cairnbrook El Sch at 5th of 5; the average score across the group is 53.8%.

Geographically, the school is in an outlying area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count contracted 12%: 205 students in 2018 compared to 180 in 2025. Class-load math has fell: from 11.7:1 in 2018 to 10.3:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.