The Census Bureau has come out with its annual Small Income and Poverty Estimates for each county and school District in the US for 2018. The above graph shows the 20 year trend in estimates of the percentage of students in poverty for the US, Pennsylvania, Greater Johnstown (GJSD), Ferndale, Richland, and Westmont school districts. These districts are chosen as they are adjacent to GJSD. The top 10 school districts in terms of poverty rate in Pennsylvania are listed below.
Greater Johnstown once again has the highest poverty rate for children ages 5-17 in the state out of 500 school districts at 46.7%. Nationally it ranks 84th out of 13,207 school districts or in the 99th percentile in poverty. The above graph shows that this trend has been increasing for GJSD. The rates for the US, Pennsylvania, and the other school districts have remained relatively stable over the last 10 years by comparison.
The Ferndale SD is also above the state (15.9%) and national (17.0%) rates for 2018 at 26.2%. Richland and Westmont were virtually identical at 10.7% and 11.0% respectively. Next I will comment on overall poverty trends for Cambria County and the City of Johnstown. The 2020 census is coming soon and they are looking to hire census takers. Whether or not you want to work on it you should participate to ensure that they will have the best possible estimates of the US, state and local populations.
District Name
|
Grade range of responsibility
|
Total Population
|
Relevant Ages 5 to 17 Population
|
Relevant Ages 5 to 17 in Families
in Poverty
|
Relevant age 5 to 17 Ratio %
|
Greater Johnstown School District
(PA)
|
KG-12
|
25,338
|
3,392
|
1,584
|
46.7
|
Aliquippa School District (PA)
|
KG-12
|
9,117
|
1,249
|
582
|
46.6
|
Farrell Area School District (PA)
|
PK-12
|
5,299
|
811
|
356
|
43.9
|
Harrisburg City School District
(PA)
|
KG-12
|
51,186
|
8,835
|
3,620
|
41
|
Clairton City School District (PA)
|
KG-12
|
6,771
|
857
|
344
|
40.1
|
Salisbury-Elk Lick School District
(PA)
|
KG-12
|
2,824
|
461
|
185
|
40.1
|
New Castle Area School District
(PA)
|
PK-12
|
23,013
|
3,272
|
1,228
|
37.5
|
Sharon City School District (PA)
|
KG-12
|
13,299
|
2,003
|
752
|
37.5
|
Duquesne City School District (PA)
|
PK-12
|
5,540
|
939
|
349
|
37.2
|
Steelton-Highspire School District
(PA)
|
KG-12
|
8,672
|
1,498
|
552
|
36.8
|