The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on West Forest Jshs
West Forest JSHS is a small junior-senior high school in Tionesta, a county-seat borough in Forest County's rural Appalachian region. The school serves grades seven through twelve and enrolls just over one hundred students, with a student body that is predominantly white and economically disadvantaged: the free-or-reduced-price lunch count exceeds enrollment, a data pattern that typically reflects eligibility of students from outside the immediate school zone or a reporting artifact, so a parent may want to verify directly with the school. The enrollment is evenly distributed across grades, with roughly thirteen to fifteen students per grade level in the junior high and somewhat larger high school grades.
On state testing, West Forest's 2024-25 results show low attainment. In English language arts, about one-third of students tested met proficiency. In mathematics, fewer than one in five students achieved proficiency. These are substantially below what is typical across Pennsylvania. The school tested fewer than thirty students in each subject, which is common in very small schools and means results can be volatile year to year. No graduation rate data was available in the records, and state testing does not reach elementary grades, so data on outcomes for the school's seventh and eighth graders is not public. A parent considering this school may want to ask directly about what academic supports are in place for students struggling with core subjects and what pathways exist for high school students, since course catalogs and program details were not available in the research data.
Tionesta itself is a quiet, slow-aging place centered on a compact downtown of a few blocks along Elm Street, where the Forest County Courthouse, visitor center, and library sit within walking distance. The borough functions as the county administrative hub and gateway to the Allegheny National Forest and river recreation, but civic life is not oriented toward schools: educational facilities sit outside the downtown core. Population has declined over decades and remains in the low hundreds; median age is around 62. The local economy rests on government, education, and small manufacturing tied to timber. Employment fell noticeably from 2023 to 2024. Unemployment in Forest County ran higher than the state average. Housing in the Tionesta zip code is very affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, reflecting the rural character and limited job market.
The Forest Area School District, which operates West Forest JSHS, serves both Tionesta and Marienville across Forest County. In 2024, the district installed a rooftop solar array at West Forest as part of a district-wide renewable-energy project paired with a new roof, expected to yield long-term savings on the school tax base. This signals recent capital investment in the building.
For families already rooted in Forest County, West Forest offers a small, locally embedded educational experience. For families from elsewhere, the substantially low state test scores and rural isolation warrant careful conversation with school leaders about instructional approaches, course breadth, and post-secondary planning. The school is neither growing nor contracting in its setting; decline is the tenor of the broader locale, and families should weigh whether the community's trajectory and available services align with their needs.
See more original research from School Decision →