The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Science. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Upper Adams Ms
Upper Adams Middle School serves seventh and eighth graders from Biglerville and surrounding Adams County communities. The school sits in a small, car-dependent borough at the heart of Pennsylvania's apple country, where the local economy historically centers on Knouse Foods and family-owned orchards. The town is growing modestly, with a housing market that publicly reported data characterized recently as a seller's market and home values rising steadily year over year.
The enrollment is about typical for a rural middle school of this grade span, with a student body that is majority white and notably Hispanic, reflecting broader demographic shifts in the region. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a community where economic need is significant. English learner and special education data were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and the support structures in place.
State assessment results show mixed performance. In English language arts, about half of tested students met proficiency standards in 2024-25. Mathematics proficiency was lower, with fewer than two in five students meeting standards the same year. Science results from the most recent available data showed about half of students proficient. Across the three subjects, the school's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint among Adams County districts, a modest strength in the county context but not by a wide margin.
The school has no graduation rate because it does not serve high school grades. Chronic absenteeism data were not available. These gaps reflect the school's role as a middle-grades feeder rather than missing information about a failing school.
Biglerville itself is a civic hub for the borough, with the school integrated into the town core rather than isolated on a separate campus. The surrounding community offers some anchors: the Harbaugh-Thomas Library, Oakside Community Park with trails and summer concerts, and the cultural draw of the National Apple Museum and annual Apple Harvest Festival. However, there is no public transit; families rely entirely on private cars for commuting and school access. The district approved a property tax increase for 2026-27, a cost factor for families considering the area. On the positive side, the district recently completed a capital cycle that included a major intermediate school expansion and is undertaking classroom and athletic facility renovations at the high school without incurring new debt, suggesting fiscal stability and investment in physical infrastructure.
A parent seeking more detail on academic intervention, advanced programming, course offerings, or how the school supports students below proficiency would benefit from contacting the school directly, as those details were not present in available data.
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