The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Science. The lowest is 26% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Susquenita Ms
Susquenita Middle School serves grades five through eight in Duncannon, a small borough on the Susquehanna River about a short drive north of Harrisburg. The school sits on a separated campus outside the downtown core, clustered with the district's elementary and high schools on Susquenita Drive.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a modest share of students who identify as Hispanic or multiracial, and a portion qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is stable and proportioned across the four grade levels, which is typical for a middle school of this size in the region.
On state testing, the school shows uneven performance. Reading proficiency sits at fifty percent, which is a strength and places the school in the top quartile among districts in Perry County on overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. Mathematics proficiency is considerably lower, at roughly a quarter of students meeting the state standard. Science results from the most recent available year show just under sixty percent proficiency. The math weakness in particular may warrant a conversation with the school about what supports are in place and how students are grouped or scaffolded in that subject.
A defining characteristic of Susquenita is its districtwide commitment to Apple technology integration. Every student receives an iPad and teachers work with MacBooks, Apple TVs in classrooms, and training from Apple specialists. In October 2024, Apple designated Susquenita as an Apple Distinguished District, recognizing the middle school as part of that cohort through 2026 and the high school through 2027. This is not a pilot or one-building experiment but a core part of how instruction happens across the district. Parents should be aware that iPad insurance is available on an optional, fee basis per student per school year.
Housing in the 17020 zip code runs at a moderate value relative to state and national benchmarks, and the mortgage rate and local unemployment context are typical for the region. Duncannon itself is a compact, walkable borough that has faced population flatness and post-flood recovery but has invested in downtown revitalization and trail-related tourism around its position on the Appalachian Trail. Most employment is in the Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area, though the school district itself is a significant local employer.
The school environment data provided does not include discipline, attendance, course breadth, or staffing detail, so a parent may want to look into those elements directly with the school or district.
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