Shirley Township Elementary School

Summary:

Shirley Township Elementary School is a public elementary school in Mount Union, Pennsylvania, serving 265 students in grades 3-5. The school is part of the Mount Union Area School District, which is ranked 483 out of 606 school districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Shirley Township Elementary School faces significant challenges, including a student population that is 82.64% white, well above the state average. The school consistently ranks in the bottom quarter of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with particularly low performance for its white student subgroup. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school's proficiency rates in Math (31.9%), Science (67.2%), and English Language Arts (33.5%) were all well below the state averages. This low academic performance is a persistent issue, with the school ranking between 1116 and 1156 out of 1433-1534 Pennsylvania elementary schools over the past several years. The school's extremely high percentage of students (100%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch suggests that it faces significant socioeconomic challenges that may be impacting student achievement.

When compared to nearby schools, the stark underperformance of Shirley Township Elementary School becomes even more apparent. For example, Fannett-Metal Elementary School, which is 17.97 miles away, has significantly higher proficiency rates in Math (59.7%), Science (93.1%), and English Language Arts (62.5%) than Shirley Township Elementary School. The school's high student-teacher ratio (8.8 in 2022-2023) and fluctuating spending per student may also indicate staffing and resource challenges that could be contributing to the school's low academic performance. Addressing these issues will be crucial for improving the educational outcomes for the students at Shirley Township Elementary School.


Detail:

Public 3-5

 14188 Second St
       Mount Union, PA  17066


(814) 542-9381

District: Mount Union Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
1156th of 1,534 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,448 Help


Students who attend Shirley Township Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Mount Union Area Junior High School
High:    Mount Union Area Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio:  8.8 Help
Number of students:  265

Racial breakdown:

White:
82.6%
Two or more races:
11.3%
African American:
3.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Shirley Township Elementary School ranks worse than 75.4% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.63. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (82.6%), two or more races (11.3%), African American (3.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Shirley Township Elementary School is 8.8. (See more...)
Help
Compare Shirley Township Elementary School employs 30 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Shirley Township Elementary School is $16,448.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Shirley Township Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Shirley Township Elementary School 1156th of 1534 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Shirley Township Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Disabled students:
White students:


Mount Union Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Mount Union Area School District 483rd of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Shirley Township Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Shirley Township Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 41.67 870th 1302 33.2%
2004 60.09 603rd 1308 53.9%
2005 32.34 1019th 1299 21.6%
2006 36.13 1199th 1545 22.4%
2007 44.48 1058th 1555 32.0%
2008 33.34 1230th 1551 20.7%
2009 40.71 1141st 1549 26.3%
2010 33.81 1254th 1579 20.6%
2011 31.63 1288th 1597 19.3%
2012 28.51 1301st 1599 18.6%
2013 30.47 1201st 1519 20.9%
2014 24.49 1204th 1467 17.9%
2015 14.07 1253rd 1474 15.0%
2016 14.29 1319th 1554 15.1%
2017 9.60 1368th 1547 11.6%
2018 10.66 1348th 1530 11.9%
2019 12.37 1333rd 1544 13.7%
2021 23.87 1116th 1433 22.1%
2022 29.09 1122nd 1534 26.9%
2023 26.63 1156th 1534 24.6%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Shirley Township Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 34.59 1014th 1414 28.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Shirley Township Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 21.30 866th 1043 17.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for White students at Shirley Township Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 9.38 1167th 1236 5.6%
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.

Shirley Township Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for Shirley Township Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 258 24 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 282
1989 258 21 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 279
1990 245 22 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 267
1991 243 24 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 267
1992 225 20 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 246
1993 285 22 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 307
1994 265 17 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 282
1995 267 17 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 286
1996 267 17 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 286
1997 281 15 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 297
1998 297 17 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 317
1999 240 18 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 259
2000 261 13 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 277
2001 255 11 0 4 0 n/a n/a 0 270
2002 309 14 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 325
2003 309 14 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 325
2004 300 25 0 4 2 n/a n/a 0 331
2005 290 31 1 2 2 n/a n/a 0 326
2006 296 37 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 335
2007 306 41 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 348
2008 307 31 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 340
2009 303 22 2 1 0 n/a n/a 23 351
2010 292 20 1 2 0 n/a n/a 21 336
2011 305 21 2 1 0 0 17 0 346
2012 304 19 2 3 0 0 23 0 351
2013 328 25 2 2 0 0 27 0 384
2014 308 24 3 9 0 0 20 0 364
2015 311 25 3 7 0 0 21 0 367
2016 310 26 2 9 0 0 22 0 369
2017 299 18 1 10 0 0 22 0 350
2018 280 13 1 6 0 0 21 0 321
2019 282 11 1 7 0 0 21 0 322
2020 224 5 0 5 0 0 26 0 260
2021 218 12 1 2 0 0 23 0 256
2022 200 13 1 3 0 0 21 0 238
2023 219 10 1 5 0 0 30 0 265

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 Shirley Township Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 282 16.0 17.6 n/a
1989 279 16.0 17.4 n/a
1990 267 18.0 14.8 0
1991 267 18.0 14.8 n/a
1992 246 19.0 12.9 n/a
1993 307 15.0 20.5 n/a
1994 282 14.0 20.1 n/a
1995 286 17.0 16.8 n/a
1996 286 17.0 16.8 n/a
1997 297 18.0 16.5 n/a
1998 317 20.5 15.5 n/a
1999 259 24.0 10.8 n/a
2000 277 25.0 11.1 42.2
2001 270 21.0 12.9 40.7
2002 325 23.5 13.8 40
2003 325 23.5 13.8 40
2004 331 23.3 14.2 39.9
2005 326 30.1 10.8 39.9
2006 335 27.0 12.4 57
2007 348 27.6 12.6 59.5
2008 340 28.8 11.8 61.2
2009 351 28.0 12.5 75.3
2010 336 28.2 11.9 68.3
2011 346 28.3 12.2 51.4
2012 351 23.4 15.0 66.7
2013 384 25.5 15.0 67.4
2014 364 24.8 14.6 71.7
2015 367 26.0 14.1 76
2016 369 25.0 14.7 77.8
2017 350 27.9 12.5 100
2018 321 28.2 11.3 100
2019 322 27.8 11.5 100
2020 260 26.4 9.8 100
2021 256 30.5 8.3 98.8
2022 238 28.5 8.3 98.7
2023 265 30.0 8.8 100

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 Shirley Township Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 282 16.0 17.6 n/a
1989 279 16.0 17.4 n/a
1990 267 18.0 14.8 0
1991 267 18.0 14.8 n/a
1992 246 19.0 12.9 n/a
1993 307 15.0 20.5 n/a
1994 282 14.0 20.1 n/a
1995 286 17.0 16.8 n/a
1996 286 17.0 16.8 n/a
1997 297 18.0 16.5 n/a
1998 317 20.5 15.5 n/a
1999 259 24.0 10.8 n/a
2000 277 25.0 11.1 42.2
2001 270 21.0 12.9 40.7
2002 325 23.5 13.8 40
2003 325 23.5 13.8 40
2004 331 23.3 14.2 39.9
2005 326 30.1 10.8 39.9
2006 335 27.0 12.4 57
2007 348 27.6 12.6 59.5
2008 340 28.8 11.8 61.2
2009 351 28.0 12.5 75.3
2010 336 28.2 11.9 68.3
2011 346 28.3 12.2 51.4
2012 351 23.4 15.0 66.7
2013 384 25.5 15.0 67.4
2014 364 24.8 14.6 71.7
2015 367 26.0 14.1 76
2016 369 25.0 14.7 77.8
2017 350 27.9 12.5 100
2018 321 28.2 11.3 100
2019 322 27.8 11.5 100
2020 260 26.4 9.8 100
2021 256 30.5 8.3 98.8
2022 238 28.5 8.3 98.7
2023 265 30.0 8.8 100

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 Shirley Township Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $948 (6.0%) $14,860 (94.0%) $15,808
2020 $859 (6.0%) $13,451 (94.0%) $14,310
2021 $314 (1.7%) $18,149 (98.3%) $18,464
2022 $493 (3.0%) $15,955 (97.0%) $16,448

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Shirley Township 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 1333rd of 1544 Elementary schoolsRanks 1156th of 1534 Elementary schools
 11%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Shirley Township Elementary School)2047.8
 27.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)5651.7
 4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Shirley Township Elementary School)19.533
 13.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)61.954
 7.9%
4th Grade Math (Shirley Township Elementary School)20.917.8
 3.1%
   4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)46.246.5
 0.3%
4th Grade Science (Shirley Township Elementary School)62.667.2
 4.6%
   4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)77.874.1
 3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Shirley Township Elementary School)45.934.2
 11.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)63.651.8
 11.8%
5th Grade Math (Shirley Township Elementary School)8.427.4
 19%
   5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)4342.7
 0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Shirley Township Elementary School)33.333.3
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)58.553.6
 4.9%
All Grades Math (Shirley Township Elementary School)14.231.9
 17.7%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (Shirley Township Elementary School)62.667.2
 4.6%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Shirley Township Elementary School)34.433.5
 0.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.953.8
 7.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students322265
 17.7%
African American1110
 9.1%
American Indian00
Asian11
Hispanic75
 28.6%
Pacific Islander00
White282219
 22.3%
Two or More Races2130
 42.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near Shirley Township Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Shirley Township Elementary School

Students at Shirley Township Elementary School are 83% White, 11% Two or more races, 4% African American, 2% Hispanic.

In the 2022-23 school year, 265 students attended Shirley Township Elementary School.

Shirley Township Elementary School ranks in the bottom 24.6% 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.





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