The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Science. The lowest is 30% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Union Canal El Sch
Union Canal Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, as part of the Cornwall-Lebanon School District. The school enrolls a diverse community in which roughly two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, with the student body split nearly evenly between white and Hispanic students, alongside smaller populations of Asian, Black, and multiracial children.
The school's academic results show a mixed picture. In science, proficiency is notably strong, demonstrating solid ground in that subject. Reading and math proficiency rates are lower. In math, fewer than one-third of tested third through eighth graders reached proficiency, while in reading, just over one-third did. For context, the school's overall proficiency position sits above the midpoint among districts across Lebanon County, though the countywide group itself spans a fairly wide range of performance.
The school is small to mid-sized for its grade band, with enrollment of about 390 students distributed across six grades. Kindergarten and first grade are smaller cohorts, while older grades, particularly fifth, are notably larger. This composition is typical for an elementary school in the region.
Union Canal sits in Lebanon, a small city serving as the county seat and home to healthcare, manufacturing, and government employment anchored by WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital and the Lebanon VA Medical Center. The city has undergone visible revitalization in recent years, with a downtown streetscape project completed in spring 2025 that rebuilt sidewalks, lighting, and curbing along Cumberland Street. Housing in the Lebanon area is relatively affordable compared to neighboring Lancaster County, with homeownership costs and rents both moderate. Lebanon County as a whole is reported to be one of the faster-growing parts of southeastern Pennsylvania, drawing residents seeking affordability.
The district itself is in the midst of a significant facilities upgrade. Cedar Crest High School, the district's secondary campus, is undergoing multi-phase renovations scheduled for substantial completion in spring 2028, with a new connecting building opened in fall 2025. The district has raised property taxes in consecutive years and is proposing additional increases to fund both operations and construction, a factor families moving into the area should note.
A parent visiting Union Canal would find a school serving a community with real economic need alongside a diverse peer group. Strengths in science instruction appear clear. The lower math and reading proficiency numbers warrant direct conversation with the school about curriculum, intervention supports, and progress monitoring in those areas.
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