Summary:
The 16503 zip code area of Erie, Pennsylvania is home to three underperforming schools: East Middle School, Pfeiffer-Burleigh School, and McKinley Elementary School, all part of the Erie City School District. These schools serve a predominantly low-income student population, with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Academically, the schools in the 16503 zip code area are struggling, with proficiency rates in both Math and English Language Arts well below the state and district averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Math proficiency rates ranged from just 0.8% at East Middle School to 11.2% at Pfeiffer-Burleigh School, compared to the state average of 41.7%. English Language Arts proficiency rates were also low, ranging from 8% at McKinley Elementary to 9.6% at Pfeiffer-Burleigh, compared to the state average of 48.5%. Additionally, East Middle School had a 1.4% dropout rate in the 2023-2024 school year.
Despite the low academic performance, the schools in the 16503 zip code area have relatively low student-teacher ratios, ranging from 11.6 at McKinley Elementary to 13.3 at Pfeiffer-Burleigh. However, this resource does not appear to be translating into improved student outcomes, suggesting that other factors, such as teacher quality or school leadership, may be contributing to the persistent underperformance. Addressing the systemic challenges facing these schools will likely require a comprehensive, data-driven approach that targets the root causes of the low academic achievement and leverages the available resources to drive meaningful improvements.
Thank you for your feedback!