The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in English language arts. The lowest is 64% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Marclay Sch
Marclay School is a small kindergarten-through-fifth-grade public elementary school in Markleysburg, a rural borough in the Laurel Highlands of Fayette County. The school sits on Bruceton Road on its own campus rather than at a town center, and it serves about three-quarters of a small enrollment drawn almost entirely from the immediate area.
The student body is predominantly white and economically disadvantaged. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of high poverty concentration. The school's ethnic composition is overwhelmingly white, with very small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic groups. The school has no reported data on special education or English learner populations, so the nature and scale of those services cannot be assessed from available information.
On state assessments in grades three through five, Marclay's performance is mixed. In English language arts, proficiency reached a solid level. In mathematics, proficiency was notably lower, falling roughly midway between strong and weak. In science (tested in grade four), proficiency was moderate. Across these three subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Fayette County, a positioning that reflects strong performance relative to its county peers.
Markleysburg itself is a very small residential borough with a modest, aging housing stock and essentially flat or declining population. The local economy offers limited in-borough employment; most residents work in the wider Fayette County economy, including at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and in Uniontown and beyond. Housing costs are well below state and national benchmarks, making homeownership accessible, though recent published reports indicate the major regional employer announced a workforce reduction in early 2026. The community has no public transit and is dependent on personal vehicles for access to work, schools, shopping, and services.
Marclay operates within the Uniontown Area School District, which is navigating significant structural change. In May 2026 the board approved a grade reconfiguration moving to K-5 elementary, 6-8 middle, and 9-12 high school, to take effect in fall 2027. More immediately, the board voted to hold a public hearing on closing Marclay as a middle school building and Franklin Elementary School in Vanderbilt, citing decades of declining enrollment across the district. The proposed closure vote is scheduled for September 2026 and would take effect for the 2027-28 school year. This means that while Marclay currently operates as a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school, the building's future configuration and role are in flux. Additionally, the district raised property tax rates for the 2026-27 budget to address a deficit, raising homeowners' tax bills.
Parents considering Marclay should be aware that the school operates in a small, economically stressed community with limited local employment and that the district is managing contraction and fiscal pressure. The building's status beyond 2027 is uncertain. That said, the school's proficiency levels rank favorably against its county peers, and families seeking a small, rural elementary setting with low housing costs would find that available here. A parent may want to speak directly with the school and district about the timeline and implications of the proposed restructuring before making a long-term commitment to the community.
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