The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Science. The lowest is 63% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on William Penn El Sch
William Penn Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Monongahela, a small river city about 17 miles south of Pittsburgh. The school is part of the Elizabeth Forward School District, which covers Elizabeth Township, Forward Township, and Elizabeth Borough in Allegheny County. The school itself is a modest enrollment serving the immediate neighborhood.
The school's most recent tested results come from grades 3 through 5. In mathematics, about two-thirds of students reached proficiency on Pennsylvania's state assessment. In English language arts, the rate was similar, also near two-thirds. Science proficiency was notably stronger, with about four out of five students proficient. These scores place William Penn in the top quartile for proficiency among elementary schools across Allegheny County's districts, meaning it performs well relative to comparable schools in the region.
Demographic data shows the school serves a student population that is predominantly white, with Black and multiracial students each representing a small share and a very small number of Hispanic students. More than half the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that economic hardship affects a meaningful portion of the enrollment. Data on special education enrollment and English learner counts were not reported, so enrollment patterns for those subgroups are unclear.
What you should know about the district's immediate future: In November 2025, the Elizabeth Forward School Board voted to move forward with Phase 2 of a major high school construction project. This decision will close William Penn Elementary, along with two other elementary buildings (Greenock and Mt. Vernon), during the 2026-2027 school year or shortly thereafter. Students currently at William Penn will be reassigned to Central Elementary for the youngest grades or to the district's middle school for older elementary students. This is not a closure due to performance; it is part of a district-wide facilities consolidation tied to reconstruction of the high school following a fire in 2023. Families with children at William Penn should expect significant changes to which building their children attend and to bus routes and class configurations.
Monongahela itself is a small third-class city on the Monongahela River with a sparse suburban character dominated by single-family homes. The city has a walkable historic Main Street that has been undergoing revitalization through a community Main Street Program, with shops, restaurants, and bars along the corridor. The larger regional economy is post-industrial; the city's population and job base have contracted substantially since the collapse of steel manufacturing decades ago. Housing stock is predominantly older, built before the 1970s, with median home values in the mid-range for the county. The Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority provides commuter bus service to downtown Pittsburgh as well as local connections to neighboring towns.
For families considering this school, the key fact is timing. William Penn is a working elementary school with solid academic performance relative to other schools in the county, but it will close within the next school year or two as part of the district's structural reorganization. That closure is certain and not negotiable. Families moving to the area or currently at the school should plan for transition to one of the remaining elementary buildings and understand that busing patterns and peer groups will shift accordingly.
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