North Allegheny ranks top in Niche ratings, local and nationally

A tech company that ranks schools and communities has named North Allegheny as the best school district in the Pittsburgh area, No. 2 in Pennsylvania and No. 27 in the United States.

The rankings were part of the 2024 Niche Rankings for K-12 Public School Districts. Niche, based in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, compiles in-depth profiles of every school and college in the United States.

“The very high rankings at the local, state, and national levels are a source of great pride for us,” said Superintendent Dr. Brendan Hyland. “North Allegheny has been at the forefront for 75 years, and these rankings attest to the caliber of our students and their families, as well as the professionalism, hard work, and dedication of our 1,200 employees.”

Niche is a company that ranks private and public schools districts locally, statewide and nationally. It releases K-12 rankings in September for the year ahead. The most recent rankings are based on criteria the company determines that will be important in the year ahead for people searching for schools, according to Alicia Stetzer, spokesperson for Niche.

Locally North Allegheny’s was judged against approximately 80 Pittsburgh-area school districts.

It was named the best school district for athletes in the Pittsburgh area; first in Pennsylvania of about 500 schools,and second in the United States of more than 10,000 schools.

“We have won numerous championships, but we are most proud of our student-athletes’ academic success. The average GPA for our student-athletes in grades 7-12 was 3.80 last year,” said NA Athletics Director Bob Bozzuto. This is calculated during the grading period of their respective sports seasons.

“Greatness does not begin in one’s athletic arena. It starts at home, in the classroom and in all facets of life,” Bozzuto said.

In Pennsylvania of nearly 500 schools ranked, North Allegheny came in:

No. 2 — Best teachers

No. 3 — Best places to teach

No. 5 — Best public high school

In the United States, of more than 10,000 schools ranked, North Allegheny came in:

No. 19 — Best teachers

No. 27 — Best school district in America

No. 81 — Best places to teach

Niche’s rankings combine user input — ratings from current students, alumni and parents — with data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities, opportunities for extracurricular activities and more.

“Schools and districts do not request to be reviewed or ranked – our priority is to provide as much information as possible for school searchers so they are able to make informed decisions, and the majority of our data comes from third-party sources like the U.S. Department of Education and National Center for Education Statistics,” Stetzer said.

School districts do not pay to be included in the rankings, Stetzer said.

Every known K-12 school and district in America has a Niche profile and is considered in the annual rankings, she said. However, not every school will receive a grade or rank, only schools that meet a certain threshold.

The best school districts ranking is based on an analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings from Niche users.

“What makes our district truly remarkable is the shared conviction that we must constantly strive to surpass our previous accolades, and our unwavering determination to excel and make this district the best it can be for our students,” Hyland said.

Niche also ranks colleges, graduate schools and places to live and work.

That being said, Franklin Park ranked No. 3 in the 2023 Best Places to Live in Pittsburgh Area, with Fox Chapel at No. 2 and Aspinwall No. 1. Bradford Woods made No. 9 followed by Marshall Township at No. 10.

Allison Park, some of which lies in McCandless, was No. 16. McCandless had an A-plus overall rating, but it was not included in the rankings.

Best places to live are based on crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities.