The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in Science. The lowest is 59% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Penns Valley Area El and Intrmd Sch
Penns Valley Area Elementary and Intermediate School serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Spring Mills, a rural village in the Penns Valley region of Centre County. The school sits on the edge of this small, agricultural community where many families commute to State College for work. It is one of three elementary buildings in the Penns Valley Area School District; in August 2025 the district closed Miles Township Elementary in neighboring Rebersburg after nearly a century of operation, consolidating students into Penns Valley and Centre Hall-Potter Elementary. This closure means new bus routes and a shift in which families feed into which buildings, a structural change that parents considering the area should understand as a lasting feature of recent district reorganization.
The school's enrollment is small, with students spread across six grades. About four in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting mixed economic circumstances within the school's draw area. The student body is predominantly white; enrollment of Hispanic students and students of two or more races each makes up a very small share.
In state testing during the 2024-25 school year, the school showed mixed results. In mathematics, a solid share of students tested at proficient or above. English language arts performance was notably lower, with about three in five students meeting proficiency. Science results from the 2022-23 school year, the most recent available, were strong, with the vast majority of students proficient. Overall, when proficiency rates across tested subjects are averaged together, the school's performance places it in the top quartile among elementary and intermediate schools in Centre County. That said, English language arts stands out as a softer subject for the school community and is worth monitoring and discussing directly with school leadership.
The housing market around Spring Mills reflects rural character and modest growth. Home values in the area sit modestly above the Pennsylvania state average, though still below the national benchmark. Houses rarely come on the market and tend to sell quickly when they do. The township has adopted an affordable housing program with the Centre County Housing and Land Trust, a signal of concern about housing pressure spilling from the nearby State College metro area. The local economy remains rooted in agriculture and small businesses; many residents commute to State College for work in education and healthcare tied to Pennsylvania State University.
Spring Mills itself is a car-dependent village with a small walkable core of eateries and shops clustered along a few local roads. The civic anchor is the Old Gregg School Community and Recreation Center, a repurposed elementary building that houses the township office, library, youth center, and community spaces. Outdoor recreation centers on Penns Creek and Sinking Creek, both trout fisheries, and access to state forests and parks nearby. Families choosing this school are choosing rural living with a family-oriented, agricultural context and a short commute to schools on the township's edge.
A parent or resident should be aware that the district is in the middle of a long-term facilities and fiscal review. In 2024-25 the board adopted resolutions signaling that interim property tax increases may be necessary in coming years to fund debt service, building maintenance, and infrastructure priorities tied to the district's comprehensive plan. This foreshadows potential tax pressure for families in the district.
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