The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Science. The lowest is 18% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Carter and Macrae El Sch
Carter and MacRae Elementary sits in downtown Lancaster, a walkable historic city with dense streets of brick rowhomes, boutiques, galleries, and restaurants blended into a neighborhood setting. The school serves pre-K through fifth grade and draws its enrollment from Lancaster proper.
The student body is predominantly low-income. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. More than half the school is Hispanic, with Black students making up a significant share as well. The remainder consists of small numbers of white, multiracial, and Asian students. The overall enrollment is small to moderate for this grade band.
Test performance in math and English language arts is notably low. On the most recent state assessment, proficiency in math and ELA both fell well below what is typical for schools in Lancaster County. By contrast, science proficiency was substantially stronger, suggesting uneven academic readiness across subjects. The school performs in the bottom quartile among county districts on overall proficiency. When a parent looks at these results, a conversation with the school about what's driving the gaps in reading and math would be worth having.
The district is in the middle of a major physical renovation. Carter and MacRae is one of five elementary schools slated for renovation as part of the fourth and final phase of a decades-long master facilities plan, meaning families enrolling now can expect substantially upgraded buildings by the end of the decade. That construction work is underway across the district.
What warrants close attention is the district's fiscal situation. A budgeting error in the prior year led to a large shortfall, and the district has begun raising property taxes significantly to address the gap. Tax increases are planned across multiple years, with some already implemented. For a family considering the Lancaster area, these recurring tax costs should factor into the housing affordability calculation alongside the publicly listed home values and rents.
On the positive side, the district has begun receiving substantially larger state funding allocations following Pennsylvania's school funding reform, targeted specifically at historically underfunded districts like Lancaster. This money is being directed toward services for English learners and special education students, reflecting the school's actual enrollment composition. It represents a structural shift in how the district is resourced.
The school's location in downtown Lancaster is an asset in terms of walkability and proximity to civic institutions. The new Lancaster Public Library opened at Ewell Plaza in 2023, the farmers market and performing arts venues are within walking distance, and public transit is available. For families who value a walkable urban setting and downtown access, that anchors the day-to-day experience.
The testing data shows students here are starting behind in foundational skills. Whether this reflects the needs of an economically disadvantaged, multilingual cohort without adequate prior support, or whether it signals something about instructional approach or resource allocation within the school, would be important to understand directly. A visit to the school and a conversation about how the new state funding and planned renovations are being used to close those gaps would help a parent make an informed choice.
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