The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Science. The lowest is 40% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Houck El Sch
Houck El Sch is a regular public elementary school serving grades PreK through 5 in Lebanon, a small third-class city in southeast Pennsylvania. The school sits on a separate campus rather than in the downtown core and is part of Lebanon School District, which recently underwent significant structural change with the opening of a new junior high building in fall 2024 and a corresponding realignment of grade configurations across the district.
The school enrolls a substantial student body, nearly all of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of white students and smaller numbers of Black and multiracial students. Specific data on English learner status and students with individualized education plans were not available.
On state assessments in math and English language arts administered to grades 3-8, Houck's proficiency results sit below the midpoint among Lebanon County districts. In math, about two of every five students scored at proficient or above. In English language arts, the rate was somewhat higher, at roughly 44 percent. Science proficiency, assessed less frequently, showed a markedly different picture. Houck's science results place the school in the top quartile among county districts, with a substantially higher proficiency rate. The school's overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades ranks in the top quartile within the county comparison set.
The gap between science and core subject performance may warrant a conversation with the school about curriculum, instruction, or the specific student cohorts assessed in science versus math and reading. A parent may want to look into that pattern with the school directly.
Lebanon itself is the county seat and described by residents as quiet and affordable, though it has picked up development momentum recently. Downtown is walkable with 19th- and early 20th-century rowhomes, and the city completed a major Streetscape Project in spring 2025 that rebuilt sidewalks, lighting, and street amenities. Health care and government are the largest employers; WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital is the single largest in-city employer. The area's housing market is substantially more affordable than the state and national benchmarks, with a median home value well below the state benchmark. Rent is also modest relative to local income.
Lebanon County is described as one of the fastest-growing in Pennsylvania, with people drawn from more saturated neighboring counties because homes and rentals remain relatively affordable. The district itself has signaled some funding pressure. During the 2025 state budget impasse, Lebanon School District paused in- and after-school tutoring and placed critical positions on hold, a measure tied to heavy reliance on state revenue. For families considering the school, that dependency on state appropriations is a factor worth monitoring.
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