📊 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 →
16 Rated Districts in the Lancaster, PA Metro Area
PSSA 2024–25 · percentile among Pennsylvania districts
| Metro Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Manheim Township School District | Lancaster | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #2 | Cocalico School District | Denver | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #3 | Hempfield School District | Landisville | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #4 | Lampeter-Strasburg School District | Lampeter | 9/10 Excellent | 81st |
| #5 | Penn Manor School District | Millersville | 9/10 Excellent | 81st |
| #6 | Elizabethtown Area School District | Elizabethtown | 8/10 Good | 73rd |
| #7 | Warwick School District | Lititz | 8/10 Good | 72nd |
| #8 | Ephrata Area School District | Ephrata | 6/10 Average | 57th |
| #9 | Conestoga Valley School District | Lancaster | 6/10 Average | 54th |
| #10 | Donegal School District | Mount Joy | 6/10 Average | 54th |
| #11 | Manheim Central School District | Manheim | 6/10 Average | 50th |
| #12 | Eastern Lancaster County School District | New Holland | 5/10 Average | 45th |
| #13 | Pequea Valley School District | Kinzers | 5/10 Average | 41st |
| #14 | Solanco School District | Quarryville | 3/10 Below Average | 22nd |
| #15 | Lancaster School District | Lancaster | 1/10 Poor | 8th |
| #16 | Columbia Borough School District | Columbia | 1/10 Poor | 4th |
Best School Districts in the Lancaster, 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 Lancaster, PA metro area? ▼
Among the 16 rated districts in the Lancaster, PA metro area, the highest-rated is Manheim Township School District (Lancaster), rated 9/10 (Excellent) and in the 88th 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.