The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Nancy Grayson El Sch
Nancy Grayson Elementary serves kindergarten through third grade in Shippensburg, a small historic borough straddling Cumberland and Franklin counties in the Cumberland Valley. The school enrolls students across four balanced grades, with a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Asian, Black, and multiracial students.
The school sits in a town experiencing measurable growth. Shippensburg has a walkable brick downtown anchored by King Street, Shippensburg University just north of town, and an expanding residential envelope fed by new subdivisions like Deerfield. Development pressure is concentrated here where water and sewer infrastructure support denser building. New home construction is active, and median home values have risen modestly year over year, making the area competitive for families considering entry into the market.
On state testing, Nancy Grayson's results are below the midpoint among Franklin County districts. Third-grade students scored proficiency rates in math that fall in the bottom quartile relative to the county, with a similar pattern in English language arts. These results suggest that literacy and numeracy instruction warrant attention, particularly as the school implements a district-wide shift to science of reading pedagogy and LETRS training at the elementary level. State assessment data was not available for kindergarten through second grade, as Pennsylvania does not test those grades statewide.
The broader district context matters for any family considering this school. Shippensburg Area School District has imposed consecutive above-index property tax increases over recent years, with further tax pressure projected. The district is also navigating significant enrollment growth, actively planning a major expansion at the intermediate school that could reshape grade configurations districtwide. If selected, a preferred construction option could move third grade or sixth grade, or both, affecting the pathway through elementary and into middle school. Families should expect both instructional changes tied to literacy science and ongoing facility and tax implications.
The school itself has no website listed in available records. A parent may want to contact the district directly to learn more about current classroom composition, how the literacy initiative is being implemented at Nancy Grayson specifically, and what the timeline and scope of any grade reconfiguration might be. The economic context in Shippensburg, with unemployment modest and housing activity steady, suggests a stable but cost-conscious community where school property tax burden is a material factor in family budget planning.
See more original research from School Decision →