Downey School

Summary:

Downey School is an elementary school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 386 students. It is part of the Harrisburg City School District, which is ranked 575 out of 610 districts in Pennsylvania and is rated 0 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger. Downey School has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing elementary schools in the state, ranking 1525 out of 1526 Pennsylvania elementary schools for the 2023-2024 school year and receiving a 0 out of 5 star rating from SchoolDigger.

Downey School's academic performance is significantly below the state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 1.9% of Downey School students were proficient or better in PSSA/Math for all grades, compared to 5.7% for the Harrisburg City School District and 40.4% for the state of Pennsylvania. Similarly, only 6.3% of Downey School students were proficient or better in PSSA/English Language Arts for all grades, compared to 15.6% for the district and 53% for the state. Downey School's performance is particularly concerning for certain student subgroups, ranking in the bottom 1-2% of Pennsylvania elementary schools for African American, Hispanic, English Language Learner, and low socioeconomic status students.

The nearby schools within the Harrisburg City School District, such as Foose School, Benjamin Franklin School, and Scott School, also perform poorly compared to the state average, but generally outperform Downey School across academic measures. In contrast, the nearby schools outside of the Harrisburg City School District, such as West Creek Hills Elementary School and Washington Heights Elementary School, demonstrate significantly higher academic performance, with proficiency rates well above the state average. This highlights the stark disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes within the Harrisburg metropolitan area.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

1313 Monroe St
Harrisburg, PA 17103

(717) 703-1240

District: Harrisburg City School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
1525^th of 1,526 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $24,370

Student/teacher ratio: 12.6

Number of students: 386

Racial breakdown:

African American:

47.4%

Hispanic:

43.3%

Two or more races:

6.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Downey School ranks worse than 99.9% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks last among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Harrisburg City School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 2.16. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Downey School has the smallest elementary school student body size in the Harrisburg City School District. Racial makeup is: African American (47.4%), Hispanic (43.3%), two or more races (6.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Harrisburg City School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Downey School is 12.6, which is the 2^nd best among 5 elementary schools in the Harrisburg City School District. (See more...)

Compare Downey School employs 30.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Downey School is $24,370. 2 elementary schools in the Harrisburg City School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Downey School:

SchoolDigger ranks Downey School 1525^th of 1526 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Downey School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

Harrisburg City School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Harrisburg City School District 575^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Downey School

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Rank History for all students at Downey School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile
2015	3.44	1427^th	1474	3.2%
2016	2.52	1527^th	1554	1.7%
2017	3.05	1501^st	1547	3.0%
2018	1.44	1529^th	1530	0.1%
2019	1.84	1541^st	1544	0.2%
2021	4.01	1402^nd	1433	2.2%
2022	3.45	1527^th	1534	0.5%
2023	2.25	1533^rd	1534	0.1%
2024	2.16	1525^th	1526	0.1%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Downey School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	16.01	188^th	196	4.1%
2024	18.70	189^th	200	5.5%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Downey School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	3.30	1413^th	1414	0.1%
2024	2.97	1430^th	1432	0.1%

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

Rank History for Female students at Downey School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	2.04	1488^th	1488	0.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Downey School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	2.66	1494^th	1495	0.1%

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

Rank History for African American students at Downey School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	13.18	433^rd	437	0.9%
2024	11.86	435^th	437	0.5%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Downey School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	6.93	431^st	432	0.2%
2024	5.06	454^th	454	0.0%

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

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Enrollment information for Downey School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2014	8	257	1	113	0	0	7	386
2015	12	256	4	125	0	0	8	405
2016	10	245	2	125	0	0	11	393
2017	9	248	1	139	0	0	11	408
2018	12	236	0	143	0	1	21	413
2019	10	200	0	150	0	0	17	377
2020	12	185	2	164	1	0	20	384
2021	10	185	2	138	1	0	15	351
2022	7	178	2	153	0	0	19	359
2023	8	183	2	167	0	0	26	386

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 Downey School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	386	36.1	10.6	92.5
2015	405	35.0	11.5	99.3
2016	393	30.0	13.1	81.4
2017	408	32.5	12.5	89.7
2018	413	27.6	14.9	90.3
2019	377	31.1	12.1	99.5
2020	384	32.1	11.9	100
2021	351	31.8	11.0	99.1
2022	359	29.4	12.2	99.2
2023	386	30.5	12.6	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 Downey School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	386	36.1	10.6	92.5
2015	405	35.0	11.5	99.3
2016	393	30.0	13.1	81.4
2017	408	32.5	12.5	89.7
2018	413	27.6	14.9	90.3
2019	377	31.1	12.1	99.5
2020	384	32.1	11.9	100
2021	351	31.8	11.0	99.1
2022	359	29.4	12.2	99.2
2023	386	30.5	12.6	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 Downey School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$2,143 (12.8%)	$14,643 (87.2%)	$16,786
2020	$2,303 (19.1%)	$9,769 (80.9%)	$12,072
2021	$894 (5.2%)	$16,200 (94.8%)	$17,095
2022	$633 (2.6%)	$23,737 (97.4%)	$24,370

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Downey 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 1541^st of 1544 Elementary schools	Ranks 1533^rd of 1534 Elementary schools	0.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Downey School)	4.8	3.6	1.2%
3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	56	51.7	4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Downey School)	6.3	1.8	4.5%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	61.9	54	7.9%
4th Grade Math (Downey School)	8.8	4	4.8%
4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	46.2	46.5	0.3%
4th Grade Science (Downey School)	38.2	20	18.2%
4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	77.8	74.1	3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Downey School)	10.5	5.9	4.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63.6	51.8	11.8%
All Grades Math (Downey School)	6.7	3.3	3.4%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Downey School)	38.2	20	18.2%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Downey School)	8.3	3.2	5.1%
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	377	386	2.4%
African American	200	183	8.5%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	2
Hispanic	150	167	11.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	10	8	20%
Two or More Races	17	26	52.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	99.5%	100%	0.5%

Schools Near Downey School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSSA Math (2024)				PSSA Science (2024)		PSSA English Language Arts (2024)				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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	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
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%)	2.2	1525^th of 1526 public elementary schools	0.1%		2.3	1533^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	0.1%	8	2.3	1.7	1.9	1.9	15.0	15.0	9.5	3.2	7.4	6.3	$24,370	$633	$23,737
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%)	3.7	1502^nd of 1526 public elementary schools	1.6%		3.2	1523^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	0.7%	21	8.2	9.0	2.0	6.4	39.2	39.2	11.8	12.0	9.8	11.2	$25,282	$657	$24,626
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)	10.7			10.7			21.4			21.4	$2,554	$2,554	$00
Pennsylvania STEAM Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	K-4	1500 North Third Street	Harrisburg	17102	Dauphin County	Pennsylvania STEAM Academy Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(717) 991-4334	193	12	16.0	69.4%	18 (9.3%)	122 (63.2%)	34 (17.6%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	15 (7.8%)	20.7	1209^th of 1526 public elementary schools	20.8%					(n/a)	33.3	22.2		28.0	61.1	61.1	35.9	36.2		36.0	$16,570	$270	$16,301
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%)	3	1519^th of 1526 public elementary schools	0.5%		2.9	1528^th of 1534 public elementary schools	0.4%	9	8.5	4.5	2.9	5.1	22.4	22.4	10.7	8.5	9.9	9.7	$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%)	5.3	1460^th of 1526 public elementary schools	4.3%		4.6	1490^th of 1534 public elementary schools	2.9%	30	18.5	4.2	7.6	10.2	45.3	45.3	18.7	10.5	14.7	14.6	$23,011	$598	$22,413
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%)	16.9	1259^th of 1526 public elementary schools	17.5%		10.4	1353^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	11.8%	94	24.3	14.6		19.3	65.9	65.9	34.2	29.3		31.6	$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%)	3.4	1510^th of 1526 public elementary schools	1.0%		2.9	1529^th of 1534 public elementary schools	0.3%	19	10.7	9.1	3.1	7.8	32.5	32.5	17.6	7.8	3.1	9.8	$23,694	$615	$23,078
Washington Heights Elementary School	Public	K-5	531 Walnut St	Lemoyne	17043	Cumberland County	West Shore School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 761-8040	392	31	12.7	62.8%	205 (52.3%)	49 (12.5%)	74 (18.9%)	21 (5.4%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	40 (10.2%)	44.4	955^th of 1526 public elementary schools	37.4%		46.1	935^th of 1534 public elementary schools	39.0%	20	35.9	49.2	51.7	46.1	76.9	76.9	30.2	49.2	45.9	42.5	$18,510	$1,487	$17,023
Sara Lindemuth Elementary School	Public	K-2	1201 N Progress Ave	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Susquehanna Township School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 657-5122	755	46	16.4	65.0%	156 (20.7%)	224 (29.7%)	130 (17.2%)	150 (19.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	93 (12.3%)								(n/a)											$14,449	$2,982	$11,467

Frequently Asked Questions about Downey School

What is the racial makeup of Downey School?

Students at Downey School are 47% African American, 43% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% White.

What district is Downey School in?

Harrisburg City School District

How many students attend Downey School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 386 students attended Downey School.

Is Downey School a good school?

Downey School ranks in the bottom 0.1% of Pennsylvania elementary schools.

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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.