The top reported proficiency rate is 90% in Science. The lowest is 70% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Central El Sch
Central Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Elizabeth, a small Monongahela River borough roughly 15 to 16 miles south of Pittsburgh. The school enrolls a modest student population spanning all six grades, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across the grade band.
The school's most recent state assessment results show solid performance. In math, a meaningful majority of tested students in grades 3 through 5 scored at the proficient level. In English language arts, proficiency was somewhat lower but still represents roughly two-thirds of tested students. Science results from the prior year were notably strong, with a large share of tested students meeting proficiency. Across tested subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among schools in Allegheny County.
The student population is predominantly white, with a modest share of multiracial students and very small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. About one-third of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch, indicating a mixed economic profile for families in the school's attendance area.
The school sits on a shared campus with Elizabeth Forward Middle School at Rock Run Road, outside the small borough's downtown core but within a car-reliant suburban environment. The locale itself is economically modest: median home values in the Elizabeth zip code are well below both Pennsylvania and national medians, and the borough has experienced essentially flat population. The housing stock is predominantly older, built before mid-century or during the mid-twentieth century, with limited new construction. Employment is anchored by small businesses and the school district itself rather than large manufacturers. Transit to Pittsburgh is available via a regional bus line with stops along Route 51.
The district is in a period of substantial facilities restructuring. In November 2025 the school board approved Phase 2 of a multi-phase high school construction project triggered by a major 2023 fire. This approval will close three other elementary schools in the district and consolidate students into remaining buildings. Younger elementary students will attend Central Elementary, and older elementary students will move to the middle school building. This restructuring will reshape attendance patterns and bus routes across the district, and families with children at Central should expect these changes to take effect in coming years.
Demographically, the school draws from a community with limited racial and ethnic diversity and a below-average income profile for the region. For families seeking a small elementary school with solid core academic performance in a stable, car-oriented suburban setting within reach of Pittsburgh, Central Elementary represents a straightforward choice. Parents should be aware that district consolidation will likely alter which school their child attends and how they get there as Phase 2 construction proceeds.
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