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Mercersburg Elementary School

Summary:

Mercersburg Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades K-5 in the Tuscarora School District, with 247 students and a predominantly White student population. Despite having a very high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, the school consistently outperforms the district and state in academic achievement, suggesting effective strategies for supporting its low-income population.

Mercersburg Elementary's academic performance is particularly noteworthy, with 61.8% of students proficient or better in Math in 2022-2023, compared to 40.7% for the district and 39.3% for the state. Additionally, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 13.2 and spends only $6,206 per student, significantly less than the $12,812 to $18,852 spent by nearby schools like Hamilton Heights Elementary School, Stevens Elementary School, and South Hamilton Elementary School. This suggests Mercersburg Elementary is efficiently allocating its resources to achieve strong academic results.

The contrast between Mercersburg Elementary's high poverty rate and its impressive academic performance is particularly noteworthy, as it indicates the school has effective strategies in place to support students from low-income backgrounds. This success could provide valuable insights for the Tuscarora School District and other schools facing similar challenges in serving economically disadvantaged populations.


Detail:

Public K-5

 30 S Park Ave
       Mercersburg, PA  17236-1116

(717) 328-5278

District: Tuscarora School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
455th of 1,534 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,206 Help


Students who attend Mercersburg Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    James Buchanan Middle School
High:    James Buchanan High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.2 Help
Number of students:  247

Racial breakdown:

White:
91.1%
Two or more races:
3.6%
Hispanic:
3.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Mercersburg Elementary School ranks better than 70.3% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks first among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Tuscarora School District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 71.98. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91.1%), two or more races (3.6%), Hispanic (3.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Tuscarora School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Mercersburg Elementary School is 13.2, which is the 2nd best among 4 elementary schools in the Tuscarora School District. (See more...)
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Compare Mercersburg Elementary School employs 18.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Mercersburg Elementary School is $6,206, which is the highest among 4 elementary schools in the Tuscarora School District!
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Mercersburg Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Mercersburg Elementary School 455th of 1534 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Mercersburg Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
White students:


Tuscarora School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Tuscarora School District 290th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Mercersburg Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Mercersburg Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 83.68 198th 1302 84.8%
2004 52.49 738th 1308 43.6%
2005 44.84 889th 1299 31.6%
2006 47.53 1017th 1545 34.2%
2007 21.79 1341st 1555 13.8%
2008 17.44 1374th 1551 11.4%
2009 29.79 1284th 1549 17.1%
2010 25.22 1345th 1579 14.8%
2011 34.71 1252nd 1597 21.6%
2012 34.33 1252nd 1599 21.7%
2013 65.29 642nd 1519 57.7%
2014 57.50 799th 1467 45.5%
2015 58.51 735th 1474 50.1%
2016 59.01 780th 1554 49.8%
2017 70.23 502nd 1547 67.6%
2018 72.82 425th 1530 72.2%
2019 70.84 489th 1544 68.3%
2021 58.71 666th 1433 53.5%
2022 67.17 554th 1534 63.9%
2023 71.98 455th 1534 70.3%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 74.86 277th 1414 80.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for White students at Mercersburg Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 57.69 533rd 1236 56.9%
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.

Mercersburg Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for Mercersburg 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 284 18 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 302
1989 289 16 0 6 0 n/a n/a 0 311
1990 288 11 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 302
1991 286 14 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 302
1992 293 15 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 311
1993 279 10 1 6 0 n/a n/a 0 296
1994 313 14 2 5 0 n/a n/a 0 334
1995 330 15 1 4 0 n/a n/a 0 350
1996 330 15 1 4 0 n/a n/a 0 350
1997 319 14 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 336
1998 323 12 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 338
1999 317 9 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 328
2000 291 17 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 308
2001 279 13 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 293
2002 269 13 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 283
2003 269 13 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 283
2004 263 16 2 5 0 n/a n/a 0 286
2005 274 15 2 4 0 n/a n/a 0 295
2006 267 8 5 11 3 n/a n/a 0 294
2007 290 15 6 8 2 n/a n/a 0 321
2008 316 15 8 9 2 n/a n/a 0 350
2009 304 19 7 12 3 n/a n/a 1 346
2010 290 12 4 8 3 n/a n/a 1 318
2011 264 7 5 14 6 0 8 0 304
2012 257 5 2 11 4 0 10 0 289
2013 242 6 2 11 3 0 13 0 277
2014 255 7 1 11 2 0 15 0 291
2015 269 6 1 10 1 0 13 0 300
2016 277 4 0 8 0 0 14 0 303
2017 254 2 1 4 0 0 9 0 270
2018 243 4 1 7 0 0 10 0 265
2019 240 3 1 6 0 0 7 0 257
2020 234 4 1 6 0 0 7 0 252
2021 227 4 2 5 0 0 12 0 250
2022 217 4 2 8 0 0 8 0 239
2023 225 4 1 8 0 0 9 0 247

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 Mercersburg Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 302 19.0 15.8 n/a
1989 311 19.5 15.9 n/a
1990 302 19.5 15.4 0
1991 302 19.0 15.8 n/a
1992 311 17.8 17.4 n/a
1993 296 14.5 20.4 n/a
1994 334 18.5 18.1 n/a
1995 350 18.5 18.9 n/a
1996 350 18.5 18.9 n/a
1997 336 18.0 18.7 n/a
1998 338 19.0 17.8 n/a
1999 328 20.5 16.0 n/a
2000 308 21.0 14.7 27.6
2001 293 19.0 15.4 29
2002 283 18.2 15.5 31.4
2003 283 18.2 15.5 31.4
2004 286 18.0 15.9 33.2
2005 295 19.9 14.8 30.2
2006 294 16.4 17.9 27.6
2007 321 19.9 16.1 33
2008 350 18.9 18.5 34
2009 346 21.1 16.3 34.8
2010 318 20.8 15.2 37.9
2011 304 18.8 16.1 34.9
2012 289 16.0 18.0 33.2
2013 277 16.9 16.3 32.9
2014 291 17.9 16.2 35.7
2015 300 18.0 16.6 35.3
2016 303 18.0 16.8 40.3
2017 270 15.6 17.3 34.4
2018 265 15.5 17.0 33.2
2019 257 15.6 16.4 36.6
2020 252 15.7 16.0 37.3
2021 250 15.8 15.8 42.4
2022 239 18.2 13.0 40.6
2023 247 18.7 13.2 100

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 Mercersburg Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 302 19.0 15.8 n/a
1989 311 19.5 15.9 n/a
1990 302 19.5 15.4 0
1991 302 19.0 15.8 n/a
1992 311 17.8 17.4 n/a
1993 296 14.5 20.4 n/a
1994 334 18.5 18.1 n/a
1995 350 18.5 18.9 n/a
1996 350 18.5 18.9 n/a
1997 336 18.0 18.7 n/a
1998 338 19.0 17.8 n/a
1999 328 20.5 16.0 n/a
2000 308 21.0 14.7 27.6
2001 293 19.0 15.4 29
2002 283 18.2 15.5 31.4
2003 283 18.2 15.5 31.4
2004 286 18.0 15.9 33.2
2005 295 19.9 14.8 30.2
2006 294 16.4 17.9 27.6
2007 321 19.9 16.1 33
2008 350 18.9 18.5 34
2009 346 21.1 16.3 34.8
2010 318 20.8 15.2 37.9
2011 304 18.8 16.1 34.9
2012 289 16.0 18.0 33.2
2013 277 16.9 16.3 32.9
2014 291 17.9 16.2 35.7
2015 300 18.0 16.6 35.3
2016 303 18.0 16.8 40.3
2017 270 15.6 17.3 34.4
2018 265 15.5 17.0 33.2
2019 257 15.6 16.4 36.6
2020 252 15.7 16.0 37.3
2021 250 15.8 15.8 42.4
2022 239 18.2 13.0 40.6
2023 247 18.7 13.2 100

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 Mercersburg Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $49 (0.4%) $13,040 (99.6%) $13,090
2020 $155 (1.2%) $12,658 (98.8%) $12,812
2021 $634 (4.7%) $12,986 (95.3%) $13,620
2022 $597 (9.6%) $5,609 (90.4%) $6,206

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Mercersburg 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 489th of 1544 Elementary schoolsRanks 455th of 1534 Elementary schools
 2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Mercersburg Elementary School)48.973.7
 24.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)5651.7
 4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Mercersburg Elementary School)65.965.8
 0.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)61.954
 7.9%
4th Grade Math (Mercersburg Elementary School)67.456.7
 10.7%
   4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)46.246.5
 0.3%
4th Grade Science (Mercersburg Elementary School)89.178.3
 10.8%
   4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)77.874.1
 3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mercersburg Elementary School)82.264.8
 17.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)63.651.8
 11.8%
5th Grade Math (Mercersburg Elementary School)6054.3
 5.7%
   5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)4342.7
 0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mercersburg Elementary School)8062.8
 17.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)58.553.6
 4.9%
All Grades Math (Mercersburg Elementary School)58.661.8
 3.2%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (Mercersburg Elementary School)89.178.3
 10.8%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Mercersburg Elementary School)75.864.5
 11.3%
   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 Students257247
 3.9%
African American34
 33.3%
American Indian00
Asian11
Hispanic68
 33.3%
Pacific Islander00
White240225
 6.3%
Two or More Races79
 28.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients36.6%100%
 63.4%

Schools Near Mercersburg Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Mercersburg Elementary School

Students at Mercersburg Elementary School are 91% White, 4% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 2% African American.

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

Middle : James Buchanan Middle School
High : James Buchanan High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 247 students attended Mercersburg Elementary School.

Mercersburg Elementary School ranks 455th 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.




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