Windber Area HS

Windber Area HS is a high school of intimate scale in Windber, Pennsylvania, part of Windber Area SD, caters to 337 students in grades 9 through 12. Compared to the state average of about 738 students per school, that is 54% below typical.

Windber Area SD comprises 3 schools with combined enrollment of 1,254 students; Windber Area HS is among them.

On the student-mix side, Windber Area HS reports that nearly all students (93%) are White. Beyond that, the school reports 3% Hispanic, 3% multiracial. Compared to Somerset County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Windber Area HS reports 27 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 12.6:1. That tracks the state average closely. About 96% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Somerset County runs at roughly 66%, so the school's eligibility rate is somewhat above the surrounding baseline.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Windber Area HS sits in the top 10% of Pennsylvania schools after the BeatsExpectations adjustment. Predicted proficiency for the school's FRL share is roughly 36.6%; actual is 61.9%, +25.2 points clear of the demographic baseline.

Zooming out to the county, ACS estimates for Somerset County put median household earnings sit near $61,446, roughly 18% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. Across Somerset County's 29 public schools (combined enrollment of about 8,271 students), Windber Area HS is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Windber Area MS, roughly 0.0 miles away. Within five miles, there are 5 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Windber Area HS at 4th of 7; the average score across the group is 64.0%.

Windber Area HS operates from a bedroom-community location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Windber Area HS has contracted 5%, going from 355 students in 2018 to 337 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share edged down from 98% to 93%. Class-load math has narrowed: from 14.2:1 in 2018 to 12.6:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. The community welcomes input from current and former families.