Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Derry Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Hersheypark view from Ferris Wheel, 2013-08-10 (cropped)Photo: Paulo Ordoveza from Washington, DC · CC BY 2.0
A
Schools in Derry Township · Derry Township School District

Derry Township’s public schools outscore 90% of Pennsylvania districts

In Derry Township, 61% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Derry 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.

#140of 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
79%
▲ 24 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
61%
▲ 25 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 4 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.1K
▼ 8% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.3
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
10
3,118 students on the public path
In brief

Derry Township’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 79% and math 61% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $20,121 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 2 the district’s path is Hershey Primary El Sch, then Hershey MS, then Hershey HS. Enrollment is down 8% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Milton Hershey School (private), St. Joan of Arc Elementary School (private), The Goddard School of Hershey (private) and Tender Years (private) are 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 Derry Township’s grade

A+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

A: better than 90% of Pennsylvania school districts, #140 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 90%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1474)Better than 91%
Towns in Dauphin County (23)Better than 96%
AA+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,642 test results and a graduating class of 286 could put Derry Township anywhere from A to A+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Derry Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,624 in math, 1,661 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–1Hershey Early Childhood CtrDerry Township School DistrictNo scores
2–3Hershey Primary El SchDerry Township School DistrictA
6–8Hershey MSDerry Township School DistrictA
9–12Hershey HSDerry Township School DistrictB+

Derry Township’s public schools are run by Derry Township School District. 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.

Derry Township School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 3,118 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 12.3 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$20,121PA $21,758 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading79%
State average 55.1% · 1661 students tested
Math61%
State average 36.1% · 1624 students tested

Derry Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Derry TownshipADerry Township
East HanoverB+Lower Dauphin
South HanoverB+Lower Dauphin
Lower SwataraCMiddletown Area
SwataraC+Central Dauphin
HummelstownB+Lower Dauphin
North LondonderryAPalmyra Area
PalmyraAPalmyra Area
ConewagoB+Lower Dauphin
LondonderryB+Lower Dauphin

Every school in Derry Township

10 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 Derry Townshipby address
Hershey Early Childhood Ctr
Elementary · Grades K–1 · Hershey
420 students12:1Rate it →
Hershey Primary El Sch
Elementary · Grades 2–3 · Hershey
A
427 students14:1Rate it →
Hershey Intrmd El Sch
Elementary · Grades 4–5 · Hershey
A
479 students13:1Rate it →
Hershey MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hershey
A
742 students12:1Rate it →
Hershey HS
High · Grades 9–12 · Hershey
B+
1,050 students12:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Derry Townshiprun by other districts or the state
Lower Dauphin MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hummelstown
C+
781 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Milton Hershey School
Grades PK–12 · Hershey
Private · Nonsectarian
1,958 students8:1Rate it →
St. Joan of Arc Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Hummels Town
Private · Catholic
498 students15:1Rate it →
The Goddard School of Hershey
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Hummelstown
Private · Nonsectarian
145 studentsRate it →
Tender Years
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Hershey
Private · Nonsectarian
52 studentsRate it →

Questions about Derry Township’s schools

Are Derry Township’s schools good?

By Pennsylvania’s own tests, yes: the public schools Derry Township children attend outscore 90% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #140 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 91%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Derry Township in?

Derry Township School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 3,118 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Derry Township kids go to high school?

Hershey HS in Hershey, with 1,050 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Derry Township’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Derry Township School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Derry Township spend per student?

$20,121 in Derry Township School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Derry Township?

Yes: Milton Hershey School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 1,958 students), St. Joan of Arc Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 498 students), The Goddard School of Hershey (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 145 students) and Tender Years (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 52 students).

Parents talk

What Derry Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Derry 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.