Towanda Area Elementary School

Summary:

Towanda Area Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades 3-6 in the Towanda Area School District in Towanda, Pennsylvania, with 443 students. While the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, it has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Pennsylvania elementary schools over the past decade, with below-average test scores in both Math and English Language Arts.

The school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with female and low socioeconomic status students performing relatively better than white and disabled students. Despite the school's relatively high spending per student, ranging from $13,680 to $20,118 in recent years, its academic outcomes remain below the state averages. When compared to nearby schools, such as W R Croman Primary School and Troy Intrmd School, Towanda Area Elementary School generally performs worse on standardized tests, with lower proficiency rates in Math and ELA.

The consistent low performance and subgroup disparities at Towanda Area Elementary School suggest that the school may need to focus on addressing the unique needs of its diverse student population, evaluating the effectiveness of its resource allocation and instructional practices, and aligning its curriculum and strategies more closely with state standards to improve academic outcomes for all students.


Detail:

Public 3-6

 420 State St
       Towanda, PA  18848


(570) 265-6131

District: Towanda Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
836th of 1,526 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $19,327 Help


Students who attend Towanda Area Elementary School usually attend:

High:    Towanda Area Junior/Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.6 Help
Number of students:  428

Racial breakdown:

White:
95.8%
African American:
1.2%
Hispanic:
1.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Towanda Area Elementary School ranks worse than 54.8% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.06. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (95.8%), African American (1.2%), Hispanic (1.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Towanda Area Elementary School is 13.6. (See more...)
Help
Compare Towanda Area Elementary School employs 31.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Towanda Area Elementary School is $19,327.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Towanda Area Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Towanda Area Elementary School 836th of 1526 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Towanda Area 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:


Towanda Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Towanda Area School District 284th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Towanda Area Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Towanda Area Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 42.37 1118th 1549 27.8%
2010 47.38 1062nd 1579 32.7%
2011 40.58 1198th 1597 25.0%
2012 50.04 1048th 1599 34.5%
2013 33.60 1180th 1519 22.3%
2014 26.29 1186th 1467 19.2%
2015 31.17 1098th 1474 25.5%
2016 26.67 1205th 1554 22.5%
2017 38.46 1093rd 1547 29.3%
2018 44.23 1017th 1530 33.5%
2019 52.97 872nd 1544 43.5%
2021 45.96 880th 1433 38.6%
2022 50.46 888th 1534 42.1%
2023 51.96 842nd 1534 45.1%
2024 52.06 836th 1526 45.2%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Towanda Area Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 61.13 562nd 1414 60.3%
2024 57.63 642nd 1432 55.2%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Towanda Area Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 61.10 656th 1488 55.9%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Towanda Area Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 48.01 491st 1043 52.9%
2024 28.04 797th 1084 26.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Towanda Area Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 39.98 993rd 1495 33.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Towanda Area Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 31.42 938th 1236 24.1%
2024 29.38 959th 1229 22.0%
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.

Towanda Area 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 Towanda Area Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2007 450 3 3 2 0 n/a n/a 0 458
2008 429 1 4 3 0 n/a n/a 0 437
2009 449 6 1 4 1 n/a n/a 0 461
2010 445 6 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 455
2011 439 7 1 10 0 0 0 0 457
2012 436 5 0 10 0 1 0 0 452
2013 420 6 1 8 2 2 2 0 441
2014 398 3 3 12 1 1 4 0 422
2015 399 3 2 12 3 0 5 0 424
2016 419 3 3 14 3 0 5 0 447
2017 416 2 4 8 0 0 4 0 434
2018 429 6 7 7 0 0 4 0 453
2019 453 7 8 9 0 0 5 0 482
2020 447 11 7 7 1 0 4 0 477
2021 436 10 3 5 1 0 6 0 461
2022 442 7 3 2 1 0 6 0 461
2023 425 7 3 3 1 0 4 0 443
2024 410 5 4 5 1 0 3 0 428

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 Towanda Area Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2007 458 30.7 14.9 48
2008 437 31.3 14.0 49.2
2009 461 31.0 14.8 48.2
2010 455 33.6 13.5 50.1
2011 457 31.2 14.6 45.5
2012 452 30.2 14.9 52
2013 441 29.5 14.9 55.6
2014 422 27.8 15.1 55.7
2015 424 25.0 16.9 62.3
2016 447 26.0 17.1 66.4
2017 434 28.6 15.1 64.3
2018 453 29.3 15.4 66.9
2019 482 30.6 15.7 67.6
2020 477 31.8 14.9 62.3
2021 461 31.2 14.7 99.3
2022 461 30.8 14.9 99.3
2023 443 32.4 13.6 100
2024 428 31.4 13.6 100.2

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 Towanda Area Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2007 458 30.7 14.9 48
2008 437 31.3 14.0 49.2
2009 461 31.0 14.8 48.2
2010 455 33.6 13.5 50.1
2011 457 31.2 14.6 45.5
2012 452 30.2 14.9 52
2013 441 29.5 14.9 55.6
2014 422 27.8 15.1 55.7
2015 424 25.0 16.9 62.3
2016 447 26.0 17.1 66.4
2017 434 28.6 15.1 64.3
2018 453 29.3 15.4 66.9
2019 482 30.6 15.7 67.6
2020 477 31.8 14.9 62.3
2021 461 31.2 14.7 99.3
2022 461 30.8 14.9 99.3
2023 443 32.4 13.6 100
2024 428 31.4 13.6 100.2

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 Towanda Area Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $645 (4.7%) $13,036 (95.3%) $13,680
2020 $493 (3.5%) $13,480 (96.5%) $13,973
2021 $1,046 (5.2%) $19,072 (94.8%) $20,118
2022 $1,698 (8.8%) $17,629 (91.2%) $19,327

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Towanda Area 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 872nd of 1544 Elementary schoolsRanks 842nd of 1534 Elementary schools
 1.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Towanda Area Elementary School)53.546.7
 6.8%
   3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)5651.7
 4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Towanda Area Elementary School)56.957.1
 0.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)61.954
 7.9%
4th Grade Math (Towanda Area Elementary School)37.832.1
 5.7%
   4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)46.246.5
 0.3%
4th Grade Science (Towanda Area Elementary School)82.471.9
 10.5%
   4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)77.874.1
 3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Towanda Area Elementary School)60.550
 10.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)63.651.8
 11.8%
5th Grade Math (Towanda Area Elementary School)55.348.1
 7.2%
   5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)4342.7
 0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Towanda Area Elementary School)6855.8
 12.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)58.553.6
 4.9%
6th Grade Math (Towanda Area Elementary School)36.844.3
 7.5%
   6th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)3936.4
 2.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Towanda Area Elementary School)63.350.5
 12.8%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)6355.6
 7.4%
All Grades Math (Towanda Area Elementary School)45.742.8
 2.9%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (Towanda Area Elementary School)82.471.9
 10.5%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Towanda Area Elementary School)6253.3
 8.7%
   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 Students482443
 8.1%
African American77
American Indian01
Asian83
 62.5%
Hispanic93
 66.7%
Pacific Islander00
White453425
 6.2%
Two or More Races54
 20%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients67.6%100%
 32.4%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Towanda Area Elementary School

Towanda Area Elementary School ranks 836th of 1526 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Towanda Area Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Towanda Area Junior/Senior High School

Students at Towanda Area Elementary School are 96% White, 1% African American, 1% Hispanic.

In the 2023-24 school year, 428 students attended Towanda Area Elementary School.


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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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