📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (EDFacts 2017–18)

Best School Districts
in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 429 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

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📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), 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
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Fox Chapel Area School DistrictFox Chapel10/10  Excellent99th
#2Hampton Township School DistrictHampton Township10/10  Excellent99th
#3Lower Merion School DistrictBala Cynwyd10/10  Excellent99th
#4Mount Lebanon School DistrictMount Lebanon10/10  Excellent99th
#5Mt. Lebanon School DistrictPittsburgh10/10  Excellent99th
#6Radnor Township School DistrictBryn Mawr10/10  Excellent99th
#7Shaler Area School DistrictShaler10/10  Excellent99th
#8South Fayette Township School DistrictSouth Fayette Township10/10  Excellent99th
#9Unionville-Chadds Ford School DistrictChadds Ford10/10  Excellent99th
#10Pine-Richland School DistrictPine-Richland10/10  Excellent98th
#11New Hope-Solebury School DistrictCarversville10/10  Excellent97th
#12North Allegheny School DistrictNorth Allegheny10/10  Excellent97th
#13Penn-Trafford School DistrictPenn-Trafford10/10  Excellent97th
#14Tredyffrin-Easttown School DistrictWayne10/10  Excellent97th
#15Upper Dublin School DistrictDresher10/10  Excellent97th
#16Bethel Park School DistrictBethel Park10/10  Excellent96th
#17Colonial School DistrictFlourtown10/10  Excellent96th
#18Downingtown Area School DistrictDowningtown10/10  Excellent96th
#19Garnet Valley School DistrictChester Heights10/10  Excellent96th
#20Great Valley School DistrictImmaculata10/10  Excellent96th
#21Haverford Township School DistrictArdmore10/10  Excellent96th
#22Norwin School DistrictNorwin10/10  Excellent96th
#23Owen J. Roberts School DistrictChester Springs10/10  Excellent96th
#24Parkland School DistrictBreinigsville10/10  Excellent96th
#25Quaker Valley School DistrictQuaker Valley10/10  Excellent96th

Best School Districts in Pennsylvania (2026)

This ranking covers 429 rated public school districts in Pennsylvania, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. 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 →

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 (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), the top-rated district is Fox Chapel Area School District in Fox Chapel, 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 (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), 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.