📊 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 →
Top 25 Districts Pennsylvania
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fox Chapel Area School District | Cheswick | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Hampton Township School District | Allison Park | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Lower Merion School District | Bala Cynwyd | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #4 | Peters Township School District | Venetia | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #5 | Radnor Township School District | Bryn Mawr | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #6 | South Fayette Township School District | Bridgeville | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #7 | Upper St. Clair School District | Pittsburgh | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #8 | Haverford Township School District | Ardmore | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #9 | Mt. Lebanon School District | Pittsburgh | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #10 | North Allegheny School District | Bradfordwoods | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #11 | Unionville-Chadds Ford School District | Chadds Ford | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #12 | West Allegheny School District | Oakdale | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #13 | Rose Tree Media School District | Lenni | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #14 | Springfield School District | Springfield | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #15 | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District | Wayne | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #16 | Upper Dublin School District | Dresher | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #17 | Wallingford-Swarthmore School District | Swarthmore | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #18 | Derry Township School District | Hershey | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #19 | Montour School District | Mc Kees Rocks | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #20 | Norwin School District | Ardara | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #21 | Penn-Trafford School District | Trafford | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #22 | Pine-Richland School District | Bakerstown | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #23 | Beaver Area School District | Beaver | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #24 | Lower Moreland Township School District | Huntingdon Valley | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #25 | New Hope-Solebury School District | Carversville | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
Best School Districts in Pennsylvania (2026)
This ranking covers 466 rated public school districts in Pennsylvania, scored using PSSA 2024–25 state assessment data. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Pennsylvania School Districts at a Glance
- 499 of the 500 regular school districts operating in Pennsylvania have a published rating on this site.
- 152 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from PSSA 2024–25, and every district is ranked against other districts in Pennsylvania only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Fox Chapel Area School District in Cheswick, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Pennsylvania is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Pennsylvania? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (PSSA 2024–25), the top-rated district is Fox Chapel Area School District in Cheswick, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use 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, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania has 500 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 499 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Pennsylvania school district ratings based on? ▼
PSSA 2024–25. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Pennsylvania and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Pennsylvania are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
152 of the 499 rated districts in Pennsylvania score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Pennsylvania, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Pennsylvania? ▼
In Pennsylvania nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Pennsylvania is not one of them.