Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0

B⁻

Schools in Carlisle · Carlisle Area School District

Carlisle’s public schools outscore 51% of Pennsylvania districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Carlisle, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Pennsylvania, not nationally.

#660of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency

59%

▲ 4 pts vs PA 55%

2021–22

Math proficiency

35%

▼ 1 pts vs PA 36%

2021–22

Graduate on time

89%

▲ 2 pts vs PA 88%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$16.7K

▼ 23% vs PA $21.8K

FY2024

Students per teacher

14.2

PA 13.4 · larger classes

Schools in town

3,731 students on the public path

In brief

Carlisle’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1757 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Carlisle’s, its schools beat 45%, lower than their 51% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 59% and math 35% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,663 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then two middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Dickinson College Children's Center (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Carlisle’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B−: better than 51% of Pennsylvania school districts, #660 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 51%

Lower resultsHigher results

Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1757)Better than 45%

C⁺BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,455 test results and a graduating class of 377 could put Carlisle anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Carlisle’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,409 in math, 2,501 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Carlisle, with each school’s own grade.

Kindergarten in Carlisle · depends on your address

Hamilton El Sch

Grades K–5 · 388 students · 14:1 students per teacher

Mooreland El Sch

Grades K–5 · 372 students · 15:1 students per teacher

A⁻

Letort El Sch

Grades K–5 · 225 students · 12:1 students per teacher

C⁺

The path, start to finish

K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to A⁻

6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC to C⁺

9–12Carlisle Area HSCarlisle Area School DistrictA

Carlisle’s public schools are run by Carlisle Area School District, which also serves Dickinson, Mount Holly Springs and North Middleton. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Carlisle Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 10 schools · 5,087 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 14.2 per teacher (PA 13.4)

$16,663PA $21,758 · FY2024

B⁻

Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading59%

State average 55.1% · 2501 students tested

Math35%

State average 36.1% · 2409 students tested

Carlisle vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share Carlisle’s borders.

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Carlisle	B⁻	Carlisle Area
North Middleton	B⁻	Carlisle Area
South Middleton	A⁻	South Middleton
West Pennsboro	B⁺	Big Spring

Every school in Carlisle

7 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Pennsylvania’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Carlisleby address

Hamilton El Sch

Elementary · Grades K–5

388 students14:1Rate it →

Mooreland El Sch

Elementary · Grades K–5

A⁻

372 students15:1Rate it →

Letort El Sch

Elementary · Grades K–5

C⁺

225 students12:1Rate it →

Wilson MS

Middle · Grades 6–8

604 students14:1Rate it →

Lamberton MS

Middle · Grades 6–8

C⁺

583 students13:1Rate it →

Carlisle Area HS

High · Grades 9–12

1,559 students14:1Rate it →

Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

Dickinson College Children's Center

Elementary · Grades K

Private · Nonsectarian

14 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Carlisle’s schools

Are Carlisle’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Pennsylvania: the public schools Carlisle children attend outscore 51% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #660 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 45%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Carlisle in?

Carlisle Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 5,087 students in 10 schools (2024–25).

Where do Carlisle kids go to high school?

Carlisle Area HS, with 1,559 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Carlisle’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Carlisle Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Carlisle spend per student?

$16,663 in Carlisle Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Carlisle?

Yes: Dickinson College Children's Center (nonsectarian, grades K, 14 students).

Parents talk

What Carlisle families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Carlisle → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Pennsylvania. Stars are from neighbors.