Total enrollment
3,139
-271 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Elk County
Pennsylvania · Public K-12
Elk County runs 10 public K-12 schools inside Pennsylvania, with the county population around 30,506. The mix is 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high.
7-year change in Elk County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
-1 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
94%
was 95%
% Hispanic
2%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
10
3 districts
Enrollment
3,139
NCES CCD
Median income
$66,380
Below Pennsylvania avg
Free/reduced lunch
89.4%
Above Pennsylvania avg
Elementary
4
1,445 students
Middle
2
657 students
High
3
1,037 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Saint Marys Area SD
1,845 students · 3 districts in Elk County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Elk County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
20.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.7%
civilian labor
Median age
48
19.0% under 18
Test scores in Elk County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Pennsylvania state average: 51.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Johnsonburg Area HS· 75.6%
- Ridgway Area HS· 68.8%
- Johnsonburg Area El Sch· 61.3%
- St Marys Area SHS· 57.5%
- Ridgway Area MS· 56.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- South St Marys Street El Sch· 34.7%
- Fox Twp El Sch· 40.9%
- Francis S Grandinetti El Sch· 42.6%
- St Marys Area MS· 44.9%
- Ridgway Area MS· 56.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South St Marys Street El Sch | Saint Marys | Elementary | PK-05 | 583 | · |
| St Marys Area SHS | Saint Marys | High | 09-12 | 572 | · |
| St Marys Area MS | Saint Marys | Middle | 06-08 | 459 | · |
| Francis S Grandinetti El Sch | Ridgway | Elementary | KG-05 | 359 | · |
| Johnsonburg Area El Sch | Johnsonburg | Elementary | PK-06 | 272 | · |
| Johnsonburg Area HS | Johnsonburg | High | 07-12 | 241 | · |
| Fox Twp El Sch | Kersey | Elementary | KG-05 | 231 | · |
| Ridgway Area HS | Ridgway | High | 09-12 | 224 | · |
| Ridgway Area MS | Ridgway | Middle | 06-08 | 198 | · |
| Bennetts Valley El Sch | Weedville | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Elk County
About Elk County
Elk County is a compact county of about 30,506 residents in Pennsylvania. Its public-school system instructs approximately 3,139 students across 10 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $66,380 a year, 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 4%. That income level is 7% noticeably below the Pennsylvania median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Elk County is made up of 4 elementary schools (1,445 students), 2 middle schools (657), 3 high schools (1,037), and 1 combined or other schools.
Saint Marys Area SD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,845 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 8%: 3,410 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,139 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 10 to 9 across the same 7-year window.
On this page, the community for Elk County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Elk County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data