The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in Science. The lowest is 56% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Frankstown El Sch
Frankstown Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Hollidaysburg, a small historic county seat about five miles south of Altoona in Blair County. The school sits on Reservoir Road and draws a student body that is predominantly white, with roughly two in five students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Enrollment is stable at around mid-range for an elementary school spanning all primary grades.
On state testing, the school shows a divided academic profile. Science performance is notably strong, with the majority of students reaching proficiency. Math proficiency sits in the mid-range, with roughly two-thirds of tested students meeting the standard. English language arts performance is the softer area, with about half of tested students meeting proficiency. Across those three subjects, the school's overall proficiency sits in the top quartile relative to other districts in Blair County, a meaningful strength in its immediate peer set.
The school operates within the Hollidaysburg Area School District, which faces substantial structural challenges heading into the next several years. A significant property tax increase took effect in 2025-26, and the district has signaled additional increases are likely, as pandemic-era federal relief funding has expired and the district carries a multi-million-dollar structural deficit. For families considering the area, this is a lasting cost factor. Additionally, the district is working through a master plan from an October 2024 feasibility study that could reshape elementary education in the system. The plan would consolidate the three elementary schools, likely into a single new building on the site of Charles W. Longer Elementary, and reorganize grade configurations district-wide. These changes remain under consideration and would affect which school families' children attend and the long-term tax outlook.
Hollidaysburg itself is a walkable historic borough with a compact downtown anchored by the Diamond and Allegheny Street, where county government, shops, restaurants, and civic events cluster. The housing stock is predominantly older, built before or shortly after World War II, with modest infill townhouses and scattered newer construction. Housing values are below both state and national benchmarks, and rental costs are relatively moderate, making the area more affordable than many Pennsylvania communities, though property tax levels have become a factor. The borough has been stable in population and has identified a need for new housing units. Major employers include county and state government offices, UPMC Altoona in the nearby county, and Sheetz, with additional local work in engineering, media, and senior services.
For families considering this school, the questions center on timing and future configuration. The academic profile shows real strength in science and competitive standing in the county, but English language arts performance warrants attention and conversation with the school about support structures and curriculum. The district's budget trajectory and the pending master plan are material considerations: families moving into the attendance area should understand that school assignments, building configurations, and property tax obligations could shift in the next few years as the district works through its capital and operational challenges.
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