The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Science. The lowest is 31% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Southeast El Sch
Southeast Elementary serves the youngest grades in Lebanon School District, spanning pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in a regular public setting. The school draws nearly all its students from families who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the majority of the student body is Hispanic. The school's location on East Pershing Avenue places it within the city of Lebanon, a small county seat in southeastern Pennsylvania that sits in one of the state's fastest-growing regions.
The most recent state test results show a split picture. In the 2024-25 school year, students tested in grades three through five showed low proficiency in the two core academic areas. Math proficiency was below a third of students, while English language arts proficiency stood just above that threshold. These results place the school above the midpoint among other districts in Lebanon County when proficiency rates are viewed together across tested subjects and grades, though any individual parent reviewing these numbers should understand that "above the midpoint in the county" still means many students are not reaching grade-level benchmarks in reading and math. Science proficiency, measured in the prior school year, was notably stronger at a much higher rate, suggesting the school may have particular strengths in that subject.
The enrollment is small to moderate, with students spread relatively evenly across the pre-K and elementary grades. Every single student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects deep economic need in the school's service area and likely points to access issues around after-school support, tutoring, and enrichment. The demographic composition is heavily Hispanic, with smaller shares of white students and other groups represented. The data did not include the school's rate of students with individualized education plans or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and what support structures exist.
Lebanon School District itself underwent significant structural changes in the 2024-25 school year. A new junior high opened in fall 2024 on the high school campus, funded without raising taxes, and the district realigned its grade configurations: the former middle school became an intermediate school for grades five and six, and all bell schedules shifted. For a family with a child at Southeast, this means the transition into intermediate school will happen at a different time of day and location than in prior years. The district also relies heavily on state funding, and during the 2025 state budget impasse it paused tutoring programs and placed positions on hold, suggesting that program continuity and staffing can be affected by state fiscal cycles.
The city of Lebanon itself is growing, with new housing development and a revitalized downtown focus. Housing in the area is relatively affordable compared to surrounding counties, and the median home value remains below both the state and national benchmarks. The school sits within a working-class community anchored by healthcare, manufacturing, and government employment, with WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital as the largest employer.
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