The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Science. The lowest is 34% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Cornell El Sch
Cornell Elementary is a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade school in Coraopolis, a small Ohio River borough about 10 to 15 miles west of Pittsburgh, just east of the airport. The borough itself is rooted in its mill and steel past; civic life has centered on a compact downtown along Fifth Avenue, though in recent years new shops, restaurants, and breweries have opened and the town has begun modest development of housing and community amenities. The school sits on a single campus with the high school rather than embedded in the downtown proper.
Cornell Elementary serves a student body that is entirely eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the district's two communities. About half the students identify as white, with substantial populations of students who are Black, Hispanic, or identify as two or more races. The overall enrollment is small for this grade span. State testing data was available for math, English language arts, and science across grades three through six.
The school's academic performance shows mixed results. In math and English language arts on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, proficiency rates fall in the mid-to-low range. In science, proficiency is stronger. Relative to other elementary schools in Allegheny County that serve grades three through six or beyond, Cornell's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint of the county cohort. A parent may want to look into these numbers further with the school directly, and also ask about the supports in place to help students who are still building skills.
One significant recent change is structural. The Cornell School District has reorganized around the AASA Learning 2025 framework, embedding social-emotional learning, in-school wellness rooms, a clothing and hygiene closet, and whole-child support as a core teaching practice. This is not a surface add-on but a lasting pedagogical shift toward an equity-focused, wraparound model, and the district was nationally recognized by AASA as an exemplar of positive change. For families considering the district, this represents a commitment to meeting students where they are before and as they learn.
On property taxes, the board approved a real estate tax increase for 2025-26, raising the millage rate. This is a direct, recurring cost for homeowners in Coraopolis and Neville Township and marks a shift from the district's earlier positioning as a low-millage community.
Housing in the area is modestly priced relative to the state and national benchmarks. The local market has shown steady activity, with rental options including both traditional apartments and converted school buildings, and new townhome and apartment developments are underway in the Coraopolis and Findlay area. The borough itself is walkable at neighborhood scale, with a compact business district and hilly terrain. Transit connections to Pittsburgh and the airport exist via regional bus service, and the Montour Trail, a multi-mile rail-trail that runs through town, offers outdoor recreation. The school's location in Coraopolis places it in a community in the early stages of recovery and revitalization rather than rapid growth, with a working-class character and a mix of long-term residents and newcomers drawn to the downtown renaissance.
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