The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in English language arts. The lowest is 55% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Chestnut Ridge Shs
Chestnut Ridge Senior High School serves a small rural enrollment across a combined 8-12 building on the Quaker Valley Road campus in New Paris, a quiet borough in western Bedford County. The school draws from a wider district area than the borough itself; the surrounding landscape includes farmland, apple orchards along ridge lines, and streams, with commuting residents reaching toward I-99 and larger employment centers like Bedford or Johnstown.
The school's academic picture is mixed. On the state's standardized assessment in 2024-25, English language arts proficiency ran solidly above the midpoint among the county's district-level results, reflecting respectable performance in reading and writing. Mathematics proficiency, however, was noticeably lower, roughly in the bottom half of county outcomes. The school tested students in grades 3-8 in both subjects, though state testing data does not extend to high school grades, so a parent examining the school's college-readiness trajectory would not find high school exam results in this data and may want to contact the school directly about Advanced Placement course offerings, dual-credit pathways, or other measures of upper-level academic intensity. A graduation rate was not available in this dataset.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of families qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need well above the national average. The enrollment is small and relatively stable across grades, with a total body of roughly five hundred students from eighth through twelfth grade. Special education and English learner participation data was not provided, leaving gaps in understanding which support services are in place.
The wider setting reflects modest economic development and slow population growth. Home values in the 15554 ZIP code are notably below both the Pennsylvania and national medians, making housing relatively affordable for families who can afford to buy. The real estate market shows incremental infill building in the Ridgewood subdivision but no large-scale new development. Most working residents commute out of the immediate area rather than work locally.
The Chestnut Ridge School District is currently undertaking a significant capital project. A new Pre-K through Grade 2 elementary school is under construction, scheduled to open for the 2027-28 school year. The building replaces an aging facility and sits as an addition to the existing middle school campus. The project is financed through a general obligation bond and represents a multi-year local tax commitment. For families with younger children, this signals a shift in where primary grades will be housed and access to modern facilities; for high school families, the change is indirect but reflects a district prioritizing infrastructure renewal.
Chestnut Ridge fits a particular profile: a rural school serving a community with limited local employment, where families often own their homes and live modestly below state and national income norms. Strengths include solid English language arts results and a manageable school size. The weaker mathematics proficiency and the absence of high school performance metrics are soft spots that warrant direct conversation with the school about how it supports students who struggle with math and about what college-preparation programs exist. The district's current construction project suggests institutional investment and confidence in the future, though parents should be aware of the debt obligations that accompany it.
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