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Needs Improvement

#2778 of 2,842 schools in PA

C E Cole Intermediate Sch

Middle School · Muhlenberg SD

801 Bellevue Avenue, Reading, PA 19605

Enrollment

950

Student-Teacher

16.7:1

Score

3.5

Grades

4th – 6th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Reading

#21 of 31

public schools

Pennsylvania middle schools

#503 of 514

In district

#3 of 4

Muhlenberg SD

About C E Cole Intermediate Sch

C E Cole Intermediate School serves 950 students in grades 4-6 in Reading, Pennsylvania, operating as a middle school within the local public school system. With 57 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 16.7:1, providing reasonable class sizes for this grade range. Academically, the school faces significant challenges with room for growth in core subjects.

Current performance shows 31% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and Reading, while 22% reach proficiency in Mathematics. These results place C E Cole at #2539 among Pennsylvania's 2,852 schools, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 2.7 out of 10. The school's academic focus areas clearly center on strengthening foundational skills in literacy and numeracy for its intermediate-age students.

The school serves a diverse community within the 19605 ZIP code area, where the median household income is $81,222 and median home value reaches $200,800. About 27% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, with a relatively low poverty rate of 6.9% among the area's 20,564 residents. C E Cole Intermediate School is situated on Bellevue Avenue in Reading's large suburban setting within Berks County.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.7Fair40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-2.85 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.4Below Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22%
Reading/ELA Proficiency31%
Math vs. State Avg-26.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-20.5 pts
Overall Proficiency27%
Expected (poverty-adj.)33%
vs. Expected-6.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile25th
Resources & Environment2.0Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,652

C E Cole Intermediate Sch — Students at C E Cole Intermediate Sch score 26% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 21.5%
School
State
42.6%
ELA Proficiency 34.7%
School
State
52.7%

Based on 12 test records from PA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
34%
ELA
50%
2021*
Math
7%
ELA
34%
2024
Math
22%
ELA
31%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.7/10.

How C E Cole Intermediate Sch Compares

See how C E Cole Intermediate Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.5/10
2th percentile in PA
Academic
4.4/10
4.4/10
Growth
3.7/10
Below average
Environment
2.0/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
57 teachers

Location

801 Bellevue Avenue, Reading, PA 19605

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering C E Cole Intermediate Sch may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Northeast MS (rated 3.3/10, 2.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Northwest MS (rated 2.8/10, 2.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Muhlenberg Jr HS (rated 2.7/10, 0.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Reading, see our Reading schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Muhlenberg El Ctr Reading 0.1 mi 5.5
Muhlenberg HS Reading 0.2 mi 4.9
Muhlenberg Jr HS Reading 0.3 mi 2.7
HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS REGIONAL SCHOOL Reading 0.7 mi 6.4
ALBRIGHT EARLY LEARNING CENTER Reading 0.7 mi
KIDSPEACE ADVANCES PROGRAM SCHOOL Temple 0.7 mi 7.8
KIDS PEACE BERKS CAMPUS Temple 0.7 mi 7.1
Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center Reading 1.6 mi
Thirteenth & Union El Sch Reading 2.3 mi 2.1
Riverside El Sch Reading 2.6 mi 3.0
Twelfth & Marion El Sch Reading 2.7 mi 5.4
Northeast MS Reading 2.7 mi 3.3
ST MARGARET SCHOOL Reading 2.9 mi 6.9
Northwest MS Reading 2.9 mi 2.8
Glenside El Sch Reading 2.8 mi 5.2
Reading SHS Reading 3.2 mi 2.8
Tenth & Green El Sch Reading 3.5 mi 6.6
Thirteenth & Green El Sch Reading 3.4 mi 5.4
Northwest El Sch Reading 3.4 mi 5.1
Lauers Park El Sch Reading 3.7 mi 2.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19605 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$85,775

Median Home Value

$218,500

Median Rent

$1,310/mo

Population

20,916

College Educated

27.1%

Homeownership

85.5%

Avg Commute

21.7 min

Poverty Rate

8.2%

Median Age

40.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding C E Cole Intermediate Sch has a median household income of $85,775. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $218,500, with a median rent of $1,310/month. The local poverty rate of 8.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Waynesboro Area MS Waynesboro, PA 3.5
West Scranton Intrmd Sch Scranton, PA 3.4
Wyoming Valley West MS Kingston, PA 3.6
Exeter Twp JHS Reading, PA 3.7
New Castle JHS New Castle, PA 3.7
Northeast MS Reading, PA 3.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about C E Cole Intermediate Sch

What grades does C E Cole Intermediate Sch serve?

C E Cole Intermediate Sch serves students in grades 4th through 6th.

How many students attend C E Cole Intermediate Sch?

C E Cole Intermediate Sch has an enrollment of approximately 950 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at C E Cole Intermediate Sch?

The student-teacher ratio at C E Cole Intermediate Sch is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does C E Cole Intermediate Sch rank in PA?

C E Cole Intermediate Sch is ranked #2778 out of 2,842 schools in PA.

What is C E Cole Intermediate Sch's MySchoolScout rating?

C E Cole Intermediate Sch has a composite rating of 3.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at C E Cole Intermediate Sch?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, C E Cole Intermediate Sch has 21.5% math proficiency and 34.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is C E Cole Intermediate Sch a charter school?

No, C E Cole Intermediate Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is C E Cole Intermediate Sch a Title I school?

No, C E Cole Intermediate Sch is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for C E Cole Intermediate Sch?

100.0% of students at C E Cole Intermediate Sch qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
47 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
53 Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,784/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Reading). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
4th – 6th
Enrollment
950
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
57
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Berks County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Muhlenberg SD
District Enrollment
4,361
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,890
District Rank
#3 of 4

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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