The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in Science. The lowest is 64% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on J.a. Allard El Sch
J.A. Allard Elementary serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Moon Township, a mixed-use suburban area about a short drive northwest of Pittsburgh that has grown steadily since Pittsburgh International Airport opened decades ago. The township blends residential neighborhoods with significant commercial and corporate development; families here tend to be employed by major employers including the airport itself, FedEx Ground, GlaxoSmithKline, and other office-park tenants, or work in healthcare and education. Housing values in the area are moderate for the region, and the township is built around highway access rather than a walkable center, so daily life centers on driving between work, school, shopping centers, and recreational facilities.
The school itself is small, serving a population of about two hundred students spread across five grades. The enrollment is relatively stable, with roughly equal cohorts from kindergarten through fourth grade. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly white, with smaller representation from Hispanic, Asian, and Black families. Data on students with disabilities or English learners was not available.
On state testing, Allard's performance shows strength in math and science. In the most recent math results available, students in grades three through four demonstrated solid proficiency on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Science proficiency from the prior year was notably high. English language arts proficiency, by contrast, was notably lower than performance in the other two subjects, suggesting this may be an area where the school is working to improve. When measured against elementary schools across Allegheny County, Allard's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, a meaningful distinction that reflects stronger-than-typical results across the tested subjects.
The district itself faces fiscal headwinds. For the 2026-27 school year, Moon Area School District adopted a property tax increase driven by a significant drop in assessed residential values, plus rising costs in special education, salaries, healthcare, and utilities. Parents considering a move to the area should expect this pattern to continue. Additionally, a major construction project is underway at the high school campus, which will affect athletics and district spending for the coming years; though this does not directly touch elementary buildings, it shapes the district's financial picture and priorities.
Allard sits within a district that serves both Moon and Crescent townships across seven buildings. The school is a straightforward neighborhood public elementary with a traditional grade structure and no specialized magnet or charter designation. Its strength in math and science proficiency and its position among strong performers in the county suggest a solid academic foundation for early learners, though families prioritizing literacy development may want to explore further with the school about how it is addressing the gap in ELA results.
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