The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in Science. The lowest is 48% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Oaklyn Sch
Oaklyn School serves kindergarten through second grade in Sunbury, a small county-seat city on the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. The school operates as part of the Shikellamy School District, which recently restructured how it funds schools. In November 2023, voters approved eliminating the occupation tax and raising the earned income tax rate effective July 2024, shifting the tax burden from a job-category basis to actual earnings for all working households in the district. This change affects family finances for anyone considering a move into the area.
The school's enrollment is small, with families spread across three grade levels. All enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating the school serves a community with significant economic need. The student body is majority white, with substantial Hispanic, multiracial, and Black populations represented. No data on students with individualized education plans or English learners was available.
Because Oaklyn serves only kindergarten through second grade, state testing does not occur at this school. Test results appear instead at the school's feeder elementary, which serves grades three through five. Those results show a mixed academic picture. Third-graders score stronger in reading than in math, with about two-thirds of students meeting proficiency in English language arts but just over three-fifths in math. Performance declines in the upper grades. Fourth-graders show roughly equal proficiency in reading and math, both around two-thirds, but by fifth grade the gap widens again: about two-thirds meet reading proficiency while fewer than four-tenths do so in math. Fourth grade science results stand out as notably stronger, with most students meeting proficiency. Overall, the proficiency index across tested subjects and grades ranks in the top quartile relative to other districts in Northumberland County, a position that reflects solid early foundational work but also a relatively low baseline across the county.
The housing market around Sunbury is moderately priced for the region, below state and national benchmarks. Rental costs run notably lower than mortgage costs, making the area relatively affordable on rent compared to purchasing. The local economy centers on health care, government, and education, with UPMC Sunbury as a major employer alongside county operations and the school district itself. Sunbury's population has declined over recent decades, with young adults leaving the area in particular. The city maintains a walkable downtown along the Susquehanna with civic anchors including the Northumberland County Courthouse, Riverfront Park, and the Degenstein Community Library. The 2025 comprehensive plan prioritizes downtown and riverfront investment rather than new housing sprawl.
The Shikellamy School District is pursuing career and technical education at the high school level, having launched three vocational pathways in 2024-2025 around medical sciences, teaching, and construction trades, addressing documented local workforce gaps. This gives families a choice beyond the traditional academic track at the secondary level, though it sits downstream of where Oaklyn School's students currently are.
A parent evaluating Oaklyn would be considering an early-grades anchor in a school with high economic need, modest academic results relative to district or state standards but strength relative to county peers, and a community in gradual transition. The school's position as an entry point into Shikellamy means families should plan ahead for what academic supports or tutoring their child might need as they progress to the upper elementary grades, where proficiency narrows.
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