The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in Science. The lowest is 49% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Glendale El Sch
Glendale Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Flinton, a small rural village in Reade Township within Cambria County. The school is part of Glendale School District, which operates across two counties and about sixty square miles of sparsely settled land near Prince Gallitzin State Park.
The school's enrollment is small, sitting at just over three hundred students across seven grade levels, with relatively even distributions through the grades. A striking characteristic is the student composition: virtually all students are white, and all students in the school qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating the enrollment comes from families with very limited household income. Data on English learners and students with individualized education plans was not available.
On the most recent state assessments available, the school's academic performance shows a mixed picture. In science, tested at the upper grades, proficiency was strong, reaching the mid-eighties. In English language arts for grades three through eight, proficiency sat just above the midpoint. In mathematics, proficiency was just below fifty percent, meaning roughly half the tested students met grade-level standards. The school stands in the top quartile among Cambria County school districts when proficiency across tested subjects is averaged together, though the county's overall proficiency baseline is modest.
Placed in a rural setting without sidewalks or public transit, the school draws families from townships that were historically mining country and are now predominantly residential and wooded, with limited local commerce. Housing values in the area are well below state and national benchmarks, and property taxes have risen sharply in back-to-back budget years—substantially in 2023-24 alone—as the district drew from reserves to balance its budget. For families considering a move into the district, these tax increases represent a direct, lasting increase to housing carrying costs.
The locale itself centers on civic recreation rather than a town main street. Prince Gallitzin State Park, with its lake, trails, and campground, serves as the area's dominant anchor. A gated recreational community nearby brings seasonal home sales and new construction. But the overall resident population in the district has declined modestly over recent years, and recent home sale prices have fallen. The school is positioned to serve families already embedded in this rural, low-income landscape or those drawn to the recreational amenities and affordability of the area, rather than families relocating for school quality or growth prospects.
See more original research from School Decision →