The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Science. The lowest is 60% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Don Gill El Sch
Don Gill Elementary serves grades two through four in Wellsboro, a small historic county seat in Tioga County that sits at the gateway to Pennsylvania's outdoor recreation. The school enrolls a modest population of students, the majority of whom are white, with a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is stable and distributed relatively evenly across the three grades.
On the most recent state assessments, the school's math and English language arts proficiency rates both sit at roughly the midpoint—neither strong nor weak. In science, assessed less recently, the school showed substantially stronger proficiency, pointing to different levels of readiness or perhaps different instructional approaches across subject areas. The discrepancy between science and the other two subjects is notable; a parent might want to ask the school directly what accounts for that difference. Overall, Don Gill's proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the three districts in Tioga County.
The surrounding community is stable but not growing. Wellsboro has a flat-to-slightly-declining population, though housing values have risen and inventory is tight. The town is built around a historic downtown with a walkable Main Street, gas-lit streets, and civic anchors like The Green, a community park. The economy centers on healthcare, education, and local services. Schools sit within the residential fabric rather than on remote campuses, and the area is car-dependent; most residents drive alone to work.
The school itself sits on Sherman Street, within Wellsboro proper. The district has held property taxes flat for multiple years, though a significant roof and siding project at Wellsboro High School has created budget pressure and a shortfall that the board has warned may grow if additional building issues surface during construction. That is a real fiscal signal for families considering purchasing a home in the district. On the curriculum side, the district has revised its K-12 computer science, technology, and STEM pathway, with new high school courses coming in the 2026-27 academic year.
Don Gill is a regular elementary school without charter or magnet designation, serving the younger grades in a quiet, historically grounded county seat where the school operates as part of the community fabric rather than as a separate institution. For families drawn to small-town Pennsylvania life and direct community connection, it offers that setting. For those focused on top-tier academic achievement or diverse program offerings typical of larger districts, the data suggests looking further into what the school offers beyond the classroom, and checking with the district directly on the instructional approaches driving the science results.
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