📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NJSLA 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
New Jersey: 109 Rated Districts
NJSLA 2024–25 · percentile among New Jersey districts
Pennsylvania: 62 Rated Districts
PSSA 2024–25 · percentile among Pennsylvania districts
| Rank in PA | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lower Merion School District | Ardmore | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Radnor Township School District | Wayne | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Haverford Township School District | Havertown | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #4 | Unionville-Chadds Ford School District | Kennett Square | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #5 | Rose Tree Media School District | Media | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #6 | Springfield School District | Springfield | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #7 | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District | Wayne | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #8 | Upper Dublin School District | Maple Glen | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #9 | Wallingford-Swarthmore School District | Wallingford | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #10 | Lower Moreland Township School District | Huntingdon Valley | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #11 | New Hope-Solebury School District | New Hope | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #12 | Wissahickon School District | Ambler | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #13 | Downingtown Area School District | Downingtown | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #14 | Garnet Valley School District | Glen Mills | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #15 | Central Bucks School District | Doylestown | 10/10 Excellent | 93rd |
| #16 | Colonial School District | Plymouth Meeting | 10/10 Excellent | 93rd |
| #17 | Council Rock School District | Newtown | 10/10 Excellent | 92nd |
| #18 | Spring-Ford Area School District | Royersford | 10/10 Excellent | 92nd |
| #19 | Owen J. Roberts School District | Pottstown | 10/10 Excellent | 91st |
| #20 | Great Valley School District | Malvern | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #21 | Perkiomen Valley School District | Collegeville | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #22 | Methacton School District | Eagleville | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #23 | Springfield Township School District | Oreland | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #24 | Marple Newtown School District | Newtown Square | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #25 | North Penn School District | Lansdale | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #26 | Palisades School District | Kintnersville | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #27 | Jenkintown School District | Jenkintown | 9/10 Excellent | 83rd |
| #28 | West Chester Area School District | Exton | 9/10 Excellent | 83rd |
| #29 | Abington School District | Abington | 9/10 Excellent | 82nd |
| #30 | Avon Grove School District | West Grove | 9/10 Excellent | 80th |
| #31 | Pennsbury School District | Fallsington | 9/10 Excellent | 80th |
| #32 | Souderton Area School District | Souderton | 8/10 Good | 78th |
| #33 | Upper Perkiomen School District | Pennsburg | 8/10 Good | 77th |
| #34 | Pennridge School District | Perkasie | 8/10 Good | 76th |
| #35 | Phoenixville Area School District | Phoenixville | 8/10 Good | 74th |
| #36 | Hatboro-Horsham School District | Horsham | 8/10 Good | 72nd |
| #37 | Upper Merion Area School District | King of Prussia | 8/10 Good | 70th |
| #38 | Neshaminy School District | Langhorne | 7/10 Good | 67th |
| #39 | Kennett Consolidated School District | Kennett Square | 7/10 Good | 66th |
| #40 | Upper Moreland Township School District | Willow Grove | 7/10 Good | 62nd |
| #41 | Centennial School District | Warminster | 6/10 Average | 59th |
| #42 | Cheltenham School District | Elkins Park | 6/10 Average | 55th |
| #43 | Penn-Delco School District | Aston | 6/10 Average | 54th |
| #44 | Oxford Area School District | Oxford | 5/10 Average | 49th |
| #45 | Pottsgrove School District | Pottstown | 4/10 Below Average | 38th |
| #46 | Ridley School District | Folsom | 4/10 Below Average | 36th |
| #47 | Quakertown Community School District | Quakertown | 4/10 Below Average | 33rd |
| #48 | Bristol Borough School District | Bristol | 3/10 Below Average | 26th |
| #49 | Chichester School District | Aston | 3/10 Below Average | 25th |
| #50 | Interboro School District | Prospect Park | 3/10 Below Average | 24th |
| #51 | Bensalem Township School District | Bensalem | 2/10 Poor | 19th |
| #52 | Octorara Area School District | Atglen | 2/10 Poor | 14th |
| #53 | Bristol Township School District | Levittown | 2/10 Poor | 11th |
| #54 | Norristown Area School District | Norristown | 2/10 Poor | 11th |
| #55 | Philadelphia City School District | Philadelphia | 2/10 Poor | 11th |
| #56 | Coatesville Area School District | Thorndale | 2/10 Poor | 10th |
| #57 | Morrisville Borough School District | Morrisville | 1/10 Poor | 9th |
| #58 | Pottstown School District | Pottstown | 1/10 Poor | 9th |
| #59 | Southeast Delco School District | Folcroft | 1/10 Poor | 9th |
| #60 | Upper Darby School District | Drexel Hill | 1/10 Poor | 7th |
| #61 | William Penn School District | Lansdowne | 1/10 Poor | 6th |
| #62 | Chester-Upland School District | Chester | 1/10 Poor | 1st |
Delaware: 5 Rated Districts
EDFacts 2021–22 · percentile among Delaware districts
| Rank in DE | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Appoquinimink School District | Odessa | 10/10 Excellent | 91st |
| #2 | Red Clay Consolidated School District | Wilmington | 8/10 Good | 72nd |
| #3 | Brandywine School District | Wilmington | 6/10 Average | 59th |
| #4 | Christina School District | Newark | 3/10 Below Average | 28th |
| #5 | Colonial School District | New Castle | 1/10 Poor | 3rd |
Maryland: 1 Rated Districts
MCAP 2024–25 · percentile among Maryland districts
| Rank in MD | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cecil County Public Schools | Elkton | 5/10 Average | 42nd |
Best School Districts in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro Area (2026)
This metro area crosses state lines, so it is shown as one table per state. Each state rates its districts on its own test, and a 9/10 in one state is not comparable with a 9/10 in another.
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 NJSLA 2024–25 (New Jersey); PSSA 2024–25 (Pennsylvania); EDFacts 2021–22 (Delaware); MCAP 2024–25 (Maryland) 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 New Jersey part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area? ▼
Among the 109 rated districts in the New Jersey part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, the highest-rated is Haddonfield Borough School District (Haddonfield), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 95th percentile of New Jersey districts on NJSLA 2024–25 reading and math proficiency.
What is the best-rated school district in the Pennsylvania part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area? ▼
Among the 62 rated districts in the Pennsylvania part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, 2 share the top position at 10/10 (Excellent), 99th percentile of Pennsylvania districts on PSSA 2024–25 reading and math proficiency: Lower Merion School District (Ardmore); Radnor Township School District (Wayne).
What is the best-rated school district in the Delaware part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area? ▼
Among the 5 rated districts in the Delaware part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, the highest-rated is Appoquinimink School District (Odessa), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 91st percentile of Delaware districts on EDFacts 2021–22 reading and math proficiency.
What is the best-rated school district in the Maryland part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area? ▼
Among the 1 rated districts in the Maryland part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, the highest-rated is Cecil County Public Schools (Elkton), rated 5/10 (Average) and in the 42nd percentile of Maryland districts on MCAP 2024–25 reading and math proficiency.
Can I compare districts across state lines here? ▼
No. Each state uses its own assessment, so ratings and percentiles are only comparable among districts in the same state. Full methodology here.