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US 322 wb entering Clay, PA, Dec. 2023Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in Clay Township · Ephrata Area School District

Clay Township’s public schools score below 53% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Clay Township, 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.

#696of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% 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
54%
▼ 1 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
37%
▲ 1 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▲ 2 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.4K
▼ 16% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.8
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
2,325 students on the public path
In brief

Clay Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1900 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Clay Township’s, its schools beat 32%, lower than their 47% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 54% and math 37% 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 $18,352 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Ephrata MS, then Ephrata SHS. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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 Clay Township’s grade

B− Test scoresC Graduation

B−: better than 47% of Pennsylvania school districts, #696 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Graduation is above the Pennsylvania average; test scores are below it.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 47%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1900)Better than 32%
Towns in Lancaster County (41)Better than 41%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,938 test results and a graduating class of 310 could put Clay Township anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Clay Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,856 in math, 2,019 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–4Clay El SchEphrata Area School DistrictA−
7–8Ephrata MSin EphrataC
9–12Ephrata SHSin EphrataA−

Clay Township’s public schools are run by Ephrata Area School District, which also serves Akron, Ephrata and Ephrata. 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.

Ephrata Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 7 schools · 3,904 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 12.8 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$18,352PA $21,758 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading54%
State average 55.1% · 2019 students tested
Math37%
State average 36.1% · 1856 students tested

Clay Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Clay TownshipB−Ephrata Area
ElizabethA−Warwick
West CocalicoA−Cocalico
WarwickA−Warwick
EphrataB−Ephrata Area
HeidelbergCEastern Lebanon County

Every school in Clay Township

3 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 Clay Townshipby address
Clay El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–4 · Ephrata
A−
377 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving Clay Townshipin other towns
Ephrata MS
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Ephrata
C
601 students12:1Rate it →
Ephrata SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Ephrata
A−
1,347 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Clay Township’s schools

Are Clay Township’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Clay Township children attend score below 53% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #696 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 32%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Clay Township in?

Ephrata Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 3,904 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

Where do Clay Township kids go to high school?

Ephrata SHS in Ephrata, with 1,347 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Clay Township’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Clay Township spend per student?

$18,352 in Ephrata Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Clay Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Clay Township → 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.