Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

Summary:

Arts Academy Elementary Charter School is a public charter elementary school in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving 414 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school has a predominantly Hispanic (59.9%) and African American (22.71%) student population, with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students (75.6% to 81.71% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch).

Despite its unique focus on the arts, Arts Academy Elementary Charter School consistently ranks in the bottom 15% of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with significantly lower academic performance than the state and district averages across all subjects and grade levels. In the 2022-2023 school year, the percentage of students proficient or better in PSSA Math ranged from 13.5% to 18.9%, compared to the state average of 39.3% to 51.7%, while the school's PSSA English Language Arts proficiency rates ranged from 21.6% to 38%, compared to the state average of 51.8% to 54%. The school's per-student spending and student-teacher ratios have also fluctuated significantly over the years, which may be contributing to the inconsistent academic performance.

Interestingly, some nearby Jefferson Elementary, Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays Elementary, and Sheridan Elementary schools in the Allentown City School District also perform poorly on academic measures, while other nearby schools, such as Roosevelt Elementary and Luis A. Ramos Elementary, have significantly higher academic performance, suggesting that factors beyond just student demographics may be contributing to the differences in outcomes.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-5

601 W Union Street
Allentown, PA 18101

(610) 841-4560

District: Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

SchoolDigger Rank:
1317^th of 1,534 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $1,345

Student/teacher ratio: 11.5

Number of students: 414

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

59.9%

African American:

22.7%

White:

10.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 75.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Arts Academy Elementary Charter School ranks worse than 85.9% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 12.09. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (59.9%), African American (22.7%), White (10.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 75.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School is 11.5. (See more...)

Compare Arts Academy Elementary Charter School employs 36 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School is $1,345.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Arts Academy Elementary Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Arts Academy Elementary Charter School 1317^th of 1534 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Arts Academy Elementary Charter School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Disabled students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

Arts Academy Elementary Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Arts Academy Elementary Charter School 545^th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

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Rank History for all students at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile
2018	12.42	1321^st	1530	13.7%
2019	7.83	1396^th	1544	9.6%
2021	16.22	1181^st	1433	17.6%
2022	9.07	1369^th	1534	10.8%
2023	12.09	1317^th	1534	14.1%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	47.83	84^th	196	57.1%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	15.88	1222^nd	1414	13.6%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	24.44	823^rd	1043	21.1%

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

Rank History for African American students at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	38.69	255^th	437	41.6%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	33.11	303^rd	432	29.9%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Hispanic 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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, March 21, 2019

Awful experience. We Decided to send my son here. We live near Allentown/Bethlehem boarder Ms. McCollum has no business being around children. Her attitude and experience with staff is unprofessional. Please reconsider your choice in choosing a place like this. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2016	55	80	0	241	0	0	376
2017	58	81	0	258	2	9	408
2018	64	82	2	244	6	12	410
2019	75	87	2	247	0	12	423
2020	46	102	0	266	0	11	425
2021	40	101	0	276	0	15	432
2022	41	88	1	264	0	16	410
2023	44	94	3	248	0	25	414

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 Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	376	23.0	16.3	99.2
2017	408	25.0	16.3	n/a
2018	410	25.0	16.4	99.3
2019	423	33.0	12.8	80.1
2020	425	32.0	13.2	75.5
2021	432	29.0	14.8	75.5
2022	410	40.0	10.2	81.7
2023	414	36.0	11.5	75.6

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 Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	376	23.0	16.3	99.2
2017	408	25.0	16.3	n/a
2018	410	25.0	16.4	99.3
2019	423	33.0	12.8	80.1
2020	425	32.0	13.2	75.5
2021	432	29.0	14.8	75.5
2022	410	40.0	10.2	81.7
2023	414	36.0	11.5	75.6

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 Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$843 (6.2%)	$12,813 (93.8%)	$13,656
2020	$03 (100.0%)	$00 (0.0%)	$03
2021	$559 (59.8%)	$376 (40.2%)	$935
2022	$1,345 (100.0%)	$00 (0.0%)	$1,345

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Arts Academy Elementary 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 1396^th of 1544 Elementary schools	Ranks 1317^th of 1534 Elementary schools	4.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	20.2	18.9	1.3%
3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	56	51.7	4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	33.8	38	4.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	61.9	54	7.9%
4th Grade Math (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	16.7	13.5	3.2%
4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	46.2	46.5	0.3%
4th Grade Science (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	43.1	44.6	1.5%
4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	77.8	74.1	3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	38	21.6	16.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63.6	51.8	11.8%
5th Grade Math (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	7.7	14.3	6.6%
5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	43	42.7	0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	26.9	29.1	2.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	58.5	53.6	4.9%
All Grades Math (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	15.5	15.4	0.1%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	43.1	44.6	1.5%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Arts Academy Elementary Charter School)	33.5	28.8	4.7%
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	423	414	2.1%
African American	87	94	8%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	2	3	50%
Hispanic	247	248	0.4%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	75	44	41.3%
Two or More Races	12	25	108.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	80.1%	75.6%	4.5%

Schools Near Arts Academy Elementary 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 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 All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Arts Academy Elementary Charter School	Public, Charter	K-5	601 W Union Street	Allentown	18101	Lehigh County	Arts Academy Elementary Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(610) 841-4560	414	36	11.5	75.6%	44 (10.6%)	94 (22.7%)	248 (59.9%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.0%)	12.1	1317^th of 1534 public elementary schools	14.1%		9.1	1369^th of 1534 public elementary schools	10.8%	52	18.9	13.5	14.3	15.4	44.6	44.6	38.0	21.6	29.1	28.8	$1,345	$1,345	$00
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	829 W Turner St	Allentown	18102	Lehigh County	Allentown City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(484) 765-4801	662	45	14.7	100.0%	40 (6.0%)	89 (13.4%)	479 (72.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	51 (7.7%)	8.1	1393^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	9.2%		5.5	1456^th of 1534 public elementary schools	5.1%	63	10.3	13.2	24.4	15.6	43.9	43.9	15.1	13.4	14.1	14.2	$13,773	$2,297	$11,476
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	K-5	750 Saint John St	Allentown	18103	Lehigh County	Allentown City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(484) 765-4421	524	36	14.5	100.0%	40 (7.6%)	63 (12.0%)	354 (67.6%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	57 (10.9%)	9.6	1365^th of 1534 public elementary schools	11.0%		6.4	1433^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	6.6%	68	28.2	6.0	10.0	14.5	35.7	35.7	34.7	18.5	19.5	24.0	$14,861	$2,479	$12,382
Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays Elementary School	Public	K-5	1227 W Gordon St	Allentown	18102	Lehigh County	Allentown City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(484) 765-4000	813	52	15.7	100.0%	46 (5.7%)	85 (10.5%)	572 (70.4%)	6 (0.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	101 (12.4%)	6.8	1428^th of 1534 public elementary schools	6.9%		5.6	1453^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	5.3%	25	14.1	11.6	11.6	12.3	33.1	33.1	20.2	11.8	23.3	18.5	$12,797	$2,134	$10,662
Sheridan Elementary School	Public	1-5	521 N 2nd St	Allentown	18102	Lehigh County	Allentown City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(484) 765-4881	560	36	15.7	100.0%	37 (6.6%)	74 (13.2%)	415 (74.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	29 (5.2%)	8.6	1383^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	9.8%		7.9	1396^th of 1534 public elementary schools	9.0%	13	20.4	17.9	11.8	16.9	33.7	33.7	24.1	18.9	21.7	21.5	$13,817	$2,305	$11,512
Roosevelt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	210 W Susquehanna St	Allentown	18103	Lehigh County	Allentown City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(484) 765-4461	532	37	14.3	100.0%	30 (5.6%)	57 (10.7%)	388 (72.9%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (9.8%)	12	1320^th of 1534 public elementary schools	14.0%		14.4	1278^th of 1534 public elementary schools	16.7%	42	22.9	25.1	11.1	19.4	50.1	50.1	24.7	25.0	21.1	23.5	$15,412	$2,571	$12,841
Washington Elementary School	Public	1-5	837 N 9th St	Allentown	18102	Lehigh County	Allentown City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(484) 765-4941	346	25	14.1	99.1%	11 (3.2%)	38 (11.0%)	257 (74.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (11.3%)	12.8	1302^nd of 1534 public elementary schools	15.1%		7.7	1399^th of 1534 public elementary schools	8.8%	97	19.1	12.3	11.6	14.5	44.8	44.8	31.2	21.5	39.6	30.9	$19,046	$3,177	$15,869
Luis A. Ramos Elementary School	Public	K-5	1430 West Allen St	Allentown	18102	Lehigh County	Allentown City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(484) 765-4841	625	42	14.8	100.0%	24 (3.8%)	71 (11.4%)	467 (74.7%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	59 (9.4%)	15.6	1271^st of 1534 public elementary schools	17.1%		8.8	1375^th of 1534 public elementary schools	10.4%	104	32.9	22.0	16.3	23.6	49.0	49.0	38.5	22.9	23.2	27.9	$16,765	$2,796	$13,969
Jackson Early Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	517 N 15th St	Allentown	18102	Lehigh County	Allentown City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(484) 765-4700	240	17	14.1	100.0%	16 (6.7%)	19 (7.9%)	187 (77.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.5%)								(n/a)											$17,786	$2,967	$14,819
Mosser Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	129 S Dauphin St	Allentown	18109	Lehigh County	Allentown City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(484) 765-5881	482	37	13.0	100.0%	33 (6.8%)	38 (7.9%)	376 (78.0%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.4%)	11.8	1324^th of 1534 public elementary schools	13.7%		12.5	1305^th of 1534 public elementary schools	14.9%	19	12.7	16.2	17.2	15.5	47.1	47.1	27.4	28.0	26.2	27.2	$17,207	$2,870	$14,337

Frequently Asked Questions about Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

How many students attend Arts Academy Elementary Charter School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 414 students attended Arts Academy Elementary Charter School.

What district is Arts Academy Elementary Charter School in?

Arts Academy Elementary Charter School

Is Arts Academy Elementary Charter School a good school?

Arts Academy Elementary Charter School ranks in the bottom 14.1% of Pennsylvania elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Arts Academy Elementary Charter School?

Students at Arts Academy Elementary Charter School are 60% Hispanic, 23% African American, 11% White, 6% Two or more races.

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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.