The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Science. The lowest is 38% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln El Sch
Lincoln Elementary sits in a small historic county seat that is actively growing. Gettysburg is anchored by the Civil War battleground and cemetery, Gettysburg College, and a dense, walkable downtown district centered on Lincoln Square, where zoning restricts chain businesses to preserve 19th-century character. Major employers include the college, WellSpan Health (which operates the local hospital), and tourism-related hospitality. The borough is in a notable building phase: large residential developments are underway on the outskirts and within walking distance, and residents have raised concerns about infrastructure strain from simultaneous downtown infill, housing projects near Camp Letterman, and a 55-plus active-adult community expansion in the surrounding township.
Lincoln Elementary enrolls a small to mid-sized population across kindergarten through fifth grade, drawn from a community that is economically mixed. More than half the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student population is predominantly white, with Hispanic, multiracial, and Black students making up smaller shares. Data on students receiving special education services or English language support were not available.
On state assessments, the school shows a split picture. In science, proficiency is solid. In English language arts, a little less than half the students score at proficient or above. In math, proficiency falls to a lower level, with roughly two in five students meeting the standard. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other district schools in Adams County, but parents may want to look into what instructional moves or resources the school is putting in place to lift math performance, particularly in the third through fifth grade span where the state assesses these skills.
The school building itself is receiving attention: in October 2023, the district approved infrastructure upgrades to modernize Lincoln Elementary and a sister school, with construction running through 2025. That work is underway now and will refresh the physical environment during your child's time there.
The Gettysburg Area School District faces budget pressure. After years of holding the line on tax increases, the board approved a real estate tax increase for 2026-27 to close a deficit driven largely by special education costs. For three consecutive years, families have also paid a separate ACTI line-item tax dedicated to funding a future expansion of the county technical institute, which will eventually expand vocational and career options. These dynamics mean property tax bills in the district are rising, and that trajectory appears set to continue.
The district has launched a cyber school option for grades six through twelve, offering families a district-run online alternative, and the growth happening around Gettysburg means enrollment pressure and infrastructure demands will likely shape planning and resource allocation in the years ahead.
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