The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in Science. The lowest is 63% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Centerville El Sch
Centerville Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as part of Hempfield School District. The school enrolls a moderately sized cohort of students across all grade levels, with slightly more children in the lower grades than the upper ones.
The student body reflects Lancaster County's demographics. A substantial majority of students are White, with meaningful shares of Hispanic, multiracial, and Black students, and a smaller Asian population. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a mixed-income enrollment with real economic diversity.
On Pennsylvania's state assessments administered in grades three through six, Centerville's math and English language arts proficiency sit in the mid-60s range, placing the school in the top quartile of Lancaster County districts on an overall proficiency index. Science proficiency is markedly stronger, in the high-80s range. This profile suggests solid foundational skill development across the board, with particular strength in science. State testing in Pennsylvania is given only in grades three through eight, so kindergarten and first- and second-grade results are not available; a parent visiting the school could ask how early literacy and numeracy are assessed and monitored before the state test window opens.
The school sits on Centerville Road in Lancaster, a historically significant small city of dense neighborhoods and a walkable downtown anchored by Lancaster Central Market, galleries, performing arts venues, and parks. The city is experiencing active downtown development with new multistory housing and civic amenities, and housing costs are moderate relative to national benchmarks. Lancaster's economy is shaped by Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital as the dominant employer, with secondary anchors in manufacturing and regional agriculture. The broader county enjoys relatively stable employment and household income near national medians.
Hempfield School District, Centerville's parent district, is navigating significant structural changes. The board approved a major renovation of Hempfield High School requiring multiple years of construction and a major infrastructure commitment. To support this project and rising operational costs, the district has implemented notably steeper property tax increases than its historical pattern, signaling sustained upward pressure on school taxes for homeowners in the district. A recently approved four-year teachers' contract will itself require substantial annual tax increases. Additionally, Lancaster County is undertaking a countywide property reassessment scheduled for 2027, which will reset the assessed values that determine individual school tax bills; while intended to be revenue-neutral systemwide, individual homeowners should expect their tax obligations to shift based on how their property is revalued.
On the curriculum side, Hempfield has overhauled its secondary math pathway, replacing traditional honors sequences with AP Precalculus, college algebra, and business calculus, while adding career-focused courses in trade and medical mathematics. The district also shifted control of the school board to Democratic leadership in the November 2025 elections after what is likely decades of Republican governance, a governance transition that will influence policy decisions on the high school project, curriculum, and budgeting through the four-year term ahead.
For families considering Centerville Elementary specifically, the school offers solid, measurable academic performance in a grade band before state testing begins, anchored in a walkable city with ongoing development and real community services. Families should factor in the district's rising tax trajectory and the prolonged high school construction that will dominate district attention and finances through the next several years.
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