📊 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 →
All 11 Rated Districts in Dauphin County, PA
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Derry Township School District | Hershey | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #2 | Millersburg Area School District | Millersburg | 7/10 Good | 63rd |
| #3 | Lower Dauphin School District | Hummelstown | 7/10 Good | 62nd |
| #4 | Middletown Area School District | Middletown | 4/10 Below Average | 37th |
| #5 | Central Dauphin School District | Harrisburg | 4/10 Below Average | 33rd |
| #6 | Halifax Area School District | Halifax | 3/10 Below Average | 24th |
| #7 | Upper Dauphin Area School District | Lykens | 3/10 Below Average | 22nd |
| #8 | Susquehanna Township School District | Harrisburg | 1/10 Poor | 5th |
| #9 | Williams Valley School District | Tower City | 1/10 Poor | 4th |
| #10 | Steelton-Highspire School District | Steelton | 1/10 Poor | 2nd |
| #11 | Harrisburg City School District | Harrisburg | 1/10 Poor | 1st |
Best School Districts in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (2026)
This page lists the 11 public school districts headquartered in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using PSSA 2024–25 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Pennsylvania, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Dauphin County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania? ▼
Among the 11 rated districts in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 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 (PSSA 2024–25), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Pennsylvania and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.