The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in Science. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Harrison-morton Ms
Harrison-Morton MS serves a middle school population in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The school enrolls about two-thirds of its expected size for the grade span, with roughly equal numbers across grades six through eight. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller populations of Black, white, and multiracial students. The racial and ethnic composition reflects Allentown's demographics closely. Data on English learners and students receiving special education services were not available.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, proficiency rates at Harrison-Morton were low across tested subjects. In mathematics, a small fraction of students tested reached proficiency. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was roughly double that of math, though still modest. Science results from the prior year showed a slightly higher proficiency proportion. Relative to other districts in Lehigh County, Harrison-Morton's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what supports are in place and what trajectory the school is pursuing. The school's testing data does not yet reflect outcomes from the three new theme-based schools the Allentown district opened in fall 2024, or impact from the strategic plan "Lighting the Way" adopted in June 2024, which prioritizes third-grade literacy and Algebra I proficiency. Those changes are still rolling out across the district.
Harrison-Morton sits in downtown Allentown, on North Second Street. The location places students in one of the city's most walkable zones; Hamilton Street, a block away, scores as a walker's paradise and is lined with cafes, shops, arts venues, and the ArtsWalk connecting the Allentown Art Museum, Miller Symphony Hall, and PPL Center. The downtown area hosts major employers including Lehigh Valley Health Network, Air Products, and PPL Corporation. The broader Allentown neighborhood around the school is mixed-income and dense, with rowhouses and mixed-use commercial blocks, undergoing active revitalization. The district's strategic plan calls for expanding theme-based schools and raising proficiency, particularly in early literacy and algebra, investments that will touch schools across the district including middle grades.
Allentown as a whole is Pennsylvania's third-largest city. The housing market reflects the city's revitalization phase. Home values in the 18101 zip code are below state and national benchmarks, and rents are modest relative to incomes, making the area relatively affordable for renters. The city is experiencing significant development and housing pressure, with hundreds of new units and substantial commercial projects in planning or construction downtown, particularly within the Neighborhood Improvement Zone. Despite this growth, the city faces a documented housing shortage. The district held property taxes flat for three years but has proposed an increase for the 2026-27 school year. These shifts are part of how the district is funding new schools, literacy programs, and capital improvements that families moving to Allentown will encounter. State funding to the district has risen substantially in recent years following Pennsylvania's school funding reform, providing the resources behind much of the visible expansion.
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