The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in Science. The lowest is 35% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on St Thomas El Sch
St Thomas Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the rural township of Saint Thomas, a farming and commuter community in west-central Franklin County. The school sits on a campus in a car-oriented landscape where families own their homes on large lots and many residents work elsewhere in the county or beyond. The district, Tuscarora School District, also operates a middle school and high school nearby; older students will eventually move into that system.
The enrollment is small, distributed evenly across the six grades with each class holding between 40 and mid-50s students. A substantial share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting moderate economic pressure in the surrounding area. The racial and ethnic makeup is predominantly white, with a small presence of Hispanic students and a handful of other backgrounds represented.
On state testing in math and reading (English language arts) for grades three through five, the school's results are below the midpoint for Franklin County districts. In math, students reaching proficiency or above is in the mid-40s percentage range. In reading, the rate is lower, in the mid-30s. Science testing is less recent and covers a smaller group, but showed solid proficiency when last assessed. A parent may want to look into what academic support the school offers in math and reading specifically, since those are the areas where a larger share of students are not yet meeting grade-level standards. The school does not report specialized staffing data, attendance rates, or discipline information, so that context is not available here.
On the broader housing landscape where families choose, prices in the 17252 zip code are modest compared to state and national medians. Monthly housing costs for a down payment and mortgage are manageable relative to median income in the region, though a parent's own financial situation will vary. Rents run similarly reasonably. The area is stable and not experiencing rapid growth; it remains rural and agricultural in character, with farms and open land defining the setting rather than new subdivisions.
The Tuscarora School District recently launched an in-district online academy offering asynchronous remote learning as an alternative to traditional classroom instruction, which is relevant if your family is weighing flexible schooling options while staying within the district enrollment.
For families seeking a small-town elementary school in a rural, owner-occupied community with moderate academic support needs and willingness to work with a school where reading and math proficiency rates are below typical, St Thomas Elementary is worth a direct conversation with the principal about curriculum approach and student support services. The community is stable and tight-knit; daily life is quieter and car-dependent compared to suburban or urban areas.
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