📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (PSSA 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
22 Rated Districts in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metro Area
PSSA 2024–25 · percentile among Pennsylvania districts
| Metro Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Derry Township School District | Hershey | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #2 | Camp Hill School District | Camp Hill | 10/10 Excellent | 91st |
| #3 | Cumberland Valley School District | Mechanicsburg | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #4 | Greenwood School District | Millerstown | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #5 | Big Spring School District | Newville | 8/10 Good | 73rd |
| #6 | Mechanicsburg Area School District | Mechanicsburg | 8/10 Good | 70th |
| #7 | Millersburg Area School District | Millersburg | 7/10 Good | 63rd |
| #8 | Lower Dauphin School District | Hummelstown | 7/10 Good | 62nd |
| #9 | South Middleton School District | Boiling Springs | 6/10 Average | 56th |
| #10 | East Pennsboro Area School District | Enola | 6/10 Average | 51st |
| #11 | Middletown Area School District | Middletown | 4/10 Below Average | 37th |
| #12 | Carlisle Area School District | Carlisle | 4/10 Below Average | 35th |
| #13 | Central Dauphin School District | Harrisburg | 4/10 Below Average | 33rd |
| #14 | Susquenita School District | Duncannon | 3/10 Below Average | 25th |
| #15 | Halifax Area School District | Halifax | 3/10 Below Average | 24th |
| #16 | Upper Dauphin Area School District | Lykens | 3/10 Below Average | 22nd |
| #17 | West Perry School District | Elliottsburg | 3/10 Below Average | 22nd |
| #18 | Newport School District | Newport | 2/10 Poor | 14th |
| #19 | Susquehanna Township School District | Harrisburg | 1/10 Poor | 5th |
| #20 | Williams Valley School District | Tower City | 1/10 Poor | 4th |
| #21 | Steelton-Highspire School District | Steelton | 1/10 Poor | 2nd |
| #22 | Harrisburg City School District | Harrisburg | 1/10 Poor | 1st |
Best School Districts in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metro Area (2026)
Counties are assigned to metropolitan areas using the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 delineation, and each district is placed in the county of its NCES directory listing. Ratings come from PSSA 2024–25 (Pennsylvania) and are percentile-ranked within the district's own state. Always confirm your assignment by address.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area? ▼
Among the 22 rated districts in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area, the highest-rated is Derry Township School District (Hershey), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 96th percentile of Pennsylvania districts on PSSA 2024–25 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments, percentile-ranked against all rated districts in its state and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.