The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Science. The lowest is 60% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on New Franklin El Sch
New Franklin Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Chambersburg, a mid-sized borough in Franklin County that functions as the county seat and commercial center of the region. The school enrolls a small student body and sits within a community marked by steady growth, strong employment in healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and retail, and an investment mindset.
The school's academic profile shows mixed results across tested grades. In English language arts and mathematics at grades three through five, the school's proficiency rate sits in the low to mid-range, with about three-fifths of tested students meeting state proficiency standards in each subject. Science proficiency is notably stronger, with a substantial majority of tested students meeting or exceeding proficiency. This uneven performance pattern across subjects is important to note if you are evaluating how well the school supports different skill areas. The school performs above the midpoint among districts in Franklin County on an overall proficiency index, placing it in the top quartile for the county, though county baselines themselves are modest.
Economically, the school reflects the broader Chambersburg enrollment: nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that speaks to the economic composition of the school's population rather than the character of the community itself. Chambersburg is experiencing active population growth and new residential development. Housing costs are moderate for the region; median home values are in line with state and national trends, and rental affordability is accessible. Major employers including WellSpan Hospital, the school district itself, Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, and businesses along the Interstate 81 corridor provide economic stability and job diversity.
The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic population and smaller numbers of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. Specific data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available. The school is a regular public school without charter or magnet status, operated by Chambersburg Area School District.
The district landscape itself deserves attention. Chambersburg Area School District has raised property taxes at or near the maximum allowed under Pennsylvania's Act 1 Index in consecutive years, a meaningful shift for any family considering buying into the district. The district received significant new state adequacy funding, but the upward pressure on the property tax bill remains real. Additionally, the district implemented a bell-to-bell cell phone ban in 2026 that extends to all school hours, including passing periods and lunch, which affects how parents can reach their child during the day and reflects a district-level pedagogy choice about device use.
New Franklin's small size and early-grade focus make it a neighborhood-serving school within a district that spreads thirteen elementary buildings, two middle schools, and two high schools across Chambersburg and surrounding townships. The school occupies Wayne Road in Chambersburg proper, placing it within reach of downtown civic anchors including parks, the rail trail, and the historic Main Street corridor. The community has no public transportation, so school access depends on car travel.
Parent familiarity with the specific academic supports available to students below proficiency, and direct conversation with school leadership about how the school addresses the gap between low-to-mid English language arts and math results and stronger science results, would clarify whether this is the right fit for your child.
See more original research from School Decision →