The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Science. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mifflin Park El Sch
Mifflin Park Elementary serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Shillington, a small borough nestled in Berks County just outside Reading. The school is part of the Governor Mifflin School District and sits on a dedicated school campus on the edge of the borough rather than within the walkable downtown grid.
The school enrolls a student body that is roughly split between white and Hispanic students, with smaller shares of Black and Asian students and a small number of students identifying as multiracial. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is reflective both of the district's universal free-meals policy—operating under federal Community Eligibility Provision since 2024-25, providing free breakfast and lunch to every student regardless of family income—and of the economic composition of the families the school serves.
On state assessments, Mifflin Park's performance shows uneven strength. In science, the school achieved proficiency rates well above what the field would call a floor, placing it in the top quartile relative to other schools in Berks County. In English language arts and math, proficiency rates were notably lower, with fewer than half of tested students meeting the state standard in each subject. When averaged across subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint of Berks County schools but not at the top. A parent looking at these results should understand that strength in science coexists with a softer showing in foundational literacy and numeracy skills. The school may want to examine what is working in science instruction and whether those approaches could inform work in math and reading.
Shillington itself is a built-out, mature residential community with roots dating back well before the 20th century. The borough's character mixes early-20th-century townhouses, American Foursquares, and semi-detached homes on small lots with tree-lined streets and a walkable downtown spine along Lancaster Avenue, where local shops and restaurants draw daily foot traffic. Most residents still rely on cars for work commutes, though BARTA bus service links the borough to greater Reading. The real estate market is tight. Housing values have risen, and properties sell relatively quickly with limited new construction; most activity is infill and conversion of existing buildings rather than subdivision development. Broader residential growth is happening in surrounding townships like Cumru and Spring.
The district itself is navigating back-to-back significant property tax increases. The board approved a near-Act-1-index hike for fiscal 2024-25 and then another substantial increase for 2026-27, signaling a sustained climb in school taxes for families in the borough. Against this, the district has secured funding for a multi-phase secondary-campus reconstruction project—redesigned science classrooms, expanded music facilities, renovated special education spaces, and new STEM instruction rooms—funded through restructured debt and low-interest bonds, with no additional millage increase required. At the high school level, the district added a dual-enrollment introduction to financial accounting course through the University of Pittsburgh, one of only two such programs in the state, opening a college-credit pathway for seniors.
The elementary school's low grade band means it has no graduation rate. Data on special education and English learner enrollment were not available, leaving a gap in understanding the full scope of student needs the building serves.
See more original research from School Decision →