Carter and MacRae Elementary School

Carter and MacRae Elementary sits in Lancaster's South Side, a neighborhood with deep roots and a real sense of community pride, though families here do face some of the city's steeper academic challenges — the school's scores in English, math, and science fall in the lower range statewide. That said, Lancaster itself is a genuinely vibrant small city with a thriving arts scene, incredible food markets, and a mix of cultures that gives kids a richly textured environment to grow up in. Families who are actively engaged in their child's learning and looking to be part of an urban community rather than retreat from it may find the school's tight-knit neighborhood feel worth investing in.