The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 63% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Cecil Intrmd Sch
Cecil Intermediate School serves grades five and six in McDonald, a dense borough in the Pittsburgh orbit that straddles Allegheny and Washington counties. The school is part of Canon-McMillan School District, which covers a broader suburban and township footprint beyond the borough itself.
At Cecil, about three-fifths of students show proficiency in math on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, and about two-thirds do so in reading and language arts. When both subjects are averaged, the school sits in the top quartile among districts in Washington County, a meaningful positioning that suggests students are progressing at or above the rate of most of their county peers. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is typical for a school serving this income range.
The student body is predominantly white and drawn from a stable, home-owning community. A small share of students are Asian, Black, Hispanic, or multiracial. The school enrolls a school-size typical for an intermediate building in a mid-sized district, split evenly between fifth and sixth grades.
Canon-McMillan has undergone significant change in recent years. A new middle school building opened in January 2023, replacing a decades-old facility, and now houses a full campus with two gymnasiums, an auditorium, and dedicated athletic and music spaces. The district is also completing construction of a new elementary school, slated to open in mid-2026, which will enable full-day kindergarten across the district. These facilities investments signal a district in growth mode, particularly in the suburban townships adjacent to McDonald where active new-home construction is occurring.
The district has also rolled out a structured literacy program in grades K-6 emphasizing evidence-based reading instruction, with screening and intervention practices in place for early grades. This is a district-wide teaching shift meant to strengthen foundational reading skills.
One caveat for families considering the area: the Pennsylvania Auditor General flagged Canon-McMillan in early 2023 for tax-raising practices, and the district has a pattern of annual property-tax increases up to the state cap. The district disputed the audit findings regarding fund management, but property-tax trajectory is a material consideration for any family evaluating the housing market here. Home values in McDonald are moderate and rising; monthly rental costs are substantially lower than mortgage payments, which is typical in suburban Pennsylvania communities.
Cecil itself is a grade-band school with no high school or graduation data attached. For a family considering this pipeline, the intermediate grades here appear to be anchored in solid county-level proficiency, within a district making deliberate capital and instructional investments.
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