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Below Average

#2305 of 2,846 schools in PA

Central EL Sch

Elementary School · Allentown City Sd · Allentown, PA

An Allentown City Sd elementary school where students score 13 points below what's typical for similar communities.

829 W Turner St, Allentown, PA 18102

  • Math 23% vs PA 46% (2024)
  • Reading 18% vs PA 53% (2024)
  • 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.3Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.08 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics3.2Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency21.8% (2024 PSSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency18.3% (2024 PSSA)
Math vs. State Avg-29.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-37.5 pts
Overall Proficiency20% (2024 PSSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 PSSA)
vs. Expected-13.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile14th
Resources & Environment1.9Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.2:1
District spending per student$18,007
Chronic Absenteeism50.9%

Students at Central EL Sch score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 PSSA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.

Math Proficiency23%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
46%(2024 PSSA)
ELA Proficiency18%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
53%(2024 PSSA)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 7 points since 2020, reaching 20% in 2024.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
47%
ELA
32%
2010
Math
55%
ELA
37%
2011
Math
45%
ELA
34%
2012
Math
38%
ELA
27%
2013
Math
37%
ELA
32%
2014
Math
16%
ELA
23%
2015
Math
19%
ELA
25%
2016
Math
18%
ELA
26%
2017
Math
15%
ELA
21%
2018
Math
11%
ELA
23%
2019
Math
11%
ELA
23%
2020*
Math
3%
ELA
25%
2021*
Math
3%
ELA
25%
2022
Math
8%
ELA
12%
2024
Math
23%
ELA
18%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 23% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 24% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

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

Based on 36 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Central EL Sch sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 93Walker's Paradise
  • Transit 47Some Transit
  • Bike 48Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High1,850/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Allentown), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$40,681

Median home value

$146,600

Median rent

$1,224/mo

College educated

11.2%

Homeownership

29.9%

Poverty rate

30.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 18102; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Grace Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot ratedPK–60.2 mi23Compare →
Arts Academy Elementary CsCharter · enrollment unverified6.8K–50.5 mi445Compare →
Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays EL SchEnrollment path unverified6.1K–50.5 mi806Compare →
Cai Learning AcademyPrivate · tuition6.8privateK–50.6 mi77Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Allentown City Sd

Schools in district
21
Rank in district
#6 of 21
District spending per student
$18,007NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
24.6%Census SAIPE · 2024

Central EL Sch is listed in Allentown City SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Central EL Sch

Central EL Sch is a public elementary school in Allentown, PA, part of Allentown City Sd, serving approximately 697 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #2,305 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Central EL Sch

What grades does Central EL Sch serve?

Central EL Sch serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Central EL Sch?

Central EL Sch has an enrollment of approximately 697 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Central EL Sch?

The student-teacher ratio at Central EL Sch is 16.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Central EL Sch rank in PA?

Central EL Sch ranks #2,305 of 2,846 schools in PA.

What is Central EL Sch's MySchoolScout rating?

Central EL Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Central EL Sch?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Central EL Sch has 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Central EL Sch a charter school?

No, Central EL Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Central EL Sch a Title I school?

No, Central EL Sch is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Central EL Sch?

100.0% of students at Central EL 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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
697
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Lehigh County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
50.9%
Area population (ZIP 18102)
51,315
Area average commute
25 min
Area median age
30.8
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 18102; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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