The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Science. The lowest is 65% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Wasson Avenue El Sch
Wasson Avenue Elementary serves kindergarten through fourth grade in DuBois, a small third-class city in north-central Pennsylvania that blends a historic downtown with a modern retail landscape. The school is part of DuBois Area School District, which has just completed a major structural change: consolidating eight elementary schools into four modernized buildings. Wasson received an eight-classroom addition and a complete renovation, housing the students redirected from other elementary buildings as part of this district-wide consolidation. The new facility includes STEM classrooms and updated music and art spaces, meaning families choosing this school are sending their children to a freshly equipped K-4 building rather than an aging one.
The student body at Wasson is small and highly economically disadvantaged. Enrollment sits at roughly four hundred students across the five grades, with substantially all students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating the school serves families with limited income. The student population is predominantly white, with small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Detailed data on English learner status and special education enrollment were not available in the records provided.
Academic performance on state assessments shows a mixed picture. In mathematics, the school achieved proficiency at a rate that places it in the top quartile among districts in Clearfield County. English language arts proficiency was notably lower, suggesting this is an area where the school may need to focus support or where families might want to ask more detailed questions. Science proficiency, assessed most recently in the prior year, was strong. State testing data were not available for kindergarten through second grade, as Pennsylvania does not assess those grades, so the reported results reflect grades three and four only.
The district has made deliberate investments in the school's instructional framework. The board approved a comprehensive overhaul of K-12 science curriculum, adopting Twig Science for kindergarten through fifth grade effective this school year, aligning with Pennsylvania's newly updated STEELS science standards. Additionally, DuBois Area received a substantial state grant among the largest awarded in Pennsylvania to expand STEM and Career and Technical Education programming, money that will scale those learning opportunities for students. The district has also held property taxes flat across consecutive budgets, a concrete affordability signal for families considering whether to move to or stay in the area.
DuBois itself is at an inflection point. In January 2026, the city consolidated with surrounding Sandy Township, forming the first new Pennsylvania city since the late twentieth century. Leading up to consolidation, population had shifted: the old city lost residents while the township gained them, though the city's overall population has continued to decline slightly in recent years. However, economic development reports note the area has added new businesses and jobs over the past decade, and Penn State DuBois recently invested in a new wellness center. The consolidation took place against the backdrop of a public corruption scandal involving the former city manager, which shaped public confidence during the transition. Housing values in the DuBois zip code are below the state and national benchmarks, and rental costs are moderate relative to household income, which may matter for families deciding whether to relocate to the community.
Wasson Avenue Elementary is a small, newly renovated school in an economically stressed community with fresh physical infrastructure and deliberate curricular investments in science and STEM. Families should be aware that proficiency in English language arts trails mathematics, which may be worth exploring directly with the school. The school fits families seeking a smaller elementary setting with modern facilities who are drawn to or already rooted in DuBois or the surrounding area.
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