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Below Average

#2416 of 2,846 schools in PA

Upper Dauphin Area MS

Middle School · Upper Dauphin Area Sd · Lykens, PA

An Upper Dauphin Area Sd middle school where students score 19 points below what's typical for similar communities.

5668 State Route 209, Lykens, PA 17048

  • Math 28% vs PA 37% (2024)
  • Reading 39% vs PA 53% (2024)
  • 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.5Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.06 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics3.8Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency28.4% (2024 PSSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency39.2% (2024 PSSA)
Math vs. State Avg-14.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-13.2 pts
Overall Proficiency34% (2024 PSSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)52% (model expectation from 2024 PSSA)
vs. Expected-18.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile19th
Resources & Environment6.4Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.7:1
District spending per student$18,874
Chronic Absenteeism22%

Students at Upper Dauphin Area MS score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 PSSA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.

Math Proficiency28%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
37%(2024 PSSA)
ELA Proficiency39%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
53%(2024 PSSA)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 40 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 34% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
75%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
76%
ELA
73%
2011
Math
76%
ELA
73%
2012
Math
73%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
73%
2014
Math
34%
ELA
64%
2015
Math
36%
ELA
61%
2016
Math
35%
ELA
64%
2017
Math
35%
ELA
66%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
60%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
60%
2020*
Math
25%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
27%
ELA
52%
2024
Math
28%
ELA
39%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 57% (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 38 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

53.2%

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 Upper Dauphin Area MS 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 6Car-Dependent
  • Bike 22Somewhat Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

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

Median income

$72,873

Median home value

$136,300

Median rent

$809/mo

College educated

13.1%

Homeownership

68.4%

Poverty rate

17.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 17048; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

2 from a 5-mile search

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Rakers Mill SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot rated1–83.2 mi27Compare →
South Mountain View SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot rated1–84.4 mi21Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

Upper Dauphin Area Sd

Schools in district
3
Rank in district
#3 of 3
District spending per student
$18,874NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
15.9%Census SAIPE · 2024

Upper Dauphin Area MS is listed in Upper Dauphin Area SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Upper Dauphin Area MS

Upper Dauphin Area MS is a public middle school in Lykens, PA, part of Upper Dauphin Area Sd, serving approximately 314 students in grades 5th-8th with a 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #2,416 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Upper Dauphin Area MS

What grades does Upper Dauphin Area MS serve?

Upper Dauphin Area MS serves students in grades 5th through 8th.

How many students attend Upper Dauphin Area MS?

Upper Dauphin Area MS has an enrollment of approximately 314 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Upper Dauphin Area MS?

The student-teacher ratio at Upper Dauphin Area MS is 13.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Upper Dauphin Area MS rank in PA?

Upper Dauphin Area MS ranks #2,416 of 2,846 schools in PA.

What is Upper Dauphin Area MS's MySchoolScout rating?

Upper Dauphin Area MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 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 Upper Dauphin Area MS?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Upper Dauphin Area MS has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Upper Dauphin Area MS a charter school?

No, Upper Dauphin Area MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Upper Dauphin Area MS a Title I school?

No, Upper Dauphin Area MS is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Upper Dauphin Area MS?

53.2% of students at Upper Dauphin Area MS 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
5th – 8th
Enrollment
314
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
23
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Dauphin County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
22.0%
Area population (ZIP 17048)
3,801
Area average commute
29.3 min
Area median age
41.4
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 17048; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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