The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Science. The lowest is 48% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Upper Adams Intrmdt Sch
Upper Adams Intermediate School serves grades four through six in Arendtsville, a small rural borough in south-central Pennsylvania farm country. The school draws students from the broader Upper Adams School District, which encompasses several surrounding townships in apple-growing Adams County. Arendtsville itself is a quiet residential community anchored by orchards and farmland, with the Arendtsville Library, a small borough office, and the National Apple Harvest Festival as civic touchstones. The district has recently invested in school facilities, including an expansion at this intermediate school building and planned upgrades elsewhere, funded in part by prior bond work rather than new debt.
The enrollment sits at roughly midsize for an upper-elementary building, with about half the students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting modest family incomes across the school's service area. The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic population; detailed counts for English learners and special education enrollment were not available. One student in an unusually early grade is also enrolled, suggesting the school accommodates individual circumstances.
Academic performance shows uneven results across subjects. In the most recent state testing cycle, students achieved proficiency at a rate around the midpoint in English language arts and below that in mathematics, pointing to a particular soft spot in math where a parent may want to ask the school about targeted support and intervention. Science proficiency was substantially higher, reported from a prior year. Overall, the school's proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Adams County, a relative strength that reflects solid performance in science and steadier grounding in language arts despite the math challenge.
The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet program. It is housed in a building on Fohl Street in the borough itself, making it accessible to families in the immediate area. The district board approved a property tax increase for the coming year, a factor relevant to families considering relocation into the community. The school's civil rights designations and detailed staffing information were not available in the data provided.
A parent considering Upper Adams Intermediate should view this as a small-town, rural school setting with a student population that reflects modest household incomes and working agricultural and service economies. Mathematics performance warrants a direct conversation with the school about curriculum, pacing, and support structures. The science strength and county-level proficiency standing suggest the school has instructional capacity in place. Families prioritizing a rural, locally embedded school environment with agriculture-adjacent community character would find a natural fit here; those seeking extensive programming breadth or advanced academic tracks should explore further or consider other district options.
See more original research from School Decision →