Excellent
#287 of 2,842 schools in PA
Top 10% in state
Wharton EL Sch
Elementary School · Lancaster SD
705 N Mary St, Lancaster, PA 17603
Enrollment
333
Student-Teacher
13.3:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
333
Student-Teacher
13.3:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Lancaster
#3 of 37
public schools
Pennsylvania elementary schools
#236 of 1,625
In district
#2 of 19
Lancaster SD
Equity
8.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Wharton EL Sch
Wharton EL Sch is a public elementary school in Lancaster, PA, part of the Lancaster SD. The school serves approximately 333 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 89.9th percentile among PA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 44% proficiency in math, 2 points below the state average and 55% in reading/language arts, 2 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (8.6/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $77,156, where 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a small city setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Wharton EL Sch — Students at Wharton EL Sch score 51% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)
Based on 12 test records from PA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage 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: 8.5/10.
How Wharton EL Sch Compares
See how Wharton EL Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 42% (2019) to 48.3% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 62% (2019) to 54.3% (2024).
Location
705 N Mary St, Lancaster, PA 17603
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Wharton EL Sch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. RESURRECTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 8.6/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Fulton El Sch (rated 8.4/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Carter and MacRae El Sch (rated 7.7/10, 1.1 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Lancaster, see our Lancaster schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Reynolds MS Lancaster | 0.5 mi | 7.5 |
| SACRED HEART SCHOOL Lancaster | 0.5 mi | 7.2 |
| Ross El Sch Lancaster | 0.4 mi | 7.3 |
| Fulton El Sch Lancaster | 0.7 mi | 8.4 |
| LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Lancaster | 0.7 mi | 7.5 |
| NEW SCHOOL MONTESSORI Lancaster | 0.8 mi | 7.4 |
| Brecht Sch Lancaster | 0.9 mi | 6.6 |
| Carter and MacRae El Sch Lancaster | 1.1 mi | 7.7 |
| WONDER ACADEMY Lancaster | 1.1 mi | — |
| Wheatland MS Lancaster | 1.3 mi | 7.1 |
| Smith-Wade-El El Sch Lancaster | 1.3 mi | 6.6 |
| Lafayette El Sch Lancaster | 1.5 mi | 6.4 |
| King El Sch Lancaster | 1.3 mi | 5.5 |
| La Academia Partnership CS Lancaster | 1.2 mi | 5.4 |
| LANCASTER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Lancaster | 1.2 mi | 6.7 |
| Price El Sch Lancaster | 1.5 mi | 7.6 |
| RESURRECTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Lancaster | 1.2 mi | 8.6 |
| Phoenix Academy Lancaster | 1.5 mi | 6.0 |
| McCaskey Campus Lancaster | 1.3 mi | 7.0 |
| Wickersham El Sch Lancaster | 1.4 mi | 6.4 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 17603 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$77,156
Median Home Value
$244,500
Median Rent
$1,265/mo
Population
66,788
College Educated
36.7%
Homeownership
62.4%
Avg Commute
23.8 min
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Median Age
35.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Wharton EL Sch has a median household income of $77,156. It is an area where 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $244,500, with a median rent of $1,265/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.8%. The average commute for residents is 24 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 |
|---|---|
| Bedminster El Sch Perkasie, PA | 8.3 |
| COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL Pittsburgh, PA | 8.3 |
| Conneaut Lake-Sadsbury El Sch Conneaut Lake, PA | 8.3 |
| Cook-Wissahickon Sch Philadelphia, PA | 8.3 |
| Corl Street El Sch State College, PA | 8.3 |
| Cynwyd Sch Bala Cynwyd, PA | 8.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Wharton EL Sch
What grades does Wharton EL Sch serve?
Wharton EL Sch serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Wharton EL Sch?
Wharton EL Sch has an enrollment of approximately 333 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wharton EL Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Wharton EL Sch is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Wharton EL Sch rank in PA?
Wharton EL Sch is ranked #287 out of 2,842 schools in PA.
What is Wharton EL Sch's MySchoolScout rating?
Wharton EL Sch has a composite rating of 8.3 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 Wharton EL Sch?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Wharton EL Sch has 44.3% math proficiency and 55.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Wharton EL Sch a charter school?
No, Wharton EL Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Wharton EL Sch a Title I school?
No, Wharton EL Sch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Wharton EL Sch?
100.0% of students at Wharton 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. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 333
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Lancaster County
- Phone
- (717) 291-6281
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Lancaster SD- District Enrollment
- 10,015
- Schools in District
- 19
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,604
- District Rank
- #2 of 19
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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