The top reported proficiency rate is 90% in Science. The lowest is 56% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Nicely El Sch
Nicely Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Greensburg, a county-seat city that is home to a mix of historic downtown development and Route 30 commercial corridors. The school sits in Greensburg Salem School District, which in June 2024 ended a four-year freeze on real estate taxes by raising the millage rate, a direct change families relocating to the area will feel on their annual property bill. The district's budget pressures stem from the loss of pandemic relief funding and climbing costs in special education, health care, and cyber charter tuition.
The school enrolls a diverse student population reflective of its community. All students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Enrollment has grown modestly across the primary grades, with roughly balanced cohorts. The student body is majority white, with meaningful shares of students identifying as multiracial, Black, or Hispanic. Specific rates for students with disabilities and English learners were not reported in available data.
State assessment results show a mixed picture in tested grades. In English language arts and math in grades three through five, about half of tested students met proficiency, placing the school in the top quartile among Westmoreland County districts on an overall proficiency index that averages across all tested subjects and grades. Science performance was notably stronger, with roughly nine in ten tested students meeting proficiency in the most recent year available. These results suggest particular strength in science instruction, while reading and mathematics proficiency rates may warrant attention from parents wanting to understand where additional support or challenge is available.
The wider Greensburg context shapes the school's place. Downtown Greensburg is in an active revitalization phase, with restored theaters and cultural spaces, zoning changes favoring residential development, and a walkable core. Housing costs in the area remain below both state and national benchmarks. The city is home to two universities, Independence Health System as the largest regional employer, and a historic Amtrak station. Route 30 remains the commercial spine, with newer housing growth concentrated on the city's northern edge. For families considering the Greensburg Salem district, the combination of below-benchmark housing values, an economically mixed community, and an active downtown make it a particular draw for families seeking affordability alongside civic revitalization, though the recent tax increase signals that the era of no property tax growth has ended.
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