Best schools in Pennsylvania (2025)
The top five of 2,819 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (US), built only from official American data.
Pennsylvania has 2,819 schools educating 1,587,871 students in 2025: 2,658 public, 161 charter.
The median Enrollment across Pennsylvania is 467. Students enrolled in the latest NCES directory year.
Browse every school in Pennsylvania →
Best elementary schools in Pennsylvania
Schools classified as elementary by NCES.
West Vincent El Sch
Chester Springs · Public elementary · Grades K–6
530 students
Hillendale El Sch
Chadds Ford · Public elementary · Grades K–5
346 students
Pickering Valley El Sch
Chester Springs · Public elementary · Grades K–5
423 students
Merion El Sch
Merion Station · Public elementary · Grades K–4
438 students
Richland El Sch
Gibsonia · Public elementary · Grades K–3
470 students
Best middle schools in Pennsylvania
Schools classified as middle schools by NCES.
Bala-Cynwyd MS
Bala Cynwyd · Public middle · Grades 5–8
794 students
Black Rock MS
Villanova · Public middle · Grades 5–8
1,077 students
Radnor MS
Wayne · Public middle · Grades 6–8
808 students
Boyce MS
Pittsburgh · Public middle · Grades 5–6
624 students
Jefferson MS
Pittsburgh · Public middle · Grades 6–8
621 students
Best high schools in Pennsylvania
Schools classified as high schools by NCES.
Harriton SHS
Rosemont · Public high · Grades 9–12
1,239 students
New Hope-Solebury HS
New Hope · Public high · Grades 9–12
450 students
Downingtown STEM Academy
Downingtown · Public high · Grades 9–12
962 students
Unionville HS
Kennett Square · Public high · Grades 9–12
1,263 students
Mars Area SHS
Mars · Public high · Grades 9–12
1,044 students
Best traditional public schools in Pennsylvania
District-run public schools.
West Vincent El Sch
Chester Springs · Public elementary · Grades K–6
530 students
Hillendale El Sch
Chadds Ford · Public elementary · Grades K–5
346 students
Pickering Valley El Sch
Chester Springs · Public elementary · Grades K–5
423 students
Merion El Sch
Merion Station · Public elementary · Grades K–4
438 students
Richland El Sch
Gibsonia · Public elementary · Grades K–3
470 students
Best charter schools in Pennsylvania
Publicly funded charter schools.
Souderton CS Collaborative
Souderton · Charter elementary · Grades K–8
250 students
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
Bethlehem · Charter high · Grades 9–12
550 students
Bucks County Montessori CS
Fairless Hills · Charter elementary · Grades K–6
180 students
Infinity CS
Harrisburg · Charter elementary · Grades K–8
256 students
Capital Area School for the Arts CS
Harrisburg · Charter high · Grades 9–12
193 students
Best schools by math proficiency in Pennsylvania
Schools ranked by the share of tested students proficient or above in math on the state assessment (EDFacts, all students), for schools with 30 or more tested students.
Downingtown STEM Academy
Downingtown · Public high · Grades 9–12
962 students
Central HS
Philadelphia · Public high · Grades 9–12
2,329 students
Masterman Julia R Sec Sch
Philadelphia · Public high · Grades 5–12
1,183 students
Northwest PA Collegiate Academy
Erie · Public high · Grades 9–12
750 students
Franklin Towne CHS
Philadelphia · Charter high · Grades 9–12
1,292 students
Best schools by reading proficiency in Pennsylvania
Schools ranked by the share of tested students proficient or above in reading/language arts (EDFacts, all students).
Downingtown STEM Academy
Downingtown · Public high · Grades 9–12
962 students
Central HS
Philadelphia · Public high · Grades 9–12
2,329 students
Masterman Julia R Sec Sch
Philadelphia · Public high · Grades 5–12
1,183 students
Fairview El Sch
Pittsburgh · Public elementary · Grades K–5
387 students
Bower Hill El Sch
Venetia · Public elementary · Grades K–3
689 students
Best lowest student–teacher ratio in Pennsylvania
Schools with the fewest students per FTE teacher, among schools with at least 100 students.
Dr Robert Ketterer CS Inc
Latrobe · Charter high · Grades 6–12
127 students
Fannett-Metal SHS
Willow Hill · Public high · Grades 9–12
124 students
Provident CS
Pittsburgh · Charter middle · Grades 2–8
306 students
Bentworth SHS
Bentleyville · Public high · Grades 9–12
359 students
Troy Area JSHS
Troy · Public high · Grades 7–12
660 students
Best largest schools in Pennsylvania
Schools with the highest enrollment.
Reading SHS
Reading · Public high · Grades 9–12
4,879 students
Upper Darby SHS
Drexel Hill · Public high · Grades 9–12
4,187 students
Hazleton Area HS
Hazle Township · Public high · Grades 9–12
4,071 students
Chester Community CS
Chester · Charter elementary · Grades K–8
3,782 students
Northeast HS
Philadelphia · Public high · Grades 9–12
3,463 students
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best elementary school in Pennsylvania?
West Vincent El Sch in Chester Springs ranks first among elementary schools in Pennsylvania with a Success Index (US) of 95.1 out of 100 (Enrollment: 530).
How are elementary schools in Pennsylvania ranked?
Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.