The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Science. The lowest is 44% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on March El Sch
March Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Easton, a small Lehigh Valley city with a walkable historic downtown anchored by Centre Square and the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. The school sits in a neighborhood-based, regular public setting within the Easton Area School District, which is actively rebuilding its facilities and managing substantial property tax increases to fund a major new high school project beginning in 2027.
The school's enrollment is small, drawing families from Easton itself. The student body is economically challenged: substantially more than the entire enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting economic stress in the immediate attendance area. Racial and ethnic composition is mixed, with roughly equal shares of white and Hispanic students, alongside smaller populations of Black, multiracial, and Asian students. The school's demographics reflect Easton's urban character and diversity.
Academic performance on state assessments shows mixed results. In English language arts, proficiency stands at a level that suggests about two in five students tested met or exceeded state standards. Math proficiency is similar. Science, however, shows considerably stronger performance, with three in four students tested meeting or exceeding standards in the most recent year available. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile of schools across Northampton County's districts, meaning it outperforms the median when its tested grades and subjects are averaged together. A parent should note that data on English learners and special education populations is not available, so the full scope of student needs is not visible here.
Easton itself is in active redevelopment, with mixed-use housing, retail, and cultural projects underway downtown, anchored by the civic heart of Centre Square and the Easton Farmers' Market. Lafayette College sits on College Hill just above the downtown. The city's walkability and street life center on downtown restaurants, galleries, festivals, and transit connections via LANTA buses and the Easton Intermodal Transportation Center, which serves regional and airport routes. Major employers include Crayola, Lafayette College, St. Luke's Health Network, and manufacturing firms like Victaulic.
Housing values in the Easton zip code are moderate relative to state and national benchmarks, and rents have risen recently. The Easton Area School District, however, is raising property taxes substantially to fund the new high school and address structural deficits: consecutive increases of meaningful size have been adopted in 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26, with future increases tied to debt service expected to continue. Families considering a move into the district should factor these cumulative tax increases into their housing calculations.
For a primary-grades family, March Elementary offers a neighborhood school in an economically diverse urban setting with moderate academic performance in reading and math and stronger science achievement. The broader district context includes both active community investment in downtown redevelopment and ongoing financial pressure from the high school project, both of which will shape the district's trajectory over the coming years.
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