The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on A J Mcmullen Sch
A J McMullen School is a middle school serving grades six through eight in Markleysburg, a very small rural borough in the Laurel Highlands of southeastern Fayette County. The school serves the local community as part of the Uniontown Area School District, though the district's secondary schools are located in nearby Uniontown rather than in Markleysburg itself.
The enrollment is small, with roughly equal representation across the three grades. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly white, with very few students of other racial or ethnic backgrounds. Special education and English learner enrollment data were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and supports.
On state assessments, the school shows uneven academic performance. Students performed at roughly the midpoint of state proficiency standards in English language arts, with a majority of tested students reaching proficiency levels. Science performance was similar, at about the same level. Mathematics proficiency, however, is notably lower, with fewer than one-third of students meeting proficiency standards. Across the school's tested subjects and grades, overall proficiency places the school in the top quartile relative to other districts in Fayette County, but the math results suggest a specific area where students struggle and where a parent might want to ask what targeted supports are in place.
No graduation rate is applicable, as the school does not serve high school grades. Chronic absenteeism data were also unavailable. Enrollment and staffing trends were not provided in the available information.
Markleysburg itself is a flat, quiet community with limited commercial activity and no public transit. The town has experienced slow population decline over recent decades, and housing values are modest. The local workforce is mixed, with many residents employed in healthcare, food service, or the broader Fayette County economy, including the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, which recently announced significant workforce reductions. The elementary school serving younger students is located on a separate rural site outside the village proper.
The district is undergoing major structural changes. In May 2026 the Uniontown Area School Board approved a grade reconfiguration to take effect in fall 2027, moving to K-5 elementary, 6-8 middle, and 9-12 high school models. This will affect where every student in the district attends school. More immediately, the district is pursuing closure of both Marclay Middle School in Markleysburg and Franklin Elementary School in Vanderbilt in response to decades of declining enrollment. A public hearing was scheduled for May 27, 2026, with a possible closure vote set for September 1, 2026, potentially affecting students beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Additionally, the district raised property tax millage for the 2026-27 budget to address a significant deficit.
For a family considering Markleysburg or this school, the near-term uncertainty around building consolidations and grade realignment is a major factor. If Marclay Middle School closes as planned, current sixth and seventh graders would be reassigned to Lafayette Middle School in Uniontown. A parent should speak directly with the school or district office about timing, the specific enrollment plans, and how transitions would be managed during the 2027-2028 shift.
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