The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in Science. The lowest is 37% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Fell Cs
Fell CS is a small charter school in Simpson, a sparse, working-class village in Lackawanna County shaped by its anthracite mining heritage. The school serves kindergarten through ninth grade and operates independently as a single-school district, offering families in the area a tuition-free public option distinct from the surrounding Carbondale Area School District.
The school recently expanded to include ninth grade, extending the window for families who want their children to spend additional years at Fell before transitioning to high school. It also secured a third charter renewal from the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2024, after the Carbondale Area School Board declined to act on the renewal locally in 2023. This state-level confirmation allows Fell to continue operating as a public alternative for the community.
On state assessments in 2024-25, Fell's performance is uneven. In English language arts, the school achieved proficiency at a rate roughly comparable to the midpoint among tested schools in the county, and notably above that in science, where performance was strong. In mathematics, proficiency was substantially lower, a soft spot a parent may want to discuss directly with the school when considering enrollment. The school tested a small number of students in each subject, so enrollment remains modest. Racial and ethnic composition is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black and Hispanic students and a small number of American Indian and multiracial students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data and special education and English learner enrollment counts were not available in the public records.
Simpson itself is a small, quiet place strung along Pennsylvania Route 6, oriented toward neighboring Carbondale to the south rather than built around its own civic center. The defining local anchor is the southern trailhead of the D&H Rail-Trail, a 38-mile recreational trail system used year-round for walking, biking, and winter sports. The area's economy historically centered on coal mining and railroading; today the dominant employer is Gentex Corporation, an advanced manufacturer headquartered in Fell Township. Housing values in the zip code have declined modestly in recent years, and the population has remained stable rather than growing significantly.
Families considering Fell should understand that it is a small school serving a modest enrollment across nine grades, with mixed academic results, stronger in language arts and science but needing attention in math. The school discontinued its traditional Summer Success program, so families will not have that extended learning support. The location is rural and car-dependent. For families seeking a smaller, independent public option in a quiet working-class village setting, Fell offers that pathway; parents should weigh the academic profile and resource constraints of a small charter operation against their priorities and their child's needs.
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