The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in Science. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Tussey Mountain El
Tussey Mountain Elementary serves grades pre-K through fourth in Saxton, a compact, post-industrial borough in northwestern Bedford County along the Raystown River. The school sits within the Tussey Mountain School District, which covers multiple boroughs and townships across Bedford and Huntingdon counties, so most of its students are bussed in from outlying rural communities.
The school's enrollment is small, spanning about three hundred sixty students across six grades from pre-K to fourth. All students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of high economic need in the district. The student body is predominantly white, with a very small number of students of color in the school. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners was not available.
On state assessments, the school shows an uneven academic picture. In science, tested students performed at a strong level when assessed. In math and English language arts, proficiency rates are substantially lower. In math, roughly three in ten students met state proficiency benchmarks; in reading, about one in three did. These results place the school above the midpoint when compared against other district buildings in Bedford County in overall proficiency, though a parent should understand that the absolute achievement levels in literacy and numeracy remain a genuine concern and warrant conversation with the school about instruction, support, and intervention practices.
Saxton itself is economically distressed. The median household income is roughly half the state average, and about a quarter of residents live below the poverty line, nearly double the county and state rates. The town has declined steadily over decades from a thriving railroad and coal hub; recent population estimates suggest ongoing contraction. Housing values are low relative to the county and state. Major institutional employers include the school district itself, local health care services, and a handful of retail and service businesses. No dominant private employer remains since the mines and railroad closed after World War II. Most residents who work do so outside the borough and rely on personal vehicles; there is no public transit.
The district is under ongoing fiscal pressure. It has raised property tax millage rates in each of the last several years to try to close budget gaps, though even with these increases the district still runs structural deficits. Families moving to the area should expect property tax bills to continue climbing. The district is, however, investing in its elementary school building: summer 2025 brought a state-funded safety renovation project replacing doors, windows, and lighting, a concrete improvement to the physical environment where early-grade students spend their days.
For families seeking a small rural elementary setting with very high rates of economic need, where math and reading proficiency requires close attention and advocacy, and where cost of living is low but tax bills are rising, Tussey Mountain Elementary is the only K-4 option in the district. The school is embedded in a town experiencing long-term decline and carrying real economic hardship, though the recent facility upgrades and ongoing operational focus suggest a district working within real constraints to serve its students.
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