06/11/2026
Hello Hughesville!
Day 3 of our "Schools of East Lycoming School District" series we move to Hughesville and Ashkar Elementary School.
"Joseph C. Ashkar Elementary School is a public Pre-K to 6th-grade school in the East Lycoming School District, located in Hughesville, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, known for strong test scores in math and reading, and offering various enrichment programs like arts, drama, and after-school activities.
The student population of Joseph C Ashkar Elementary School is 563 and the school serves PK-6. At Joseph C Ashkar Elementary School, 56% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 59% scored at or above that level for reading. The student-teacher ratio is 15:1, which is better than that of the district. The student population is made up of 51% female students and 49% male students. The school enrolls 50% economically disadvantaged students. There are 37 equivalent full-time teachers and 1 full-time school counselor.
Joseph C. Ashkar was a long-time, dedicated educator in the East Lycoming School District. He is best known in the Hughesville, PA area for his 31-year teaching career which began in 1935, and for forming and coaching the first wrestling team at Hughesville.
The Joseph C Ashkar Elementary School in Hughesville was built in 1970–1971 and named to honor his memory and legacy within the community."
After moving here from Lander, Wyoming as a 7 year old boy, I entered 1st grade at Ashkar Elementary and started making life long friendships that still exist today. Various amazing teachers helped me as a young boy with the change of life from the open country of Wyoming to the small town charm of Hughesville. While I was still wanting to wear cowboy boots, learn roping and being a cowboy, I quickly learned baseball and other sports, Scouting, as well as developing a love for music and the arts (something my mother instilled in me from a very young age). Over the years, many amazing teachers made a dramatic impact on my life, often asking the right questions and pushing me to learn more and more, especially about weather and science! My first crushes were at Ashkar. My first best friends. My first (of many) wins in 4 square, first touchdown catches and throws in playground football. My first injuries on the blacktop outside of the 5th/6th grade classrooms, on the old wooden jungle gym, the monkey bars that were 30 feet off the ground (maybe not 30 feet but to a small kid, they were high), the skin melting metal slide that seemed to touch the clouds (again, not that high but wow) and the back and forth games of boys chasing girls and girls chasing boys.
I have many good (some not so good) memories at Ashkar. I had so many favorite teachers that it seems so hard to name because I don't want to leave any of them out. They all had a very profound impact on who I would become and I'm greatful for each and every teacher, Principal, school nurse, custodian, school bus driver, and lunch lady that I had. Just yesterday at work I ran into a woman who was a lunch lady at Ashkar, and whileshe didn't remember me, I remembered her and how nice she was and always had a smile on her face when we would come through her line.
I've now watching my own children go to and graduate from Ashkar and move up to the high school.
Did you go to Ashkar? What memories do you have from your time there?
Also pictured from above is the HHS Soccer Stadium, the HHS Softball fields, the AYSO soccer complex and the Little Spartans football stadium.
Do you have a home, cabin, farm, property, pond/lake or business that you'd like to have me fly over and capture stunning aerial images? Check the final image and contact me. * Due to particular locations near airports and other sensitive infrastructure, some locations aren't possible due to FAA regulations.
Eli,
