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Excellent

#197 of 2,842 schools in PA

Top 7% in state

Damascus Area Sch

Elementary School · Wayne Highlands SD

174 High School Rd, Damascus, PA 18415

Enrollment

266

Student-Teacher

10.2:1

Score

8.6

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Pennsylvania elementary schools

#161 of 1,625

In district

#2 of 6

Wayne Highlands SD

School environment

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Damascus Area Sch

Damascus Area Sch is a public elementary school in Damascus, PA, part of the Wayne Highlands SD. The school serves approximately 266 students in grades Pre-K – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 10.2:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6/10, placing it in the 93.1th percentile among PA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 69% proficiency in math, 29 points above the state average and 70% in reading/language arts, 17 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.7/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $87,985, where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a distant rural setting.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Damascus Area Sch may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.1Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.35 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics8.7Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency70%
Reading/ELA Proficiency67.3%
Math vs. State Avg+18.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.5 pts
Overall Proficiency69%
Expected (poverty-adj.)57%
vs. Expected+11.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile80th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.7Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$23,290

Damascus Area Sch — Students at Damascus Area Sch score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

42.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 69.4%
School
State
40.7%
ELA Proficiency 70.3%
School
State
53.3%

Based on 18 test records from PA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
67%
ELA
77%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
77%
2024
Math
71.5%
ELA
68.4%

* 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: 8.1/10.

How Damascus Area Sch Compares

See how Damascus Area Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.6/10
93th percentile in PA
Academic
8.7/10
8.7/10
Growth
8.1/10
Above average
Environment
9.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
42%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
26 teachers

Location

174 High School Rd, Damascus, PA 18415

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Damascus Area Sch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Wallenpaupack North Intrmd Sch (rated 9.2/10, 17.5 miles away, in nearby Hawley), which scores slightly higher. Another option is LIVINGSTON MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.7/10, 19.1 miles away, in nearby Livingston Manor), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Lakeside Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 13.8 miles away, in nearby Honesdale), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Damascus, see our Damascus schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 18.1 mi
School Distance Rating
SULLIVAN WEST HIGH SCHOOL AT LAKE HUNTINGTON Lake Huntington 4.4 mi 5.4
SULLIVAN WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Jeffersonville 9.0 mi 5.7
ST DOMINICS ACADEMY Honesdale 12.4 mi 3.6
Wayne Highlands MS Honesdale 13.5 mi 9.1
Honesdale HS Honesdale 13.5 mi 6.8
Stourbridge Primary Ctr Honesdale 13.7 mi 8.0
Lakeside Elementary School Honesdale 13.8 mi 8.4
ELDRED JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Eldred 15.4 mi 5.2
Wallenpaupack North Prim Sch Hawley 17.4 mi 8.1
Wallenpaupack Area MS Hawley 17.5 mi 8.2
Wallenpaupack North Intrmd Sch Hawley 17.5 mi 9.2
Wallenpaupack Area HS Hawley 17.7 mi 6.6
ROSCOE CENTRAL SCHOOL Roscoe 18.3 mi 6.0
SULLIVAN BOCES Liberty 16.5 mi 7.1
LIVINGSTON MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Livingston Manor 19.1 mi 8.7
LIVINGSTON MANOR HIGH SCHOOL Livingston Manor 19.1 mi 5.9
HANCOCK JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Hancock 20.8 mi 5.5
HANCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hancock 20.9 mi 3.5
GEORGE ROSS MACKENZIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Glen Spey 20.0 mi 5.7
LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL Liberty 18.1 mi 4.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 18415 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$87,985

Median Home Value

$327,600

Population

1,242

College Educated

32.4%

Homeownership

94.4%

Poverty Rate

3%

Median Age

57

Community Profile

The community surrounding Damascus Area Sch has a median household income of $87,985. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $327,600. The local poverty rate of 3.0% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Alburtis El Sch Alburtis, PA 8.6
Durham-Nockamixon El Sch Kintnersville, PA 8.6
Horace Mann El Sch Indiana, PA 8.6
Margaret Ross El Sch Aliquippa, PA 8.6
North Salem El Sch Dover, PA 8.6
Powel Samuel Sch Philadelphia, PA 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Damascus Area Sch

What grades does Damascus Area Sch serve?

Damascus Area Sch serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Damascus Area Sch?

Damascus Area Sch has an enrollment of approximately 266 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Damascus Area Sch?

The student-teacher ratio at Damascus Area Sch is 10.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Damascus Area Sch rank in PA?

Damascus Area Sch is ranked #197 out of 2,842 schools in PA.

What is Damascus Area Sch's MySchoolScout rating?

Damascus Area Sch has a composite rating of 8.6 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 Damascus Area Sch?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Damascus Area Sch has 69.4% math proficiency and 70.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Damascus Area Sch a charter school?

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

Is Damascus Area Sch a Title I school?

No, Damascus Area Sch is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Damascus Area Sch?

42.1% of students at Damascus Area 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
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
1 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
266
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Free/Reduced Lunch
42.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Wayne County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Wayne Highlands SD
District Enrollment
2,364
Schools in District
6
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,806
District Rank
#2 of 6

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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