Northside Elementary School

Q: Is Northside Elementary School a good school?

Northside Elementary School ranks 166 th of 1526 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Northside Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Palmyra, Pennsylvania, serving grades 1-5 with a total enrollment of 232 students. It is part of the Palmyra Area School District, which is ranked 44 out of 610 school districts in Pennsylvania and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Northside Elementary School consistently ranks in the top 20% of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with a current ranking of 166 out of 1,526 schools. The school's PSSA test scores are significantly higher than the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, with proficiency rates in Math (77.1%), Science (95.2%), and English Language Arts (74.8%) well above the state averages. Notably, Northside Elementary School's performance is particularly impressive for its low-socioeconomic status (SES) students, who ranked 39th out of 1,432 Pennsylvania elementary schools in 2023-2024, with a 5-star rating. The school has a diverse student population and a relatively low student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3 students per teacher, indicating a focus on small class sizes and personalized attention.

While Lingle Avenue Elementary School, another school in the Palmyra Area School District, has a higher overall ranking (44th out of 1,526 Pennsylvania elementary schools in 2023-2024) and a 5-star rating, Northside Elementary School's academic performance is generally higher than the other elementary schools in the district. Nearby schools in the Lower Dauphin School District, such as South Hanover Elementary School and Hershey Intermediate Elementary School, also demonstrate strong academic performance, with PSSA proficiency rates that are comparable to or higher than Northside Elementary School in certain subject areas.

Detail:

Public 1-5

301 E Spruce St
Palmyra, PA 17078-1421

(717) 838-1331

District: Palmyra Area School District

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

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,857

Students who attend Northside Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Palmyra Area Middle School
High:	Palmyra Area Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.1

Number of students: 232

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.1%

Hispanic:

12.9%

Two or more races:

6.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 42.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Northside Elementary School ranks better than 89.1% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks 3^rd among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Palmyra Area School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 86.14. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Northside Elementary School has the smallest elementary school student body size in the Palmyra Area School District. Racial makeup is: White (74.1%), Hispanic (12.9%), two or more races (6.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 42.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Palmyra Area School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northside Elementary School is 13.1, which is the lowest among 4 elementary schools in the Palmyra Area School District! (See more...)

Compare Northside Elementary School employs 17.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northside Elementary School is $16,857, which is the highest among 4 elementary schools in the Palmyra Area School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Northside Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Northside Elementary School 166^th of 1526 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Northside Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

White students:

Palmyra Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Palmyra Area School District 44^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Northside Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Northside Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile
2013	60.08	763^rd	1519	49.8%
2014	63.34	657^th	1467	55.2%
2015	64.71	604^th	1474	59.0%
2016	70.77	489^th	1554	68.5%
2017	71.47	473^rd	1547	69.4%
2018	79.97	277^th	1530	81.9%
2019	72.04	460^th	1544	70.2%
2021	74.83	361^st	1433	74.8%
2022	79.99	288^th	1534	81.2%
2023	85.46	184^th	1534	88.0%
2024	86.14	166^th	1526	89.1%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Northside Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	85.65	107^th	1414	92.4%
2024	91.79	39^th	1432	97.3%

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

Rank History for Female students at Northside Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	83.80	180^th	1488	87.9%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Northside Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	81.14	141^st	1084	87.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Northside Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	85.65	165^th	1495	89.0%

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

Rank History for White students at Northside Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	78.74	222^nd	1236	82.0%
2024	75.87	254^th	1229	79.3%

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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Northside Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2012	207	1	0	9	2	12	231
2013	199	1	0	7	1	9	217
2014	203	3	4	12	0	9	231
2015	215	4	5	14	1	8	247
2016	209	4	4	16	1	10	244
2017	204	4	5	12	1	16	242
2018	196	5	5	14	0	17	237
2019	210	5	3	16	1	11	246
2020	214	4	4	13	0	14	249
2021	203	4	2	14	0	13	236
2022	189	8	2	23	0	13	235
2023	187	9	2	22	0	12	232
2024	172	11	3	30	0	16	232

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 Northside Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	231	19.0	12.1	25.1
2013	217	17.5	12.3	30.4
2014	231	16.5	13.9	35.9
2015	247	17.0	14.5	39.3
2016	244	18.0	13.5	37.7
2017	242	18.1	13.3	40.1
2018	237	18.3	12.9	40.9
2019	246	18.2	13.4	37.8
2020	249	17.2	14.4	34.9
2021	236	16.7	14.1	38.1
2022	235	18.8	12.5	34.5
2023	232	18.8	12.3	40.9
2024	232	17.7	13.1	42.2

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 Northside Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	231	19.0	12.1	25.1
2013	217	17.5	12.3	30.4
2014	231	16.5	13.9	35.9
2015	247	17.0	14.5	39.3
2016	244	18.0	13.5	37.7
2017	242	18.1	13.3	40.1
2018	237	18.3	12.9	40.9
2019	246	18.2	13.4	37.8
2020	249	17.2	14.4	34.9
2021	236	16.7	14.1	38.1
2022	235	18.8	12.5	34.5
2023	232	18.8	12.3	40.9
2024	232	17.7	13.1	42.2

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 Northside Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$371 (2.7%)	$13,140 (97.3%)	$13,511
2020	$630 (4.8%)	$12,526 (95.2%)	$13,156
2021	$888 (6.2%)	$13,521 (93.8%)	$14,409
2022	$965 (5.7%)	$15,892 (94.3%)	$16,857

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Northside 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 460^th of 1544 Elementary schools	Ranks 184^th of 1534 Elementary schools	17.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Northside Elementary School)	77.3	86	8.7%
3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	56	51.7	4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Northside Elementary School)	75	79.1	4.1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	61.9	54	7.9%
4th Grade Math (Northside Elementary School)	49	72.1	23.1%
4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	46.2	46.5	0.3%
4th Grade Science (Northside Elementary School)	89.8	90.7	0.9%
4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	77.8	74.1	3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Northside Elementary School)	72.5	72.1	0.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63.6	51.8	11.8%
5th Grade Math (Northside Elementary School)	59.1	61.9	2.8%
5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	43	42.7	0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Northside Elementary School)	69.4	69.8	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	58.5	53.6	4.9%
All Grades Math (Northside Elementary School)	61.3	73.5	12.2%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Northside Elementary School)	89.8	90.7	0.9%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Northside Elementary School)	72.2	73.6	1.4%
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	246	232	5.7%
African American	5	9	80%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	3	2	33.3%
Hispanic	16	22	37.5%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	210	187	11%
Two or More Races	11	12	9.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	37.8%	40.9%	3.1%

Schools Near Northside Elementary 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 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
Northside Elementary School	Public	1-5	301 E Spruce St	Palmyra	17078	Lebanon County	Palmyra Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 838-1331	232	18	13.1	42.2%	172 (74.1%)	11 (4.7%)	30 (12.9%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (6.9%)	86.1	166^th of 1526 public elementary schools	89.1%		85.5	184^th of 1534 public elementary schools	88.0%	18	70.8	73.8	86.6		77.1	95.2	95.2	66.7	76.2	82.2		74.8	$16,857	$965	$15,892
Forge Road Elementary School	Public	1-5	400 S Forge Rd	Palmyra	17078	Lebanon County	Palmyra Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 838-1331	350	24	14.4	33.1%	258 (73.7%)	6 (1.7%)	34 (9.7%)	34 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.1%)	67.5	544^th of 1526 public elementary schools	64.4%		67	552^nd of 1534 public elementary schools	64.0%	8	60.0	63.2	47.7		57.0	85.2	85.2	52.3	66.1	65.6		61.5	$14,193	$901	$13,291
Pine Street Elementary School	Public	1-5	50 W Pine St	Palmyra	17078	Lebanon County	Palmyra Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 838-1331	348	24	14.6	33.9%	266 (76.4%)	6 (1.7%)	30 (8.6%)	25 (7.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.7%)	88.5	120^th of 1526 public elementary schools	92.1%		87	160^th of 1534 public elementary schools	89.6%	40	76.5	79.4	78.8		78.2	97.0	97.0	66.1	85.3	83.3		78.3	$14,979	$1,474	$13,505
Lingle Avenue Elementary School	Public	K-5	600 S Lingle Ave	Palmyra	17078	Lebanon County	Palmyra Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 838-1331	575	36	15.9	31.5%	420 (73.0%)	9 (1.6%)	49 (8.5%)	61 (10.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (6.1%)	91.9	44^th of 1526 public elementary schools	97.1%		89.4	107^th of 1534 public elementary schools	93.0%	63	92.0	85.1	73.3		83.0	97.0	97.0	83.9	92.5	71.8		82.5	$12,155	$533	$11,622
Hershey Primary Elementary School	Public	2-3	450 Homestead Rd	Hershey	17033	Dauphin County	Derry Township School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 531-2277	444	30	14.8	27.9%	292 (65.8%)	30 (6.8%)	37 (8.3%)	60 (13.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.4%)								(n/a)	80.0				80.0			78.1				78.1	$18,331	$1,070	$17,261
Hershey Intrmd Elementary School	Public	4-5	450 Homestead Rd	Hershey	17033	Dauphin County	Derry Township School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 531-2277	467	39	11.9	27.4%	305 (65.3%)	22 (4.7%)	48 (10.3%)	72 (15.4%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	15 (3.2%)	86.2	165^th of 1526 public elementary schools	89.2%		86.2	171^st of 1534 public elementary schools	88.9%	6		70.4	74.9		72.6	91.5	91.5		72.2	78.4		75.4	$21,355	$1,649	$19,706
Hershey Early Childhood Center	Public	K-1	450-Rear Homestead Road	Hershey	17033	Dauphin County	Derry Township School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 531-2211	407	34	11.9	31.0%	264 (64.9%)	19 (4.7%)	37 (9.1%)	52 (12.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (8.1%)								(n/a)													$22,881	$1,538	$21,343
Annville Elementary School	Public	3-6	205 S White Oak St	Annville	17003	Lebanon County	Annville-Cleona School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 867-7620	472	30	15.9	46.0%	346 (73.3%)	2 (0.4%)	74 (15.7%)	30 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.2%)	63.3	629^th of 1526 public elementary schools	58.8%		64.4	605^th of 1534 public elementary schools	60.6%	24	59.2	43.7	50.0	33.9	45.7	85.7	85.7	64.3	62.2	58.5	60.6	61.4	$20,460	$852	$19,608
South Hanover Elementary School	Public	K-5	15 W 3rd St	Hershey	17033	Dauphin County	Lower Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 566-2564	372	26	14.0	19.4%	296 (79.6%)	13 (3.5%)	21 (5.6%)	25 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.6%)	88.6	118^th of 1526 public elementary schools	92.3%		77.7	324^th of 1534 public elementary schools	78.9%	206	92.0	70.0	69.8		77.7	93.4	93.4	90.2	73.8	73.6		79.4	$15,926	$518	$15,408
East Hanover Elementary School	Public	K-5	2673 Sand Beach Rd	Grantville	17028	Dauphin County	Lower Dauphin School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 469-2686	329	27	11.9	31.0%	259 (78.7%)	3 (0.9%)	45 (13.7%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.9%)	59.7	716^th of 1526 public elementary schools	53.1%		56.4	767^th of 1534 public elementary schools	50.0%	51	56.9	51.6	45.1		51.4	77.4	77.4	69.5	53.2	52.9		58.7	$15,976	$568	$15,408

Frequently Asked Questions about Northside Elementary School

Is Northside Elementary School a good school?

Northside Elementary School ranks 166^th of 1526 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Northside Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Palmyra Area Middle School
High : Palmyra Area Senior High School

What district is Northside Elementary School in?

Palmyra Area School District

How many students attend Northside Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 232 students attended Northside Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Northside Elementary School?

Students at Northside Elementary School are 74% White, 13% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 5% African American, 1% Asian.

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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.