Very Good
#847 of 2,842 schools in PA
Top 30% in state
William Penn EL Sch
Elementary School · Bethlehem Area SD
1002 Main St, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Enrollment
239
Student-Teacher
11.4:1
Score
7.2
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
239
Student-Teacher
11.4:1
Score
7.2
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Bethlehem
#4 of 24
public schools
Pennsylvania elementary schools
#599 of 1,625
In district
#3 of 22
Bethlehem Area SD
Academic growth
8.9 / 10
Exceptional
About William Penn EL Sch
William Penn Elementary School is a regular public school located in the heart of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Serving kindergarten through fifth grade, William Penn has an enrollment of 239 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 11.4:1 with 21 full-time equivalent teachers. The school’s setting offers a close-knit community feel within a small city environment.
William Penn Elementary School’s academic performance is currently at the 44th percentile among Pennsylvania schools, with a MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and an academic score of 2.9 out of 10. Students show proficiency rates of 37% in ELA/Reading and 26% in Math across all grade levels. While these scores indicate areas for improvement, the school is likely focusing on student development and growth.
William Penn Elementary School stands as a central part of Bethlehem’s educational landscape, providing a nurturing environment for young learners to grow and thrive.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at William Penn EL Sch 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.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
William Penn EL Sch — Students at William Penn EL Sch score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
79.9%
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: 8.9/10.
How William Penn EL Sch Compares
See how William Penn EL Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 17% (2019) to 26.7% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 37% (2019) to 32.4% (2024).
Location
1002 Main St, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering William Penn EL Sch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Calypso El Sch (rated 7.5/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is HOLY INFANCY SCHOOL (rated 7.3/10, 1.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, ST ANNE SCHOOL (rated 7.1/10, 0.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Bethlehem, see our Bethlehem schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| MORAVIAN ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL Bethlehem | 0.5 mi | 7.2 |
| Liberty HS Bethlehem | 0.5 mi | 4.3 |
| A CHILD'S CHOICE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Bethlehem | 0.7 mi | — |
| Thomas Jefferson El Sch Bethlehem | 0.8 mi | 4.8 |
| ST ANNE SCHOOL Bethlehem | 0.9 mi | 7.1 |
| Nitschmann MS Bethlehem | 0.9 mi | 5.7 |
| Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts Bethlehem | 1.2 mi | 6.1 |
| Calypso El Sch Bethlehem | 1.1 mi | 7.5 |
| Northeast MS Bethlehem | 1.0 mi | 4.0 |
| Broughal MS Bethlehem | 1.4 mi | 5.5 |
| Lehigh Valley Dual Language CS Bethlehem | 1.1 mi | 5.7 |
| COVENANT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY Bethlehem | 1.4 mi | 6.2 |
| HOLY INFANCY SCHOOL Bethlehem | 1.5 mi | 7.3 |
| ST NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX ACADEMY Bethlehem | 1.3 mi | — |
| ST NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX ACADEMY Bethlehem | 1.3 mi | — |
| Donegan El Sch Bethlehem | 1.6 mi | 4.5 |
| James Buchanan El Sch Bethlehem | 1.5 mi | 4.7 |
| Spring Garden El Sch Bethlehem | 1.7 mi | 5.8 |
| Lincoln El Sch Bethlehem | 1.7 mi | 6.7 |
| Fountain Hill El Sch Bethlehem | 2.2 mi | 3.4 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 18018 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$71,968
Median Home Value
$224,000
Median Rent
$1,261/mo
Population
32,253
College Educated
37.1%
Homeownership
54.2%
Avg Commute
21.2 min
Poverty Rate
15.9%
Median Age
39.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding William Penn EL Sch has a median household income of $71,968. It is an area where 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $224,000, with a median rent of $1,261/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.9%. The average commute for residents is 21 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 |
|---|---|
| Emlen Eleanor C Sch Philadelphia, PA | 7.2 |
| Locke Alain Sch Philadelphia, PA | 7.2 |
| MONTGOMERY SCHOOL Chester Springs, PA | 7.2 |
| Marshall John Sch Philadelphia, PA | 7.2 |
| Mary D Lang Kdg Ctr Kennett Square, PA | 7.2 |
| McCloskey John F Sch Philadelphia, PA | 7.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about William Penn EL Sch
What grades does William Penn EL Sch serve?
William Penn EL Sch serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend William Penn EL Sch?
William Penn EL Sch has an enrollment of approximately 239 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at William Penn EL Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at William Penn EL Sch is 11.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does William Penn EL Sch rank in PA?
William Penn EL Sch is ranked #847 out of 2,842 schools in PA.
What is William Penn EL Sch's MySchoolScout rating?
William Penn EL Sch has a composite rating of 7.2 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 William Penn EL Sch?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, William Penn EL Sch has 26.5% math proficiency and 37.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is William Penn EL Sch a charter school?
No, William Penn EL Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is William Penn EL Sch a Title I school?
No, William Penn EL Sch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for William Penn EL Sch?
79.9% of students at William Penn 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
- Walk Score
- 77 Very Walkable
- Transit Score
- 41 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 43 Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (1,583/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Bethlehem). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 239
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 79.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Northampton County
- Phone
- (610) 694-0116
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Bethlehem Area SD- District Enrollment
- 12,864
- Schools in District
- 22
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,564
- District Rank
- #3 of 22
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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