The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Science. The lowest is 50% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pennell El Sch
Pennell Elementary is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school in Aston Township, part of the Penn-Delco School District in southwestern Delaware County. It serves a community that describes itself with strong local identity and suburban character, built mostly on single-family homes and anchored by civic institutions along Concord Road and an embedded health-care corridor.
The school enrolls a modest population for its grade band. The enrollment mix is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. About one in three students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a moderate spread of economic circumstances within the attendance area. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status was not available, so a parent seeking to understand the school's support infrastructure for those populations should contact the school directly.
State assessment results in 2024-25 show proficiency on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment at roughly the midpoint for math and somewhat higher for English language arts in grades three through five. The school performs notably better in science, where a majority of students tested in 2022-23 achieved proficiency. When averaged across these subjects, Pennell's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint among Delaware County districts, suggesting performance at or slightly better than the typical district school in the county. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students not yet proficient, particularly in math, and what interventions or practices account for the stronger science results.
The school sits in a built-out township with stable-to-slightly-declining population, where most residents own their homes and commute for work and services. Aston is a car-dependent suburb, and Pennell Road and Concord Road carry local traffic. Housing in the zip code appreciates modestly year over year, and mortgage affordability sits near the national benchmark. The local economic environment includes Neumann University as a major institution and regional employers like the Delaware County Intermediate Unit, plus retail and light industrial operations.
A significant context for families in this school's attendance area is the property tax environment. The Penn-Delco School District raised its millage for 2024-25 to fund added counselors, a psychologist, an athletic trainer, and rising charter-school tuition payments. For homeowners, that translates to a material annual cost increase. This is relevant because charter-school tuition, a recurring district expense, draws dollars from the general fund in ways homeowners in Aston, Brookhaven, and Parkside see reflected in their tax bills year after year.
The district has also adopted Leader in Me as its framework for social and emotional learning across all K-5 schools, beginning in 2024-25. That curriculum, built on the '7 Habits of Highly Effective Students,' is now woven into weekly Guidance and classroom time at Pennell. Parents should expect instruction in these habits and habits-based language in school communications and their child's classroom experience.
The school has no specialized programs, magnet status, or charter affiliation; it is a neighborhood elementary school with a traditional configuration and enrollment drawn from the surrounding area. For families wanting a small-town suburban setting with modest proficiency results and a straightforward, habits-based approach to character and learning, Pennell offers a grounded, accessible option. A parent seeking more detailed information about specific academic supports, the pace and depth of the math curriculum, or how the school differentiates instruction should visit the school or contact the Penn-Delco central office.
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