Excellent
#134 of 2,842 schools in PA
Top 5% in state
Northside EL Sch
Elementary School · Mechanicsburg Area SD
411 N Walnut St, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Enrollment
218
Student-Teacher
13.6:1
Score
8.7
Grades
1st – 3rd
Enrollment
218
Student-Teacher
13.6:1
Score
8.7
Grades
1st – 3rd
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Mechanicsburg
#2 of 17
public schools
Pennsylvania elementary schools
#112 of 1,625
In district
#2 of 8
Mechanicsburg Area SD
Academic growth
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Northside EL Sch
Northside EL Sch is a public elementary school in Mechanicsburg, PA, part of the Mechanicsburg Area SD. The school serves approximately 218 students in grades 1st – 3rd with a student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 95.3th percentile among PA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 64% proficiency in math, 18 points above the state average and 72% in reading/language arts, 17 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.7/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $95,542, where 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large suburban setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Northside EL Sch — Students at Northside EL Sch score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
44%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)
Based on 8 test records from PA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.7/10.
How Northside EL Sch Compares
See how Northside EL Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 67% (2019) to 68.1% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 67% (2019) to 79.2% (2024).
Location
411 N Walnut St, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Northside EL Sch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Upper Allen El Sch (rated 8.9/10, 2.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Broad Street El Sch (rated 7.8/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Shepherdstown El Sch (rated 7.6/10, 2.8 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Mechanicsburg, see our Mechanicsburg schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Elmwood Academy Mechanicsburg | 1.0 mi | 6.5 |
| Kindergarten Academy Mechanicsburg | 0.9 mi | 5.5 |
| Broad Street El Sch Mechanicsburg | 1.0 mi | 7.8 |
| Mechanicsburg Area SHS Mechanicsburg | 1.2 mi | 5.0 |
| TENDER YEARS - MECHANICSBURG Mechanicsburg | 1.4 mi | — |
| KIDDIE ACADEMY OF SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP Mechanicsburg | 1.6 mi | — |
| Sporting Hill El Sch Mechanicsburg | 2.0 mi | 5.8 |
| Mechanicsburg MS Mechanicsburg | 2.5 mi | 5.1 |
| Hampden El Sch Mechanicsburg | 2.5 mi | 6.4 |
| Upper Allen El Sch Mechanicsburg | 2.7 mi | 8.9 |
| Shepherdstown El Sch Mechanicsburg | 2.8 mi | 7.6 |
| Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center Mechanicsburg | 2.9 mi | — |
| THE GODDARD SCHOOL Mechanicsburg | 2.6 mi | — |
| Mountain View MS Mechanicsburg | 3.3 mi | 7.3 |
| HERITAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Mechanicsburg | 2.6 mi | 7.8 |
| THE CHILDRENS GARDEN OF ST JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH Shiremanstown | 2.7 mi | — |
| Winding Creek El Sch Mechanicsburg | 3.6 mi | 5.8 |
| OAKWOOD BAPTIST DAY SCHOOL Camp Hill | 2.9 mi | — |
| RIVER ROCK ACADEMY-SHIREMANSTOWN Shiremanstown | 2.9 mi | 7.0 |
| FAITH TABERNACLE SCHOOL Mechanicsburg | 3.7 mi | 6.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 17055 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$95,542
Median Home Value
$266,400
Median Rent
$1,320/mo
Population
41,416
College Educated
47.2%
Homeownership
70.9%
Avg Commute
22.1 min
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Median Age
41.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Northside EL Sch has a median household income of $95,542. It is a well-educated community where 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $266,400, with a median rent of $1,320/month. The local poverty rate of 5.3% 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 |
|---|---|
| J.A. Allard El Sch Moon Township, PA | 8.7 |
| Main Street Elementary School Titusville, PA | 8.7 |
| Youngsville El Sch Youngsville, PA | 8.7 |
| Damascus Area Sch Damascus, PA | 8.6 |
| Durham-Nockamixon El Sch Kintnersville, PA | 8.6 |
| ERIE DAY SCHOOL Erie, PA | 8.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Northside EL Sch
What grades does Northside EL Sch serve?
Northside EL Sch serves students in grades 1st through 3rd.
How many students attend Northside EL Sch?
Northside EL Sch has an enrollment of approximately 218 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northside EL Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Northside EL Sch is 13.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Northside EL Sch rank in PA?
Northside EL Sch is ranked #134 out of 2,842 schools in PA.
What is Northside EL Sch's MySchoolScout rating?
Northside EL Sch has a composite rating of 8.7 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 Northside EL Sch?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Northside EL Sch has 63.8% math proficiency and 71.9% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Northside EL Sch a charter school?
No, Northside EL Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Northside EL Sch a Title I school?
No, Northside EL Sch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northside EL Sch?
44.0% of students at Northside 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Mechanicsburg). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 1st – 3rd
- Enrollment
- 218
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 44.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Cumberland County
- Phone
- (717) 691-4581
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Mechanicsburg Area SD- District Enrollment
- 4,671
- Schools in District
- 8
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,315
- District Rank
- #2 of 8
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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