Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

Summary:

Sylvan Heights Science Charter School is an elementary public charter school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that serves 216 students from kindergarten to 4th grade, with a predominantly minority student population of 71.3% African American and 24.54% Hispanic students.

Despite spending significantly more per student ($14,987) than nearby public schools, Sylvan Heights Science Charter School consistently performs below the state average on standardized tests, with only 15.4% of students proficient or better in PSSA Math and 25.7% proficient or better in PSSA English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 39.3% and 53.8% respectively. The school has a 1 out of 5 star rating from SchoolDigger and is ranked in the bottom 10% of Pennsylvania elementary schools, similar to nearby schools like Benjamin Franklin School, Downey School, and Steelton-Highspire Elementary School which also struggle with low academic performance and rankings.

The challenges faced by Sylvan Heights Science Charter School are not unique, as many schools in the Harrisburg City School District, Central Dauphin School District, and other nearby districts serve predominantly low-income, minority student populations and face similar issues with academic underperformance. Addressing the root causes of these challenges, such as socioeconomic factors, resource allocation, and instructional practices, will be crucial in improving educational outcomes for students in the Harrisburg area.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-4

915 S 13th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104

(717) 232-9220

District: Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

SchoolDigger Rank:
1353^rd of 1,534 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,987

Student/teacher ratio: 14.4

Number of students: 216

Racial breakdown:

African American:

71.3%

Hispanic:

24.5%

Two or more races:

3.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Sylvan Heights Science Charter School ranks worse than 88.2% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 10.43. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (71.3%), Hispanic (24.5%), two or more races (3.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sylvan Heights Science Charter School is 14.4. (See more...)

Compare Sylvan Heights Science Charter School employs 15 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sylvan Heights Science Charter School is $14,987.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Sylvan Heights Science Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Sylvan Heights Science Charter School 1353^rd of 1534 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Sylvan Heights Science Charter School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

African American students:

Sylvan Heights Science Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Sylvan Heights Science Charter School 559^th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

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Rank History for all students at Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile
2006	37.01	1186^th	1545	23.2%
2007	22.95	1327^th	1555	14.7%
2008	18.54	1361^st	1551	12.3%
2009	17.15	1377^th	1549	11.1%
2010	25.85	1336^th	1579	15.4%
2011	33.24	1275^th	1597	20.2%
2012	28.27	1303^rd	1599	18.5%
2015	12.89	1268^th	1474	14.0%
2016	11.64	1344^th	1554	13.5%
2017	6.48	1419^th	1547	8.3%
2018	7.14	1399^th	1530	8.6%
2019	14.53	1301^st	1544	15.7%
2021	5.79	1341^st	1433	6.4%
2022	8.37	1386^th	1534	9.6%
2023	10.43	1353^rd	1534	11.8%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	12.76	1264^th	1414	10.6%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for African American students at Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	44.87	207^th	437	52.6%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Dept of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1999	11	68	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	84
2000	14	112	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	131
2001	19	148	0	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	176
2002	8	177	2	27	0	n/a	n/a	0	214
2003	8	177	2	27	0	n/a	n/a	0	214
2004	7	180	0	29	1	n/a	n/a	0	217
2005	7	183	3	27	0	n/a	n/a	0	220
2006	7	168	6	35	0	n/a	n/a	0	216
2007	13	182	3	21	0	n/a	n/a	0	219
2008	7	175	1	19	0	n/a	n/a	12	214
2009	5	185	3	16	0	n/a	n/a	7	216
2010	5	170	4	15	0	n/a	n/a	23	217
2011	2	165	3	39	0	0	10	0	219
2012	1	169	3	35	0	0	11	0	219
2013	2	163	1	40	0	0	12	0	218
2014	1	155	1	44	0	0	15	0	216
2015	2	164	0	38	0	0	13	0	217
2016	3	160	0	41	0	0	12	0	216
2017	6	145	3	45	0	0	15	0	214
2018	6	143	3	49	0	0	14	0	215
2019	6	152	3	42	0	0	10	0	213
2020	6	145	2	46	0	0	11	0	210
2021	6	147	2	48	0	0	11	0	214
2022	2	156	1	45	0	0	9	0	213
2023	2	154	0	53	0	0	7	0	216

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1999	84	4.0	21.0	n/a
2000	131	7.0	18.7	0
2001	176	9.0	19.6	0
2002	214	15.0	14.3	81.3
2003	214	15.0	14.3	81.3
2004	217	13.6	16.0	0
2005	220	14.0	15.7	79.1
2006	216	15.0	14.4	76.9
2007	219	15.0	14.6	78.5
2008	214	14.6	14.7	81.7
2009	216	16.5	13.1	83.3
2010	217	13.4	16.1	92.8
2011	219	14.0	15.6	74.9
2012	219	14.0	15.6	81.7
2013	218	14.0	15.5	82.1
2014	216	15.0	14.4	84.3
2015	217	14.0	15.5	98.6
2016	216	14.0	15.4	100
2017	214	14.5	14.7	100
2018	215	13.6	15.8	100
2019	213	14.0	15.2	100
2020	210	15.0	14.0	99.5
2021	214	13.0	16.4	98.6
2022	213	14.0	15.2	98.6
2023	216	15.0	14.4	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1999	84	4.0	21.0	n/a
2000	131	7.0	18.7	0
2001	176	9.0	19.6	0
2002	214	15.0	14.3	81.3
2003	214	15.0	14.3	81.3
2004	217	13.6	16.0	0
2005	220	14.0	15.7	79.1
2006	216	15.0	14.4	76.9
2007	219	15.0	14.6	78.5
2008	214	14.6	14.7	81.7
2009	216	16.5	13.1	83.3
2010	217	13.4	16.1	92.8
2011	219	14.0	15.6	74.9
2012	219	14.0	15.6	81.7
2013	218	14.0	15.5	82.1
2014	216	15.0	14.4	84.3
2015	217	14.0	15.5	98.6
2016	216	14.0	15.4	100
2017	214	14.5	14.7	100
2018	215	13.6	15.8	100
2019	213	14.0	15.2	100
2020	210	15.0	14.0	99.5
2021	214	13.0	16.4	98.6
2022	213	14.0	15.2	98.6
2023	216	15.0	14.4	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$758 (5.5%)	$13,055 (94.5%)	$13,813
2020	$985 (7.6%)	$11,952 (92.4%)	$12,936
2021	$1,401 (11.4%)	$10,839 (88.6%)	$12,240
2022	$2,923 (19.5%)	$12,064 (80.5%)	$14,987

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 1301^st of 1544 Elementary schools	Ranks 1353^rd of 1534 Elementary schools	3.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Sylvan Heights Science Charter School)	33.3	23.8	9.5%
3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	56	51.7	4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sylvan Heights Science Charter School)	46.2	40.5	5.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	61.9	54	7.9%
4th Grade Math (Sylvan Heights Science Charter School)	2.6	5.6	3%
4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	46.2	46.5	0.3%
4th Grade Science (Sylvan Heights Science Charter School)	55.3	25	30.3%
4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	77.8	74.1	3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Sylvan Heights Science Charter School)	44.7	8.3	36.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63.6	51.8	11.8%
All Grades Math (Sylvan Heights Science Charter School)	18.2	15.4	2.8%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Sylvan Heights Science Charter School)	55.3	25	30.3%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Sylvan Heights Science Charter School)	45.5	25.7	19.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	60.9	53.8	7.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	213	216	1.4%
African American	152	154	1.3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	0	100%
Hispanic	42	53	26.2%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	6	2	66.7%
Two or More Races	10	7	30%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				PSSA Math (2023)					PSSA Science (2023)		PSSA English Language Arts (2023)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSSA Math 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA Science 4th Grade	PSSA Science All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sylvan Heights Science Charter School	Public, Charter	K-4	915 S 13th Street	Harrisburg	17104	Dauphin County	Sylvan Heights Science Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(717) 232-9220	216	15	14.4	100.0%	2 (0.9%)	154 (71.3%)	53 (24.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.2%)	10.4	1353^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	11.8%		8.4	1386^th of 1534 public elementary schools	9.6%	33	23.8	5.6			15.4	25.0	25.0	40.5	8.3			25.7	$14,987	$2,923	$12,064
Foose School	Public	PK, KG-5	1301 Sycamore St	Harrisburg	17104	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 703-1280	535	47	11.2	100.0%	25 (4.7%)	227 (42.4%)	262 (49.0%)	8 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.4%)	2.9	1529^th of 1534 public elementary schools	0.3%		2.8	1532^nd of 1534 public elementary schools	0.1%	3	9.3	1.3	1.6		4.2	25.0	25.0	12.3	9.1	6.3		9.4	$23,694	$615	$23,078
Scott School	Public	K-5	1900 Derry Street	Harrisburg	17104	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 703-4560	461	32	14.4	100.0%	13 (2.8%)	180 (39.0%)	235 (51.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.7%)	2.9	1528^th of 1534 public elementary schools	0.4%		3.8	1518^th of 1534 public elementary schools	1.0%	10	6.4	4.8	1.6		4.3	19.1	19.1	11.3	10.1	6.8		9.5	$27,242	$707	$26,534
Melrose School	Public	K-5	2041 Berryhill St	Harrisburg	17104	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 703-1440	597	35	16.9	100.0%	18 (3.0%)	284 (47.6%)	239 (40.0%)	33 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.9%)	4.6	1490^th of 1534 public elementary schools	2.9%		7.6	1401^st of 1534 public elementary schools	8.7%	89	5.6	12.5	0.0		7.2	35.6	35.6	15.5	15.5	8.9		14.0	$23,011	$598	$22,413
Premier Arts and Science Charter School	Public, Charter	K-3	500 North 17th Street	Harrisburg	17103	Dauphin County	Premier Arts and Science Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(717) 234-3200	156	13	12.0	100.0%	10 (6.4%)	111 (71.2%)	32 (20.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)								(n/a)	0.0				0.0			5.6				5.6	$2,554	$2,554	$00
Benjamin Franklin School	Public	PK, KG-5	1205 N 6th Street	Harrisburg	17110	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 703-1200	786	49	16.1	100.0%	42 (5.3%)	439 (55.9%)	234 (29.8%)	15 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (7.1%)	3.2	1523^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	0.7%		4.2	1500^th of 1534 public elementary schools	2.2%	23	9.6	3.5	0.0		4.8	19.1	19.1	16.5	10.7	7.1		11.8	$25,282	$657	$24,626
Downey School	Public	PK, KG-5	1313 Monroe St	Harrisburg	17103	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 703-1240	386	31	12.6	100.0%	8 (2.1%)	183 (47.4%)	167 (43.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.7%)	2.3	1533^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	0.1%		3.5	1527^th of 1534 public elementary schools	0.5%	6	3.6	4.0	2.2		3.3	20.0	20.0	1.8	5.9	2.1		3.2	$24,370	$633	$23,737
Paxtang Elementary School	Public	K-5	3530 Rutherford St	Harrisburg	17111	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 561-1781	294	21	14.1	99.7%	76 (25.9%)	78 (26.5%)	51 (17.3%)	56 (19.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (10.5%)	42.5	983^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	35.9%		35.6	1073^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	30.1%	90	35.0	46.2	46.3		43.6	73.0	73.0	40.0	44.0	41.4		41.9	$16,635	$3,064	$13,571
Steelton-Highspire Elementary School	Public	K-6	250 Reynders Avenue	Steelton	17113	Dauphin County	Steelton-Highspire School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 704-3826	738	50	14.6	100.0%	56 (7.6%)	382 (51.8%)	205 (27.8%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	92 (12.5%)	5.3	1464^th of 1534 public elementary schools	4.6%		5	1469^th of 1534 public elementary schools	4.2%	5	7.2	8.5	1.2	2.2	5.0	39.2	39.2	13.7	15.8	8.6	26.4	16.2	$11,362	$4,472	$6,890
Hillside Elementary School	Public	K-5	516 7th St	New Cumberland	17070	York County	West Shore School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 774-1321	534	36	14.6	58.6%	342 (64.0%)	54 (10.1%)	92 (17.2%)	10 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.6%)	55	781^st of 1534 public elementary schools	49.1%		55.6	783^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	49.0%	2	48.2	55.3	43.6		48.7	80.4	80.4	55.2	57.4	44.4		51.9	$18,484	$1,518	$16,966

Frequently Asked Questions about Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

What is the racial makeup of Sylvan Heights Science Charter School?

Students at Sylvan Heights Science Charter School are 71% African American, 25% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend Sylvan Heights Science Charter School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 216 students attended Sylvan Heights Science Charter School.

What district is Sylvan Heights Science Charter School in?

Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

Is Sylvan Heights Science Charter School a good school?

Sylvan Heights Science Charter School ranks in the bottom 11.8% of Pennsylvania elementary schools.

Rate Sylvan Heights Science Charter School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.