Central MS

Central MS serves 1,708 students in grades 5 through 8 in Reading, Pennsylvania, making it one of the larger middle schools in Berks County. With 111 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15.4:1, providing reasonable class sizes for this sizable enrollment. The school faces significant academic challenges, with test scores indicating substantial room for growth.

Currently, 19% of students perform at or above proficiency in English Language Arts, while 4% achieve proficiency in mathematics. These results place Central MS among Pennsylvania's lower-performing middle schools, ranking #2829 out of 2852 schools statewide, with a MySchoolScout rating of 1.6 out of 10. The school serves a diverse community where families are working to build economic stability.

The surrounding 19604 ZIP code area has a median household income of $52,371 and median home values of $102,400. About 20% of the community lives below the poverty line, and 10% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. Located on North 12th Street, Central MS sits in the heart of Reading, a small city that provides an urban educational environment for its middle school students.

While current test scores at Central MS are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.