Burrell Sd, PA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Burrell Sd

Burrell School District serves a small cohort of students across kindergarten through twelfth grade in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, anchored in the Lower Burrell area. The district operates two elementary buildings, a middle school, and a high school.

The district's most recent state assessment results show proficiency in the bottom quartile among Westmoreland County's districts. In the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment for grades three through eight, about one-third of students scored proficient or above in mathematics, and a similar share did so in English language arts. Performance data at the high school level and graduation rate information were not available in the source materials. A parent may want to look directly into high school outcomes with the district, as those results do not appear in publicly reported comparative data.

One notable strength is the district's chronic absenteeism rate, which sits in the top quartile countywide, meaning Burrell's students attend school more regularly than the typical Westmoreland County district.

The district is navigating significant structural change. Stewart Elementary closed at the end of the 2024-25 school year due to declining enrollment and aging infrastructure costs. That closure triggered a grade reconfiguration: fourth graders now attend Bon Air Elementary, and fifth graders moved to Charles A. Huston Middle School. Families with elementary-age children in Lower Burrell will experience a different building assignment than they might have expected based on the prior structure. The Stewart property has been sold for residential development, which the district expects will generate revenue over time.

Charles A. Huston Middle School has replaced traditional electives with career-connected learning studios organized around five pathways: Arts and Communication, Engineering and Industrial Technology, Science and Health, Business and Information Technology, and Human Services. These studios emphasize project-based learning with mentorship from professionals and alumni. This represents a substantive shift in how middle-school students encounter curriculum and skill development, one families will notice in daily scheduling and learning focus.

The district is undergoing a multimillion-dollar facilities investment. Burrell High School, which had no air conditioning, is receiving a major heating and cooling overhaul. The high school's boiler is also being replaced. Bon Air Elementary's cafeteria and kitchen are being expanded to support the grade reconfiguration. These projects are financed through bond debt, and the district is planning an additional bond in 2026, which will increase the district's debt service obligations in coming years.

Property taxes are climbing sharply. Burrell has the highest millage rate in Westmoreland County and has raised it in consecutive years. The district implemented increases in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, with a further increase proposed for 2026-27. For families in the housing market, those successive tax hikes directly affect the cost of homeownership. The median home value in the district's communities is below the state and national benchmarks, and rental housing is available, but the upward tax trajectory is a material factor in the local affordability picture.

The district's enrollment is stable at roughly mid-sized for its grade band, with representation heavily weighted toward white students. The racial and ethnic composition is approximately ninety percent white, with small populations of students who identify as Black, Hispanic, or multiracial. Specific enrollment data for special education and English learners were not available in the source materials.

Burrell is implementing a districtwide shift toward personalized, career-connected learning and was recognized as a Lighthouse School System by the American Association of School Administrators for Future Ready Learning. For families drawn to project-based, career-focused pathways over traditional academics, or those invested in facilities upgrades and debt-financed capital improvement, the district's direction is clear. For families sensitive to tax burden or concerned about lower state assessment proficiency, those are material considerations worth discussing directly with school leaders.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,736

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 2%

Black 2%

White 91%

Asian 0%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

44%

—

Gr 4

12%

—

Gr 5

20%

—

Gr 6

18%

—

Gr 7

23%

—

Gr 8

33%

—

Gr 38

25%

—

Math

Gr 3

63%

—

Gr 4

16%

—

Gr 5

35%

—

Gr 6

15%

—

Gr 7

—

Gr 8

11%

—

Gr 38

26%

—

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

37%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

39%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$171,695

Year-over-year change+4.2%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$171K to $189K

vs. state typical0.60x

vs. national typical0.47x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
15068	New Kensington	$171K	+4.6%	94.2%
15613	Apollo	$189K	-1.6%	5.8%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$999/mo

Year-over-year change+0.1%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
15068	New Kensington	$999	+0.1%	94.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$866/mo

Home price / national median income2.0x

Annual rent / national median income14.3%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$133/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$286,387 (+2.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.