Lower Marsh Creek Presbyterian Church · Photo: Smallbones · CC0

B⁺

Schools in Highland Township · Gettysburg Area School District

Highland Township’s public schools outscore 68% of Pennsylvania districts

Math proficiency in Highland Township’s districts is 47%, above the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Highland 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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

64%

▲ 9 pts vs PA 55%

2021–22

Math proficiency

47%

▲ 11 pts vs PA 36%

2021–22

Graduate on time

90%

▲ 2 pts vs PA 88%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$20.4K

▼ 6% vs PA $21.8K

FY2024

Students per teacher

13.2

PA 13.4

Schools in town

2,782 students on the public path

In brief

Highland Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1023 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Highland Township’s, its schools beat 50%, lower than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 64% and math 47% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $20,381 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Gettysburg Area MS, then Gettysburg Area HS. 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 Highland Township’s grade

A⁻ Test scoresC⁺ Graduation

B+: better than 68% of Pennsylvania school districts. 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 68%

Lower resultsHigher results

Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1023)Better than 50%

Towns in Adams County (21)Better than 33%

BA⁻A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,406 test results and a graduating class of 251 could put Highland Township anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Highland Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,327 in math, 1,486 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

Kindergarten in Highland Township · depends on your address

Lincoln El Sch

Grades K–5 · 393 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Gettysburg

B⁺

Franklin Twp El Sch

Grades K–5 · 340 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Cashtown

A⁻

James Gettys El Sch

Grades K–5 · 334 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Gettysburg

B⁺

The path, start to finish

K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB⁺ to A⁻

6–8Gettysburg Area MSin GettysburgB⁻

9–12Gettysburg Area HSin GettysburgB⁺

Highland Township’s public schools are run by Gettysburg Area School District, which also serves Cumberland, Franklin, Freedom and Gettysburg and others. 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.

Gettysburg Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 2,782 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 13.2 per teacher (PA 13.4)

$20,381PA $21,758 · FY2024

B⁺

Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading64%

State average 55.1% · 1486 students tested

Math47%

State average 36.1% · 1327 students tested

Highland Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Highland Township	B⁺	Gettysburg Area
Cumberland	B⁺	Gettysburg Area
Franklin	B⁺	Gettysburg Area
Hamiltonban	B⁺	Fairfield Area
Freedom	—	Gettysburg Area
Liberty	B⁺	Fairfield Area

3 of the 5 neighbors share Gettysburg Area with Highland Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Highland Township

5 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).

Also serving Highland Townshipin other towns

Lincoln El Sch

Elementary · Grades K–5 · Gettysburg

B⁺

393 students14:1Rate it →

Franklin Twp El Sch

Elementary · Grades K–5 · Cashtown

A⁻

340 students12:1Rate it →

James Gettys El Sch

Elementary · Grades K–5 · Gettysburg

B⁺

334 students12:1Rate it →

Gettysburg Area MS

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Gettysburg

B⁻

646 students12:1Rate it →

Gettysburg Area HS

High · Grades 9–12 · Gettysburg

B⁺

1,069 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Highland Township’s schools

Are Highland Township’s schools good?

By Pennsylvania’s own tests, yes: the public schools Highland Township children attend outscore 68% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 50%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Highland Township in?

Gettysburg Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,782 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Highland Township kids go to high school?

Gettysburg Area HS in Gettysburg, with 1,069 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Highland Township’s graduation rate?

90% of the class of 2023 in Gettysburg Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Highland Township spend per student?

$20,381 in Gettysburg Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Highland Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Highland 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.