The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in Science. The lowest is 35% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Susquenita El Sch
Susquenita Elementary School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Duncannon, a small Perry County borough about 14 miles north of Harrisburg on the west bank of the Susquehanna River. The school sits on a campus outside the downtown core, clustered with the district's middle and high schools on Susquenita Drive in Penn Township.
The school enrolls roughly 680 students across its five grade levels. About half the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares identifying as Hispanic, multiracial, or Asian. Demographic data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not available.
In the most recent state assessment results available, the school's proficiency rates show uneven performance across subjects. In mathematics for grades three through four, a bit less than half the students tested reached proficiency. English language arts performed lower, with roughly a third of tested students meeting proficiency. Science data is older and paints a different picture: roughly three-quarters of students tested met proficiency in that subject. A parent may want to look into what has shifted in the math and reading curriculum or instruction since the science results, and what supports the school is putting in place to narrow those gaps.
Compared to the other districts serving Perry County, Susquenita Elementary's overall proficiency index positions it in the top quartile among county schools, a meaningful standing even with the reading and math shortfalls.
A major change now in motion across the district is the shift to a 1:1 Apple iPad pedagogy, formalized when the Susquenita School District earned the Apple Distinguished District designation in October 2024. Every student and staff member is issued an iPad. Teachers work with a 2:1 MacBook-to-iPad setup and Apple TV in each classroom. This is now embedded across all three school buildings, not a pilot in one. The district has trained teachers in integrating the devices into daily instruction. For families considering a move to the area, this shapes how teaching and learning happen every day. Parents should also know that optional iPad insurance is offered at an annual per-student cost.
The housing market in the 17020 zip code spans a median home value somewhat below the state average, with inventory showing mainly pre-World War II stock. Mortgage rates and unemployment remain moderate for the region. A substantial share of the local workforce commutes to the Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area, and the town itself has no large industrial employers. The Susquenita School District is the largest public employer locally.
Duncannon itself is a walkable, compact borough with street life centered on Market Street, where the Appalachian Trail runs directly through downtown. The town has been pursuing revitalization tied to its AT Community designation rather than greenfield housing growth, with support from state recreation and conservation funding. The Doyle Hotel and Lindgren Craft Brewery anchor the main street, and seasonal thru-hiker traffic brings foot traffic and economic activity to the downtown core. Civic anchors include the borough offices, Duncannon Square, and the Hawk Rock recreational area nearby. There is no fixed-route local transit within the borough; residents rely on auto access to services in Harrisburg about 14 miles south.
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