Bendersville, Pennsylvania

Bendersville is located at 39°58′57″N 77°14′59″W (39.982466, -77.249608).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²), all of it land.

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 576 people, 202 households, and 156 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,391.9 people per square mile (542.4/km²). There were 222 housing units at an average density of 536.5 per square mile (209.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 90.62% White, 2.26% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 5.90% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.67% of the population.

There were 202 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $39,688, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $20,417 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,066. About 7.5% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Map of Adams County, Pennsylvania School Districts

Residents of Bendersville may attend the local, public schools operated by Upper Adams School District which provides full day kindergarten through 12th grade. By 2013, the District's enrollment declined to 1,669 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2013, Upper Adams School District ranked 276th out of 498 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.[7] In 2012, Upper Adams School District achieved AYP, even though 2 of its schools were in Warning AYP status, due to lagging student achievement.[8]

Bendersville residents may also choose between two local public charter schools:Vida Charter School and Gettysburg Montessori Charter School. In Pennsylvania residents may attend public charter schools at no cost to the parents. The tuition is paid by their public school system. By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders.

Vida Charter School is a public school located in the Eisenhower Center, 120 E. Broadway, Gettysburg. Vida Charter school offers full day kindergarten through 6th grade. In 2013, Vida Charter School achieved a score 81.1 of out of 100 for student achievement.[9] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.

Bendersville residents may attend Gettysburg Montessori Charter School, a full day Kindergarten through 6th grade public charter school operating at 120 E Broadway, Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Montessori Charter School achieved AYP status in both 2011 and 2012.[10] In 2013, Gettysburg Montessori Charter School achieved a score of 64 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement.[11]

Bendersville residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public cyber charter schools (in 2013) at no additional cost to the parents. The resident's public school district is required by state law to pay the cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools.[12][13] Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In 2012, the tuition fees for Upper Adams School District were: Elementary School - $9,182.51, High School - $8,949.98.[14]

Bendersville high school aged students and adults can attend the taxpayer funded Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School for training in the trades and can earn industry certifications. Students attending the school can also earn college credits, while still in high school. Additionally, the school offers a Cooperative Education program where students are placed with an employer in entry-level position to develop job skills while being paid.[15]

Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Bendersville. Early screening, special educations services, speech and hearing therapy, Head Start classes and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements.

Community members have access to the Harbaugh-Thomas Library in Biglerville; the Adams County Historical Society Library which is located at 111 Seminary Ridge, in Gettysburg; the Adams County Law Library located in the Court House, 117 Baltimore Street, Room 305 in Gettysburg; the HACC- Gettysburg Campus Library and to the statewide PA Power Library[16] which is an online library funded with tax dollars from the state's education budget.

At Harrisburg Area Community College Gettysburg Campus, Township residents have access to college courses at a discounted tuition rate for state residents. While Upper Adams School District is not a tax funding district of the College, residents contribute to the community college through state taxpayer funding.

• Bendersville Community Fire Company