The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Science. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Thirteenth & Green El Sch
Thirteenth & Green Elementary is a small early-elementary school in Reading's urban core, serving students in preK through fourth grade. The school sits at the lower end of academic performance within its county peer group, but it is embedded in a district that is receiving renewed state investment and a community undergoing substantial revitalization.
The student body is nearly all economically eligible for free lunch, with a population that is roughly nine-tenths Hispanic. This composition reflects Reading's demographic character as a majority-Latino city. The enrollment is modest for the grades served.
On state testing, the school shows uneven results. In science, proficiency was at the midpoint or slightly above among recent years. In English language arts and math, proficiency rates are substantially lower, clustering around one-fifth or lower across the tested grades of three and four. Across tested subjects, the school sits in the bottom quartile of Berks County schools. This means a parent should expect to ask the school directly about how it identifies students who need extra support in literacy and math, what interventions are in place, and whether the school has data on how students progress year to year. Early grades matter enormously for foundational skills; the school's current profile suggests that is an area worth understanding more deeply before enrollment.
Reading School District, the parent district, is navigating a period of change. The district held property taxes flat for 2025-26 while most neighboring districts raised theirs. The state, following a court ruling on school funding equity, is now directing additional adequacy dollars to high-poverty districts like Reading; that money is beginning to flow into schools. A new STEM-focused high school is under construction to open in 2026-27, signaling investment in upper grades. For younger families, these shifts suggest the district is trying to build capacity and resources, even as baseline academic proficiency numbers at this school remain modest.
Housing in the Reading zip code is affordable by regional and national standards, with home values and rents well below state and national medians. The city itself is densely urban and unusually walkable for its size, with downtown Penn Street scoring in the high nineties on walkability; public transit via BARTA serves the city. Downtown redevelopment is accelerating, anchored by a new City Revitalization and Improvement Zone designation and major projects like Fifth and Penn, a restoration of long-vacant historic buildings into residential and mixed-use space.
This school fits families seeking an affordable urban location with strong walkability and proximity to downtown amenities and services. It is not the place for families whose primary concern is moving to an above-average-performing school; the current test data does not support that. It is a reasonable fit for families committed to urban living and willing to be actively engaged with the school on early literacy and numeracy, or for families considering Reading in light of the district's recent policy direction and the city's ongoing investment cycle.
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