The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Science. The lowest is 53% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Perry Lower Intrmd Sch
Perry Lower Intermediate School serves grades three and four in Ellwood City, a small western-Pennsylvania borough about thirty miles northwest of Pittsburgh. The school sits within the Ellwood City Area School District, which serves the town and its immediate surroundings.
The student body numbers around a little over two hundred. Just over half the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The composition is predominantly white, with small numbers of students who identify as Hispanic or multiracial; the data shows no Asian or American Indian enrollment. The school does not report counts or rates for students receiving special education services or English learners, which is common for schools serving early elementary grades where such services are often reported at the district rather than building level.
In state testing, Perry Lower's results are mixed. In English language arts, a moderate share of students score at proficiency levels three and four on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. In mathematics, proficiency sits somewhat lower. The school's strongest performance comes in science, where a substantial majority of students met proficiency standards most recently reported. When proficiency rates are averaged across tested subjects and grades, the school ranks in the top quartile relative to other school buildings in Lawrence County, positioning it as a stronger performer in its immediate peer group.
Ellwood City itself is a place with deep industrial roots: steel mills, foundries, and coal mining shaped the town across its history. Today the borough mixes that manufacturing heritage with a walkable downtown centered on Lawrence Avenue, where civic life concentrates. The housing stock is older, much of it built before the mid-twentieth century and perched on rolling hills. Home values are modest compared to broader regional benchmarks. A number of families have moved to Ellwood City from more expensive Pittsburgh suburbs in search of affordability; the result has been some residential interest, though no large new subdivisions have been documented. The borough is pursuing downtown redevelopment through a downtown authority and has attracted some new commercial activity including a new grocery option announced for 2025.
At the district level, meaningful change is underway. The board authorized significant capital bonds in late 2025 to fund improvements at other district buildings, with the consequence that property taxes will rise in the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. This is a direct financial reality for any family considering the area. More broadly, the district adopted a comprehensive plan focused on rewriting the math curriculum, investing in math support teachers, and realigning English language arts instruction to state standards, all aimed at improving PSSA performance. The district has also redesigned high school graduation requirements, adding communication coursework and increasing required credits, changes that affect every high school student's pathway. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the district intends to restrict cell phone and personal device use during the school day, a shift in daily student experience across all buildings.
Perry Lower is an elementary intermediate school in a traditional public school district serving a tight-knit small town. Its academic standing in its county is solid, particularly in science. A parent considering this school should understand that the town itself carries an older, working-class character; that the district is in the middle of curriculum-focused improvement work; and that property tax support is increasing to fund capital work elsewhere in the district. The school sits within community life rather than apart from it, which fits some families well and matters less to others.
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