The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in Science. The lowest is 40% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Maplewood El Sch
Maplewood Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Townville, a very small rural borough in eastern Crawford County in northwest Pennsylvania. The school is located on State Highway 408, situated on a rural campus outside the compact borough center, and operates as part of the Penncrest School District, a geographically large district covering multiple small municipalities across Crawford and into Venango County.
The school has an enrollment of roughly 450 students spread across seven grade levels, from kindergarten through grade six. Close to half the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is predominantly white, with very limited racial and ethnic diversity. Data on special education enrollment and English learner populations was not available.
On state assessments, Maplewood's performance in math and English language arts falls below where one might hope. In the most recent testing year, less than half the tested students in grades three through six reached proficiency in either subject. Science results from the prior testing year, by contrast, were notably stronger, with most students meeting the proficiency standard. Among the county's districts, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, a positioning that reflects both the school's mixed results and the county's broader academic landscape.
Townville itself is a residential settlement with no walkable commercial district or major civic infrastructure. It has been essentially flat in population for decades, with no major new housing or development projects evident. Daily errands require driving to larger nearby towns such as Meadville (the county seat, about 15 miles west) or Titusville. The local economy is shaped primarily by agriculture, tool and die work, and light manufacturing. Home values in the zip code are below both the state and national benchmarks, making this an affordable housing market, though mortgage rates and economic conditions affect affordability in practice.
At the district level, families considering Maplewood should be aware of two significant changes. In January 2023, the Penncrest School Board passed a library materials policy banning written and visual depictions of sexual acts and nudity in school libraries, along with an athletics policy that restricts transgender students' participation in girls' sports. The library policy has prompted ongoing litigation and shapes what books are available in school libraries. Second, the district has been running a multi-phase facilities modernization program since late 2020, upgrading HVAC systems, addressing asbestos, and replacing aging building infrastructure at Maplewood and other schools. These upgrades are material improvements to the learning environment. At the same time, the district approved a property tax increase for the 2024-25 budget and entered the 2025-26 cycle with a projected deficit, meaning families should expect continued upward pressure on local property taxes.
The school is located in a rural area with modest home prices and limited urban amenities. It is appropriate for families seeking an affordable, quiet, small-school environment with manageable academic expectations, though parents concerned with academic proficiency in reading and math may want to look into the school's instructional approach and support systems further. The district's recent curriculum and athletics policies are parent-relevant context that some families will view as important to their decision.
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