The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Science. The lowest is 42% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Homer-center El Sch
Homer-Center Elementary School is a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade school serving a small rural borough in western Pennsylvania. The school sits just outside the borough proper, in Center Township, and enrolls roughly students across seven grade levels, with a largely white student body and a substantial share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The school's academic profile shows strength in science, where a majority of students tested met or exceeded proficiency. Mathematics proficiency sits at a moderate level, with about half of tested students meeting the state's standard. English language arts is the softer subject, with less than half of students proficient. Across these tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the nine districts in Indiana County. That ranking reflects solid performance relative to its immediate peer set, though the variance across subjects suggests uneven preparation in foundational literacy skills.
The school operates within a district facing significant fiscal headwinds. The Homer City Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant that sat within view of the district and had been a major property taxpayer, closed in July 2023. That closure removed a substantial share of the district's property tax base. The district responded by approving a real estate tax increase for the 2023-24 school year and has signaled concern about further revenue pressure if the idle plant site is reassessed downward. Those budget constraints have already forced the district into piecemeal fixes for aging HVAC systems rather than comprehensive long-term capital projects. For families considering moving to the area, this fiscal vulnerability matters: it affects the school's ability to maintain facilities, fund programs, and plan for growth, and it will likely shape property tax trajectories over the coming years.
The town itself is small, with a compact historic center anchored by a 19th-century street plan, a Rails-to-Trails pathway, and local historical programming. A major economic redevelopment project is underway at the former power plant site, announced in 2025 as a large-scale data center campus, though the timeline and housing implications of that project remain unclear. In the near term, Homer-Center Elementary is a neighborhood school serving an economically modest and largely white rural community with moderate academic performance in math and science but lower proficiency in reading and writing. A parent weighing enrollment may want to look into the district's longer-term budget outlook and any academic support available for reading instruction.
See more original research from School Decision →