The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Science. The lowest is 44% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on West Hills Intermediate Sch
West Hills Intermediate serves fourth through sixth grade in Kittanning, a small Allegheny River borough about 36 miles northeast of Pittsburgh and the county seat of Armstrong County. The school sits in an economically strained district now managing material staffing cuts, making this an intermediate facility whose stability and program depth depend directly on district-level decisions unfolding in real time.
The enrollment at West Hills is modest and fully qualified for federal free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic reality of the Armstrong County region. The student body is predominantly white, with small representation of Black and mixed-race students. The school's racial composition mirrors the broader county population. Data on special education enrollment and English learner students is not available in the records.
On state assessments, West Hills shows uneven performance. In math, proficiency sits at a point below half. English language arts trails further, also below half. Science proficiency is notably stronger, running substantially above both other subjects. The science result carries more weight as an indicator of what the school is capable of when conditions align. The math and ELA gaps are real and suggest the intermediate grades are a point where many students fall short of grade-level readiness; a parent may want to look into what targeted support exists for students below proficiency and what the school's trajectory has been.
Compared to other districts in Armstrong County, West Hills ranks in the top quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects. That said, the county's overall proficiency baseline is modest, so this relative position reflects strength within a county-level context that itself lags state benchmarks, not strength in absolute terms.
Kittanning itself is a settled, aging small town in long economic decline from its industrial peak. The median home value is well below state average, and the housing market moves slowly. Civic life centers on the riverfront park and the compact historic downtown grid along Market Street, anchored by county government offices, a hospital system, and small family-run storefronts. The regional economy leans on health care, government employment, and legacy manufacturing; there is no passenger rail or fixed-route transit. This is a place where family ties often run deep and where school is woven into the social fabric, not a growth corridor.
The district context is the immediate concern. In June 2025, facing a substantial budget deficit, the school board approved furloughs of nine teachers and staff members across elementary classrooms, secondary library, physical education, music, social studies, and special education, with no millage increase approved to offset the cuts. This happened as district enrollment continued to decline while per-student costs rose. Simultaneously, the district is spending heavily on cyber charter tuition for families choosing alternatives, draining resources further. The board also grappled with this shortfall while rejecting a proposed millage increase, suggesting fiscal pressure without local revenue relief.
For families considering West Hills, the question is not whether this is a high-performing school in an absolute sense; by state benchmarks it is below average in math and ELA. The question is whether you can count on stable staffing, consistent elective offerings, and sustained program depth across the intermediate grades. The district's current budget crisis and teacher furloughs make that uncertain. A parent would want to speak directly with the school about how the cuts will affect specials programs and support services, whether there are existing tutoring or intervention pathways for students below proficiency, and what the district's fiscal outlook is for the year ahead.
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