The top reported proficiency rate is 13% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Francis D Raub Ms
Francis D Raub MS is a middle school serving grades six through eight in Allentown, located in the city's South Saint Cloud Street neighborhood. It is a regular public school within the Allentown City School District, not a charter.
The enrollment sits at roughly mid-sized for a middle grades facility, with a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of Black students and minimal representation of other racial or ethnic groups. The school's demographic profile reflects the composition of much of central Allentown.
State assessment data shows a pressing academic picture. In math proficiency, the school's performance is well below what would support typical grade-level competency, as is the case in English language arts. Science proficiency, measured in the prior school year, sat in a similar range. When compared against other districts in Lehigh County, Raub's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile among schools in the county, indicating that student achievement here lags significantly behind the performance of peers in the broader region.
The data do not capture participation rates or average scale scores that might offer a fuller picture of where students stand within the proficiency bands. Absence of enrollment numbers for students with individualized education plans or English learners means it is unclear what share of the population may be accessing specialized instruction or language support, though these are common in schools serving high concentrations of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and in districts with large Spanish-speaking populations.
Allentown itself is Pennsylvania's third-largest city, a post-industrial urban center in active revitalization. Downtown is highly walkable and anchored by cultural institutions, a new arena, and expanding residential and commercial development tied to a Neighborhood Improvement Zone. Parks, public transit, and civic amenities are robust. The city's dominant employers are in healthcare (Lehigh Valley Health Network), with additional major corporate headquarters and growing warehousing and logistics. Housing values in the area are moderate and rents relatively affordable by national standards, though the city faces a substantial housing shortage and affordability pressures.
The school district, Allentown City SD, has recently undergone strategic repositioning. In June 2024, the board adopted a long-range plan titled "Lighting the Way: A Blueprint for Innovation and Excellence 2030" that prioritizes third-grade literacy, Algebra I proficiency by ninth grade, raising graduation rates, reducing chronic absenteeism, and expanding theme-based schools. The district opened three new theme-based schools in fall 2024, including a dual-language immersion academy and a STEM-focused elementary. The district has benefited from a substantial rise in state funding under Pennsylvania's revised adequacy formula, allowing it to hold property tax rates flat for three consecutive years while launching new initiatives. A property tax increase is now proposed for the 2026-27 school year, the first adjustment in years.
A parent or resident considering Raub should understand that the school's test results point to acute academic challenges in foundational literacy and mathematics. The district's new strategic framework and expanded funding signal institutional commitment to improvement, but current performance is far below county benchmarks. The school's role in the broader district context is that of a neighborhood middle grades facility serving a majority-Hispanic, economically disadvantaged urban population in a city with strong civic assets but ongoing educational performance gaps. Further conversations with the school and district about specific literacy supports, tutoring, and the implementation of the "Lighting the Way" priorities at the middle grades level would be worthwhile for any family weighing enrollment here.
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