Bear Creek School

Q: Is Bear Creek School a good school?

Bear Creek School ranks 447 th of 1526 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Bear Creek School is an elementary school located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, serving grades 3-5 with a total enrollment of 816 students. It is part of the Elizabethtown Area School District, which is ranked 120 out of 610 school districts in Pennsylvania and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bear Creek School consistently performs above the state and district averages in PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) tests for Math, Science, and English Language Arts across all grade levels. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 62.1% of students proficient or better in PSSA Math, compared to 54.1% for the Elizabethtown Area School District and 40.4% for the state of Pennsylvania. Bear Creek School also excelled in PSSA Science, with 86.3% of students proficient or better, significantly higher than the district (75.4%) and state (65.8%) averages. Additionally, the school performed well in PSSA English Language Arts, with 63.9% of students proficient or better, compared to 64.1% for the district and 53% for the state.

While Bear Creek School outperforms the Elizabethtown Area School District and the state of Pennsylvania on most academic metrics, it is interesting to note that some nearby schools, such as Farmdale Elementary (Hempfield School District) and Lingle Avenue Elementary (Palmyra Area School District), also demonstrate strong academic performance, with higher proficiency rates in certain subject areas. This suggests that the high performance of Bear Creek School may be influenced by factors beyond just the school district, such as the overall quality of education in the broader region.

Detail:

Public 3-5

1459 Sheaffer Road
Elizabethtown, PA 17022

(717) 367-0210

District: Elizabethtown Area School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
447^th of 1,526 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,845

Students who attend Bear Creek School usually attend:

Middle:	Elizabethtown Area Middle School
High:	Elizabethtown Area Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.9

Number of students: 801

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.0%

Hispanic:

6.9%

Two or more races:

4.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 44.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Bear Creek School ranks better than 70.7% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 72.37. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Bear Creek School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Elizabethtown Area School District. Racial makeup is: White (83%), Hispanic (6.9%), two or more races (4.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 44.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bear Creek School is 14.9, which is the highest among 3 elementary schools in the Elizabethtown Area School District! (See more...)

Compare Bear Creek School employs 53.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bear Creek School is $15,845, which is the highest among 3 elementary schools in the Elizabethtown Area School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bear Creek School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bear Creek School 447^th of 1526 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Bear Creek School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Elizabethtown Area School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Elizabethtown Area School District 120^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Bear Creek School

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Rank History for all students at Bear Creek School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile
2013	55.79	871^st	1519	42.7%
2014	59.19	757^th	1467	48.4%
2015	69.00	500^th	1474	66.1%
2016	75.86	364^th	1554	76.6%
2017	75.62	375^th	1547	75.8%
2018	75.35	377^th	1530	75.4%
2019	73.66	431^st	1544	72.1%
2021	74.32	374^th	1433	73.9%
2022	77.18	343^rd	1534	77.6%
2023	71.57	464^th	1534	69.8%
2024	72.37	447^th	1526	70.7%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Bear Creek School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	50.33	48^th	117	59.0%
2024	48.12	57^th	128	55.5%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bear Creek School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	70.99	358^th	1414	74.7%
2024	69.77	394^th	1432	72.5%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bear Creek School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	71.48	439^th	1488	70.5%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Bear Creek School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	51.71	437^th	1043	58.1%
2024	50.76	485^th	1084	55.3%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bear Creek School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	70.61	436^th	1495	70.8%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bear Creek School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	71.40	92^nd	432	78.7%
2024	85.80	43^rd	454	90.5%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bear Creek School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	61.72	468^th	1236	62.1%
2024	61.25	481^st	1229	60.9%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Dept of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for Bear Creek School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2012	864	26	14	36	1	0	0	941
2013	859	15	15	41	1	0	1	932
2014	846	16	11	41	2	0	2	918
2015	829	19	11	45	1	0	6	911
2016	836	24	12	46	2	0	8	928
2017	822	24	14	54	4	0	20	938
2018	815	17	19	61	4	2	29	947
2019	835	24	15	66	3	1	29	973
2020	794	26	12	64	1	0	33	930
2021	704	25	12	54	2	0	37	834
2022	693	23	27	42	1	0	37	823
2023	688	21	17	50	2	0	38	816
2024	665	24	20	55	1	0	36	801

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bear Creek School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	941	54.9	17.1	25.4
2013	932	56.0	16.6	28.9
2014	918	54.7	16.7	29.2
2015	911	54.0	16.8	31.7
2016	928	56.0	16.5	31.9
2017	938	54.8	17.1	33.8
2018	947	57.7	16.4	34.1
2019	973	58.1	16.7	36
2020	930	57.6	16.1	34.5
2021	834	56.2	14.8	34.8
2022	823	56.1	14.6	35.1
2023	816	53.8	15.1	42.8
2024	801	53.4	14.9	44.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bear Creek School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2012	941	54.9	17.1	25.4
2013	932	56.0	16.6	28.9
2014	918	54.7	16.7	29.2
2015	911	54.0	16.8	31.7
2016	928	56.0	16.5	31.9
2017	938	54.8	17.1	33.8
2018	947	57.7	16.4	34.1
2019	973	58.1	16.7	36
2020	930	57.6	16.1	34.5
2021	834	56.2	14.8	34.8
2022	823	56.1	14.6	35.1
2023	816	53.8	15.1	42.8
2024	801	53.4	14.9	44.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bear Creek School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$338 (2.4%)	$13,546 (97.6%)	$13,884
2020	$344 (2.4%)	$13,755 (97.6%)	$14,098
2021	$389 (2.4%)	$15,566 (97.6%)	$15,955
2022	$464 (2.9%)	$15,381 (97.1%)	$15,845

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bear Creek School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 431^st of 1544 Elementary schools	Ranks 464^th of 1534 Elementary schools	2.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
4th Grade Math (Bear Creek School)	56.7	55.1	1.6%
4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	46.2	46.5	0.3%
4th Grade Science (Bear Creek School)	84.5	78.1	6.4%
4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)	77.8	74.1	3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Bear Creek School)	71.4	60.2	11.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	63.6	51.8	11.8%
5th Grade Math (Bear Creek School)	63.7	69	5.3%
5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)	43	42.7	0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Bear Creek School)	74.2	70.7	3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	58.5	53.6	4.9%
All Grades Math (Bear Creek School)	57.4	61.4	4%
All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)	42.4	39.3	3.1%
All Grades Science (Bear Creek School)	84.5	78.1	6.4%
All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)	68	65.6	2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Bear Creek School)	73	65.1	7.9%
All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)	60.9	53.8	7.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	973	816	16.1%
African American	24	21	12.5%
American Indian	3	2	33.3%
Asian	15	17	13.3%
Hispanic	66	50	24.2%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	835	688	17.6%
Two or More Races	29	38	31%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	36%	42.8%	6.8%

Schools Near Bear Creek School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSSA Math (2024)					PSSA Science (2024)		PSSA English Language Arts (2024)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSSA Math 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA Science 4th Grade	PSSA Science All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bear Creek School	Public	3-5	1459 Sheaffer Road	Elizabethtown	17022	Lancaster County	Elizabethtown Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 367-0210	801	53	14.9	44.8%	665 (83.0%)	24 (3.0%)	55 (6.9%)	20 (2.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.5%)	72.4	447^th of 1526 public elementary schools	70.7%		71.6	464^th of 1534 public elementary schools	69.8%	17	67.7	51.8	67.5		62.1	86.3	86.3	71.4	53.1	67.5		63.9	$15,845	$464	$15,381
East High Street Elementary School	Public	K-2	800 E High St	Elizabethtown	17022	Lancaster County	Elizabethtown Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 361-0099	480	33	14.7	49.4%	363 (75.6%)	22 (4.6%)	53 (11.0%)	18 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.0%)								(n/a)													$15,395	$819	$14,576
Conewago Elementary School	Public	K-5	2809 Hershey Rd	Elizabethtown	17022	Lancaster County	Lower Dauphin School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 367-7233	230	16	13.9	29.6%	199 (86.5%)	2 (0.9%)	18 (7.8%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.5%)	76.6	361^st of 1526 public elementary schools	76.3%		85.8	175^th of 1534 public elementary schools	88.6%	186	64.5	86.8	57.2		68.8	92.1	92.1	67.4	63.2	59.5		63.5	$16,580	$1,172	$15,408
Donegal Primary School	Public	K-2	1055 Koser Rd	Mount Joy	17552	Lancaster County	Donegal School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 653-8812	601	36	16.9	45.6%	472 (78.5%)	28 (4.7%)	85 (14.1%)	10 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)								(n/a)													$14,593	$1,484	$13,109
Londonderry Elementary School	Public	K-5	260 Schoolhouse Rd	Middletown	17057	Dauphin County	Lower Dauphin School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 944-9462	242	23	10.7	46.7%	203 (83.9%)	3 (1.2%)	20 (8.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.2%)	56.4	773^rd of 1526 public elementary schools	49.3%		60.4	692^nd of 1534 public elementary schools	54.9%	81	43.4	52.5	55.3		50.0	80.0	80.0	45.6	60.0	63.2		55.7	$16,612	$1,204	$15,408
Bainbridge Elementary School	Public	K-2	416 N. Second Street	Bainbridge	17502	Lancaster County	Elizabethtown Area School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 426-4203	216	16	13.8	33.3%	190 (88.0%)	5 (2.3%)	8 (3.7%)	5 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.7%)								(n/a)													$15,236	$389	$14,847
Donegal Intermediate School	Public	3-6	1177 River Road	Marietta	17547	Lancaster County	Donegal School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 426-1561	801	55	14.4	50.2%	563 (70.3%)	24 (3.0%)	150 (18.7%)	12 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (6.5%)	59.6	717^th of 1526 public elementary schools	53.0%		61.4	662^nd of 1534 public elementary schools	56.8%	55	63.6	51.4	40.2	36.5	47.4	86.8	86.8	61.0	59.1	56.1	45.4	55.3	$14,196	$1,631	$12,564
York Haven Elementary School	Public	K-3	360 Cassel Rd	York Haven	17345	York County	Northeastern York School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 266-5007	292	19	15.5	54.1%	198 (67.8%)	14 (4.8%)	29 (9.9%)	21 (7.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (9.9%)								(n/a)	83.3				83.3			84.7				84.7	$15,921	$1,088	$14,833
Fink Elementary School	Public	K-5	150 N Race Street	Middletown	17057	Dauphin County	Middletown Area School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 948-3370	238	21	11.5	78.2%	91 (38.2%)	43 (18.1%)	64 (26.9%)	24 (10.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (6.7%)	53.3	820^th of 1526 public elementary schools	46.3%		46.3	933^rd of 1534 public elementary schools	39.2%	113	73.5	38.7	32.5		47.2	80.7	80.7	70.6	48.4	43.2		53.2	$19,398	$3,245	$16,154
Farmdale Elementary School	Public	K-6	695 Prospect Rd	Mount Joy	17552	Lancaster County	Hempfield School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 898-5595	507	37	13.8	99.4%	364 (71.8%)	10 (2.0%)	95 (18.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (6.7%)	75.4	383^rd of 1526 public elementary schools	74.9%		75.1	374^th of 1534 public elementary schools	75.6%	9	60.6	62.4	63.3	63.8	62.6	87.0	87.0	59.7	67.6	68.4	58.0	63.5	$15,096	$883	$14,213

Frequently Asked Questions about Bear Creek School

What schools do graduates of Bear Creek School attend?

Students who attend Bear Creek School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Elizabethtown Area Middle School
High : Elizabethtown Area Senior High School

How many students attend Bear Creek School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 801 students attended Bear Creek School.

What is the racial makeup of Bear Creek School?

Students at Bear Creek School are 83% White, 7% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% African American, 2% Asian.

What district is Bear Creek School in?

Elizabethtown Area School District

Is Bear Creek School a good school?

Bear Creek School ranks 447^th of 1526 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.