Benner Elementary School

Q: Is Benner Elementary School a good school?

Benner Elementary School ranks 263 rd of 1534 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Benner Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, serving 244 students in grades K-5 and part of the Bellefonte Area School District. The school consistently outperforms the district and state in academic assessments, ranking in the top 20% of Pennsylvania elementary schools.

Benner Elementary School stands out for its strong academic performance, with significantly higher proficiency rates in PSSA Math (73.8% vs. 50.4% district, 39.3% state), PSSA Science (89.7% vs. 78.9% district, 65.6% state), and PSSA English Language Arts (65.4% vs. 61.1% district, 53.8% state) compared to the district and state averages. The school has maintained a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and a statewide ranking of 263 out of 1,534 schools, indicating its excellence. Additionally, Benner Elementary has a lower student-teacher ratio (12.7:1) compared to nearby Pleasant Gap Elementary School (9.3:1) and Bellefonte Elementary School (11.2:1), suggesting a more personalized learning environment.

While Benner Elementary School has a relatively homogeneous student population, with a majority (93.85%) of students identifying as White, the school's free and reduced-price lunch rate has increased from 13.27% in 2021-2022 to 22.13% in 2022-2023, indicating a growing socioeconomic diversity. This, combined with the school's consistent academic excellence, makes Benner Elementary a standout among the surrounding elementary schools in the region, providing a strong educational foundation for its students.

Detail:

Public K-5

490 Buffalo Run Rd
Bellefonte, PA 16823-8569

(814) 355-2812

District: Bellefonte Area School District

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

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,038

Students who attend Benner Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Bellefonte Area Middle School
High:	Bellefonte Area High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.7

Number of students: 244

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.9%

Two or more races:

2.5%

African American:

1.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 22.1%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

Compare Benner Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Benner Elementary School ranks better than 82.9% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks 2^nd among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Bellefonte Area School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 80.89. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (93.9%), two or more races (2.5%), Asian (1.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 22.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Benner Elementary School is 12.7. 2 elementary schools in the Bellefonte Area School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Benner Elementary School employs 19.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Benner Elementary School is $21,038. 2 elementary schools in the Bellefonte Area School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Benner Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Benner Elementary School 263^rd of 1534 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Benner Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

White students:

Bellefonte Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Bellefonte Area School District 189^th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Benner Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Benner Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	56.09	664^th	1302	49.0%
2004	56.52	685^th	1308	47.6%
2005	77.44	256^th	1299	80.3%
2006	63.99	616^th	1545	60.1%
2007	66.55	574^th	1555	63.1%
2008	66.68	573^rd	1551	63.1%
2009	68.92	490^th	1549	68.4%
2010	68.30	541^st	1579	65.7%
2011	66.57	607^th	1597	62.0%
2012	76.29	337^th	1599	78.9%
2013	69.28	527^th	1519	65.3%
2014	72.22	443^rd	1467	69.8%
2015	75.02	362^nd	1474	75.4%
2016	77.08	342^nd	1554	78.0%
2017	76.30	356^th	1547	77.0%
2018	80.61	268^th	1530	82.5%
2019	77.48	346^th	1544	77.6%
2021	77.71	298^th	1433	79.2%
2022	78.84	308^th	1534	79.9%
2023	80.89	263^rd	1534	82.9%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for White students at Benner Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	67.92	381^st	1236	69.2%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for White 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 Benner Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	163	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	166
1989	256	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	259
1990	269	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	269
1991	276	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	276
1992	271	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	272
1993	266	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	268
1994	260	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	262
1995	260	4	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	267
1996	260	4	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	267
1997	270	4	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	274
1998	265	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	268
1999	254	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	255
2000	256	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	258
2001	244	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	246
2002	220	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	222
2003	220	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	222
2004	200	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	202
2005	183	2	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	186
2006	191	2	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	194
2007	190	2	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	193
2008	198	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	199
2009	238	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	4	244
2010	233	0	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	5	241
2011	247	0	3	3	0	0	8	0	261
2012	243	0	5	3	0	0	7	0	258
2013	252	0	4	2	0	0	5	0	263
2014	261	0	5	2	0	0	8	0	276
2015	245	0	5	2	0	0	6	0	258
2016	247	0	7	6	0	0	6	0	266
2017	231	0	6	3	0	1	7	0	248
2018	217	2	5	2	0	0	5	0	231
2019	218	2	3	1	0	0	3	0	227
2020	208	1	5	3	0	0	3	0	220
2021	190	2	3	2	0	0	4	0	201
2022	205	1	2	1	0	0	2	0	211
2023	229	3	3	3	0	0	6	0	244

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 Benner Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	166	11.2	14.8	n/a
1989	259	12.7	20.3	n/a
1990	269	13.0	20.6	0
1991	276	13.7	20.1	n/a
1992	272	14.0	19.4	n/a
1993	268	10.0	26.8	n/a
1994	262	11.0	23.8	n/a
1995	267	10.8	24.7	n/a
1996	267	10.8	24.7	n/a
1997	274	10.8	25.4	n/a
1998	268	11.0	24.4	n/a
1999	255	11.0	23.2	n/a
2000	258	11.0	23.5	20.9
2001	246	12.0	20.5	26
2002	222	12.0	18.5	26.6
2003	222	12.0	18.5	26.6
2004	202	13.0	15.5	26.7
2005	186	13.0	14.3	31.7
2006	194	16.3	11.9	24.2
2007	193	15.8	12.2	22.3
2008	199	15.2	13.1	18.6
2009	244	16.8	14.5	21.7
2010	241	18.8	12.7	19.9
2011	261	18.8	13.8	19.9
2012	258	17.8	14.4	19.4
2013	263	17.1	15.3	22.4
2014	276	17.3	15.9	23.9
2015	258	19.0	13.5	20.5
2016	266	19.0	14.0	22.2
2017	248	18.8	13.1	21.8
2018	231	17.5	13.1	22.1
2019	227	19.2	11.7	20.7
2020	220	19.2	11.4	20.5
2021	201	18.0	11.1	18.9
2022	211	18.1	11.6	13.3
2023	244	19.1	12.7	22.1

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 Benner Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	166	11.2	14.8	n/a
1989	259	12.7	20.3	n/a
1990	269	13.0	20.6	0
1991	276	13.7	20.1	n/a
1992	272	14.0	19.4	n/a
1993	268	10.0	26.8	n/a
1994	262	11.0	23.8	n/a
1995	267	10.8	24.7	n/a
1996	267	10.8	24.7	n/a
1997	274	10.8	25.4	n/a
1998	268	11.0	24.4	n/a
1999	255	11.0	23.2	n/a
2000	258	11.0	23.5	20.9
2001	246	12.0	20.5	26
2002	222	12.0	18.5	26.6
2003	222	12.0	18.5	26.6
2004	202	13.0	15.5	26.7
2005	186	13.0	14.3	31.7
2006	194	16.3	11.9	24.2
2007	193	15.8	12.2	22.3
2008	199	15.2	13.1	18.6
2009	244	16.8	14.5	21.7
2010	241	18.8	12.7	19.9
2011	261	18.8	13.8	19.9
2012	258	17.8	14.4	19.4
2013	263	17.1	15.3	22.4
2014	276	17.3	15.9	23.9
2015	258	19.0	13.5	20.5
2016	266	19.0	14.0	22.2
2017	248	18.8	13.1	21.8
2018	231	17.5	13.1	22.1
2019	227	19.2	11.7	20.7
2020	220	19.2	11.4	20.5
2021	201	18.0	11.1	18.9
2022	211	18.1	11.6	13.3
2023	244	19.1	12.7	22.1

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 Benner Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$00 (0.0%)	$20,840 (100.0%)	$20,840
2020	$00 (0.0%)	$19,540 (100.0%)	$19,540
2021	$00 (0.0%)	$20,686 (100.0%)	$20,686
2022	$212 (1.0%)	$20,827 (99.0%)	$21,038

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Benner Elementary 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 346^th of 1544 Elementary schools	Ranks 263^rd of 1534 Elementary schools	5.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Benner Elementary School)	75.7	75	0.7%
3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	56	51.7	4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Benner Elementary School)	75.7	66.7	9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	61.9	54	7.9%
4th Grade Math (Benner Elementary School)	64.1	75.9	11.8%
4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	46.2	46.5	0.3%
4th Grade Science (Benner Elementary School)	97.5	89.7	7.8%
4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	77.8	74.1	3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Benner Elementary School)	71.8	70	1.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63.6	51.8	11.8%
5th Grade Math (Benner Elementary School)	60.5	71.1	10.6%
5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	43	42.7	0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Benner Elementary School)	71.1	60.6	10.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	58.5	53.6	4.9%
All Grades Math (Benner Elementary School)	66.4	73.8	7.4%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Benner Elementary School)	97.5	89.7	7.8%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Benner Elementary School)	72.8	65.4	7.4%
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	227	244	7.5%
African American	2	3	50%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	3
Hispanic	1	3	200%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	218	229	5%
Two or More Races	3	6	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	20.7%	22.1%	1.4%

Schools Near Benner Elementary 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
Benner Elementary School	Public	K-5	490 Buffalo Run Rd	Bellefonte	16823	Centre County	Bellefonte Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 355-2812	244	19	12.7	22.1%	229 (93.9%)	3 (1.2%)	3 (1.2%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.5%)	80.9	263^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	82.9%		78.8	308^th of 1534 public elementary schools	79.9%	45	75.0	75.9	71.1	73.8	89.7	89.7	66.7	70.0	60.6	65.4	$21,038	$212	$20,827
Bellefonte Elementary School	Public	K-5	100 W Linn St	Bellefonte	16823	Centre County	Bellefonte Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 355-5519	335	30	11.2	47.2%	303 (90.4%)	8 (2.4%)	14 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.7%)	48.1	906^th of 1534 public elementary schools	40.9%		50.3	889^th of 1534 public elementary schools	42.0%	17	54.0	18.4	47.7	42.3	68.4	68.4	50.0	56.7	50.7	52.0	$27,491	$4,334	$23,157
Wingate Elementary School	Public	K-5	776 S Eagle Valley Rd	Wingate	16823	Centre County	Bald Eagle Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 355-4872	373	34	11.0	48.3%	352 (94.4%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.5%)	48.1	908^th of 1534 public elementary schools	40.8%		34.2	1082^nd of 1534 public elementary schools	29.5%	174	60.0	55.5	39.1	50.5	83.3	83.3	56.4	31.5	31.9	39.3	$20,929	$2,199	$18,730
Pleasant Gap Elementary School	Public	K-5	230 S Main St	Pleasant Gap	16823	Centre County	Bellefonte Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 359-2739	193	21	9.3	25.4%	178 (92.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.1%)	3 (1.6%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.1%)	67.7	541^st of 1534 public elementary schools	64.7%		59.1	710^th of 1534 public elementary schools	53.7%	169	69.0	78.8	48.6	65.0	81.8	81.8	48.2	69.7	51.4	56.7	$24,943	$2,506	$22,437
Spring Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	217 Scholl St	State College	16801	Centre County	State College Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 231-5026	369	27	13.7	19.8%	300 (81.3%)	7 (1.9%)	15 (4.1%)	15 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.7%)	85.2	186^th of 1534 public elementary schools	87.9%		83.9	224^th of 1534 public elementary schools	85.4%	38	68.9	71.7	73.1	71.0	95.5	95.5	68.8	76.5	78.0	74.1	$19,208	$961	$18,247
Centre Hall-Potter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	211 North Hoffer Street	Centre Hall	16828	Centre County	Penns Valley Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 422-2000	214	14	15.8	37.9%	201 (93.9%)	2 (0.9%)	6 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.3%)	75.6	359^th of 1534 public elementary schools	76.6%		69.8	499^th of 1534 public elementary schools	67.5%	140	84.1	56.1		70.6	85.0	85.0	72.8	56.1		64.7	$14,295	$984	$13,311
Mount Nittany Elementary School	Public	K-5	700 Brandywine Drive	State College	16801	Centre County	State College Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 272-5970	430	32	13.3	20.5%	343 (79.8%)	10 (2.3%)	12 (2.8%)	31 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.9%)	82.2	237^th of 1534 public elementary schools	84.6%		77	344^th of 1534 public elementary schools	77.6%	107	71.9	67.7	66.7	68.6	89.2	89.2	71.9	67.7	72.5	70.6	$19,871	$1,112	$18,759
Easterly Parkway Elementary School	Public	K-5	234 Easterly Pkwy	State College	16801	Centre County	State College Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(814) 231-1170	316	27	11.5	37.3%	195 (61.7%)	31 (9.8%)	24 (7.6%)	36 (11.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (9.5%)	69.1	514^th of 1534 public elementary schools	66.5%		73	432^nd of 1534 public elementary schools	71.8%	82	55.8	60.8	57.4	58.0	76.1	76.1	58.1	67.4	68.1	64.6	$21,672	$1,465	$20,207
Radio Park Elementary School	Public	K-5	800 W Cherry Ln	State College	16803	Centre County	State College Area School District	No	No	No	No	(814) 231-4115	396	30	13.0	15.7%	250 (63.1%)	7 (1.8%)	13 (3.3%)	98 (24.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.8%)	87.3	151^st of 1534 public elementary schools	90.2%		90.8	81^st of 1534 public elementary schools	94.7%	70	69.4	76.3	76.1	74.4	93.4	93.4	67.3	77.3	84.1	77.0	$18,620	$621	$18,000
Nittany Valley Charter School	Public, Charter	K-6	1612 Norma St	State College	16801	Centre County	Nittany Valley Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(814) 867-3842	49	5	9.1		47 (95.9%)	1 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				28.0						72.0	$17,620	$377	$17,243

Frequently Asked Questions about Benner Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Benner Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Benner Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bellefonte Area Middle School
High : Bellefonte Area High School

How many students attend Benner Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 244 students attended Benner Elementary School.

What district is Benner Elementary School in?

Bellefonte Area School District

What is the racial makeup of Benner Elementary School?

Students at Benner Elementary School are 94% White, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Asian, 1% Hispanic.

Is Benner Elementary School a good school?

Benner Elementary School ranks 263^rd of 1534 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

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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.