The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Science. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Greensburg-salem Ms
Greensburg-Salem Middle School serves grades six through eight in the county seat of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The school enrolls students from the Greensburg Salem School District, which in mid-2024 ended a four-year property tax freeze with a millage increase, a shift that parents relocating to the district would feel directly in their annual tax bill. The district continues to face budget pressure from the loss of federal pandemic relief funds and rising costs for special education, health care, and students attending cyber charter schools.
The school's current enrollment sits at roughly 600 students, distributed fairly evenly across its three grades. All students in the enrollment data qualified for free or reduced-price lunch, a figure that warrants a direct conversation with the school about how this is calculated and what support systems are in place, as the standard qualification threshold does not typically reach 100 percent. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students identifying as multiracial, Black, or Hispanic. Data on special education enrollment and English learner enrollment were not available.
On the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, the school's proficiency results are mixed. In English language arts, about two in five students scored at the proficient level or above in the most recent tested year. Mathematics proficiency was notably lower, with about three in ten students meeting the standard. Science proficiency, based on the most recent year tested, was stronger at roughly half the students performing at or above the proficient level. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Westmoreland County, a position that reflects sustained academic challenges in the foundational skills measured by state assessment.
The school sits on North Main Street in downtown Greensburg, a location within walking distance of the historic downtown core and its civic anchors. The Westmoreland County Courthouse, Palace Theatre, Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Amtrak station, and Seton Hill University are all nearby, giving the school a centered position in an active downtown revitalization zone. Greensburg's downtown is walkable, with independent shops, cafes, restaurants, and breweries along Main and Pittsburgh Streets, though the broader city beyond the core is car-dependent and oriented toward Route 30's retail corridor.
Housing in the Greensburg zip code is moderately priced relative to state and national benchmarks, with the affordability of both purchase and rental favorable compared to national levels. The area is experiencing housing growth on the city's northern end through developments like Saybrook Village and Evergreen Hill, while downtown redevelopment projects are expanding residential options closer to the school's location.
Greensburg-Salem Middle School's profile is that of a middle grades school in an economically stressed district serving a largely low-income student population, with academic performance below the county median. The location in a revitalizing downtown offers civic and cultural proximity that can enrich school life, but the school's test results and the district's ongoing budget constraints are realities families should factor into their decision. A parent considering the school would benefit from discussing directly with administrators the pathways in place to support students who are not yet meeting state standards, and understanding what instructional supports or enrichment opportunities are available.
See more original research from School Decision →