The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Science. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mcadoo-kelayres El/ms
McAdoo-Kelayres Elementary-Middle School serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade in McAdoo, a small, densely settled former coal-mining borough in Schuylkill County. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial white student population, and all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This composition reflects the borough's working-class heritage, rooted in Polish, Italian, Slovak, Irish, and Greek immigrant communities, and its current economic circumstances.
The school's academic results show a mixed picture that parents should examine closely. In English language arts, proficiency on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment falls below the typical performance level for Schuylkill County schools; in math, proficiency is substantially lower. Science proficiency, measured most recently, sits closer to mid-range. Across the tested subjects and grades, McAdoo-Kelayres sits in the bottom quartile when compared with other school districts in Schuylkill County. These results signal that students here are struggling to meet grade-level benchmarks in core subjects, particularly in mathematics. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what support systems exist for students who need extra help and what strategies the school is using to improve outcomes.
The school operates as part of the Hazleton Area School District, which spans three counties and has undergone notable changes in recent years. The district opened three new specialized academies in fall 2023, including a cyber academy housed in a local mall that has grown to serve a large student population, and an arts and humanities academy. These options exist for families interested in alternatives to traditional instruction. The district is also expanding its physical infrastructure: a new elementary school for grades one through five is under construction to address enrollment growth and help ease classroom crowding. Class size matters to many families, and the ongoing facilities work signals that the district is trying to manage rising enrollment, though the effect on McAdoo-Kelayres specifically depends on how enrollment flows between the district's schools.
Housing in McAdoo itself is modest in price relative to state and national benchmarks, reflecting the borough's modest economic circumstances. The borough is compact and walkable, with a small downtown anchored by churches and local shops, and sidewalks connect most residential areas. High-school students from McAdoo are bused out of the borough to Hazleton Area High School in Hazle Township; the K-8 setting means this school serves families who are staying in McAdoo and rely on local schools for their youngest children.
The district has raised real estate taxes for 2026-27, and families in Schuylkill County will see those increases take effect as the county completed a property reassessment. This is relevant context if families are considering whether to stay in or move to the area, since school funding is tied to property wealth and property tax burden varies across the three counties the district spans.
McAdoo-Kelayres is a neighborhood public school serving a community with substantial economic need, delivering core academic instruction in a small-town setting. The academic results suggest that this is a place where students face real challenges in meeting benchmarks, particularly in math, and where families will want to understand what individualized supports are available and how the school is working to close those gaps.
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