The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in Science. The lowest is 52% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Forest Hills El Sch
Forest Hills Elementary School serves grades Pre-K through sixth in Sidman, a small rural unincorporated community in the southeast corner of Cambria County, about a dozen miles east of Johnstown. The school is part of the Forest Hills School District, a unified K-12 system spread across nearly a hundred square miles that includes several small boroughs and townships in the region.
Academically, the school shows mixed performance. On the state mathematics assessment for grades three through eight, students scored just over mid-range proficiency, with more than half meeting or exceeding state benchmarks. English language arts results fall somewhat lower, with roughly half the cohort proficient. Science performance stands out by contrast: the most recent tested cohort showed strong proficiency, well above the state bar. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school ranks in the top quartile of elementary schools in Cambria County. A parent may want to note that only the science result carries data from the most recent year; math and ELA assessments reflect the current school year, so trends over time are not yet clear.
The student body is small, just under a thousand across all grades, with Pre-K through sixth evenly distributed. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic hardship that reflects Sidman's working-class roots and the economic challenges facing rural Cambria County. The student population is overwhelmingly white, with minimal racial or ethnic diversity. Data on students with disabilities or English learners was not available.
Sidman itself is not a growing place. The community has experienced gradual population decline, with median age skewing older, and the housing stock consists mainly of older owner-occupied homes. There is no traditional downtown or main street; Sidman is a dispersed rural-residential area accessible by car along state routes and US highways. The Forest Hills school campus on Locust Street is the defining civic anchor, with no nearby village center tying school, government, and commerce together. A nearby historic site, the Johnstown Flood National Memorial, sits about two miles away.
The district recently developed an in-house cyber school option called the Forest Hills Academy of Digital Learning, offering full-time or hybrid enrollment to K-12 students. Unlike outside virtual charter schools, this keeps cyber students connected to extracurricular life: they can participate in athletics, performing arts, dances, and prom without additional cost and have access to on-campus learning labs and certified Pennsylvania teachers. For families considering a move to the area, this means the district offers a legitimate online pathway alongside traditional in-person schooling while preserving community ties.
Housing values in the Sidman zip code sit well below state and national benchmarks, making homeownership relatively affordable by national standards. The local labor market is anchored by the school district itself as a public employer and by the broader Johnstown Metropolitan Statistical Area, where most working residents commute. The place has no public transit; everyday services are limited to small retail chains like Dollar General and Sheetz, with most other amenities requiring a drive.
Forest Hills Elementary is a functional neighborhood school in a economically modest, aging rural community. It serves families with limited mobility who value an affordable setting and local enrollment. The test results suggest adequate basic instruction in math and reading, with particular strength in science. Parents should expect a small, close-knit school environment with high rates of economic need and limited racial diversity.
See more original research from School Decision →