The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in Science. The lowest is 50% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on West Manheim El Sch
West Manheim Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Hanover, in the South Western School District. The school enrollment is about mid-sized for an elementary building at this grade span, with a student body that is predominantly white and includes a substantial share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
On state assessments, the school's performance is mixed. In math, about half of students tested in grades three through five score at proficient levels. In English language arts, the proficiency rate sits just above half. Science shows markedly stronger results, with proficiency well above the halfway mark based on the most recent available test year. Across these subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among elementary schools in York County, meaning it outperforms most comparable buildings in the county.
The school sits in Hanover, a mixed-use borough anchored by snack-food manufacturing—Utz Brands and Snyder's of Hanover are signature employers—alongside a denser historic downtown core and expanding residential subdivisions on the periphery. The median home price in the area is roughly in line with the statewide benchmark, and rental costs are moderate. Housing affordability sits in the middle range nationally; monthly mortgage payments and rent track fairly close to one another in this market. Hanover itself has a revitalized downtown with a walkable center where five main streets converge at Center Square, supporting retail, dining, and cultural venues like the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center. Codorus State Park, with a lake for recreation, lies nearby. Public transit connects the area to surrounding towns.
The school district has made several policy changes in recent years that families in the area are discussing. In 2023, the board adopted a facilities policy creating three categories of bathrooms and locker rooms—one designated by sex assigned at birth, one by gender identity, and single-user gender-neutral options. Follow-on policies require parental notification if a student requests a name or pronoun change, restrict transgender students from participating on sports teams that do not align with their sex assigned at birth, and allow parents to opt out of classroom reading lists if they object to the age-appropriateness of the books. A parent considering this school or district may want to review these policies on the district website to understand how they align with their family's values.
No data on special education enrollment or English learner numbers was available. Chronic absenteeism data was also not provided. A parent may want to reach out to the school directly for more detail on these areas if they are relevant to their child.
See more original research from School Decision →