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CONRAD AND MARGARET ALLERMAN HOUSE, DAUPHIN COUNTY, PAPhoto: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0
C
Schools in Lower Swatara Township · Middletown Area School District

Lower Swatara Township’s public schools score below 68% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

In Lower Swatara Township, 27% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Lower Swatara 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.

#876of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% 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
47%
▼ 8 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
27%
▼ 9 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.9K
▼ 9% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.0
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
4
2,015 students on the public path
In brief

Lower Swatara Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1824 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lower Swatara Township’s, its schools beat 9%, lower than their 32% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 47% of tested students were proficient in reading and 27% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 94% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania (the state reports Lower Swatara Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $19,893 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Middletown Area MS, then Middletown 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 Lower Swatara Township’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 32% of Pennsylvania school districts, #876 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 32%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1824)Better than 9%
Towns in Dauphin County (23)Better than 17%
CC+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,242 test results and a graduating class of 158 could put Lower Swatara Township anywhere from C to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 94% of Lower Swatara Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,242 in math, 1,242 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B
6–8Middletown Area MSMiddletown Area School DistrictC−
9–12Middletown Area HSMiddletown Area School DistrictC+

Lower Swatara Township’s public schools are run by Middletown Area School District, which also serves Middletown and Royalton. 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.

Middletown Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 2,272 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 12.0 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$19,893PA $21,758 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading47%
State average 55.1% · 1242 students tested
Math27%
State average 36.1% · 1242 students tested

Lower Swatara Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Lower Swatara TownshipCMiddletown Area
HighspireD−Steelton-Highspire
DerryADerry Township
MiddletownCMiddletown Area
SwataraC+Central Dauphin
FairviewBWest Shore
LondonderryB+Lower Dauphin
NewberryBWest Shore K–12 · Northeastern York K–12
SteeltonD−Steelton-Highspire

Every school in Lower Swatara Township

4 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 Lower Swatara Townshipby address
Robert Reid El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Middletown
C
410 students11:1Rate it →
Kunkel El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Middletown
B
369 students12:1Rate it →
Middletown Area MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Middletown
C−
534 students12:1Rate it →
Middletown Area HS
High · Grades 9–12 · Middletown
C+
702 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Lower Swatara Township’s schools

Are Lower Swatara Township’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lower Swatara Township children attend score below 68% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #876 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 9%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lower Swatara Township in?

Middletown Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,272 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Lower Swatara Township kids go to high school?

Middletown Area HS in Middletown, with 702 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Lower Swatara Township’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Middletown Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Lower Swatara Township spend per student?

$19,893 in Middletown Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lower Swatara Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lower Swatara 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.