Photo: Ted Van Pelt · CC BY 2.0Harrisburg’s public schools score below 98% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation
On the state math tests, 5% of Harrisburg’s students scored proficient, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Harrisburg, 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.
From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 90% 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.
Harrisburg’s schools, in brief
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 16% of tested students were proficient in reading and 5% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 90% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
69% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $19,721 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Seven elementary schools, then four middle and three high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Sylvan Heights Science CS, Capital Area School for the Arts CS, Pennsylvania STEAM Academy CS, St. Stephen's Episcopal School (private), The Nativity School of Harrisburg (private), The Worship Academy School of the Arts (private), New City School DBA Logos Harrisburg (private), Rabbi David L Silver Yeshiva Academy (private), Lighthouse Christian Academy (private), Hillside Seventh-Day Adventist School (private) and Joshua Learning Center (private) are in town. Commonwealth Charter Academy CS, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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.
What’s behind Harrisburg’s grade
D−: better than 2% of Pennsylvania school districts, #1,036 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Harrisburg, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Harrisburg · depends on your address
Benjamin Franklin Sch
Grades PK–5 · 678 students · 10:1 students per teacher
Foose Sch
Grades PK–5 · 522 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Downey Sch
Grades PK–5 · 405 students · 13:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Harrisburg · depends on your address
Camp Curtin Academy
Grades 6–8 · 724 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Marshall Math Science Academy
Grades 6–8 · 408 students · 17:1 students per teacher
Cougar Academy
Grades K–12 · 300 students · 18:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Harrisburg · depends on your address
Harrisburg HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,343 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Harrisburg HS - SciTech Cmp
Grades 9–12 · 347 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Cougar Academy
Grades K–12 · 300 students · 18:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Harrisburg · depends on your address
Harrisburg HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,343 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Harrisburg HS - SciTech Cmp
Grades 9–12 · 347 students · 13:1 students per teacher
Cougar Academy
Grades K–12 · 300 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Harrisburg’s public schools are run by Harrisburg City 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.
Well below the state in reading
Harrisburg vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share Harrisburg’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | D− | Harrisburg City |
| Susquehanna | C− | Susquehanna Township |
| East Pennsboro | C+ | East Pennsboro Area |
| Wormleysburg | B | West Shore |
| Lemoyne | B | West Shore |
| Swatara | C+ | Central Dauphin |
| New Cumberland | B | West Shore |
| Paxtang | C+ | Central Dauphin |
Every school in Harrisburg
24 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).
Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Premier Arts and Science CS and Marshall Academy).
Questions about Harrisburg’s schools
Are Harrisburg’s schools good?
On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Harrisburg children attend score below 98% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D− Schools grade. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Harrisburg in?
Harrisburg City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 6,462 students in 12 schools (2024–25).
Where do Harrisburg kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Harrisburg HS, Harrisburg HS - SciTech Cmp and Cougar Academy.
What is Harrisburg’s graduation rate?
69% of the class of 2023 in Harrisburg City School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.
How much does Harrisburg spend per student?
$19,721 in Harrisburg City School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Harrisburg?
Yes: St. Stephen's Episcopal School (religious, grades PK–8, 132 students), The Nativity School of Harrisburg (religious · all-boys, grades 5–8, 68 students), The Worship Academy School of the Arts (religious, grades K–11, 68 students), New City School DBA Logos Harrisburg (religious, grades PK–4, 62 students), Rabbi David L Silver Yeshiva Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 50 students), Lighthouse Christian Academy (religious, grades K–11, 44 students), Hillside Seventh-Day Adventist School (religious, grades K–8, 23 students) and Joshua Learning Center (nonsectarian, grades K, 14 students). Harrisburg also has 3 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Harrisburg families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Harrisburg → 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.