Laurel HS

Laurel HS is a senior high of modestly sized scale in New Castle, Pennsylvania, run under Laurel SD, instructing 313 students in grades 9 through 12. By comparison, Pennsylvania's public schools average about 738 students each, so Laurel HS sits 58% below that benchmark.

Across the 3 schools in Laurel SD (976 students total), Laurel HS accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On demographics, Laurel HS reports that the student body is overwhelmingly White (96%).

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 29 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 10.8:1 students per teacher. The state averages around 12.8:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 34% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Lawrence County (around 67%), the school's rate is noticeably below typical.

After controlling for student poverty, Laurel HS sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 63.2%; this one delivers 65.0%.

Zooming out to the county, community-level numbers for Lawrence County indicate median household income runs about $61,931, 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 8%. In all, Lawrence County runs 25 public schools (combined enrollment of about 11,015 students), of which Laurel HS is one.

Nearest neighbor: Laurel MS, around 0.0 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Laurel HS ranks 2nd on composite proficiency, above the local average of 48.0%.

Geographically, the school is in a small-town area.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Laurel HS has decreased 43%, going from 550 students in 2018 to 313 in 2025. Class-load math has narrowed: from 15.4:1 in 2018 to 10.8:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, members of the Laurel HS community share and discuss science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.