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McDonald, Pennsylvania, 3rd and W Lincoln AvePhoto: Generic1139 · CC BY 3.0
A−
Schools in McDonald · Fort Cherry School District

McDonald’s public schools outscore 81% of Pennsylvania districts

70% of students in McDonald’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the Pennsylvania average (55%). The grade covers the public school district serving McDonald, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. 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
70%
▲ 15 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
38%
▲ 2 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Spent per student
$20.4K
▼ 6% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.2
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
912 students on the public path
In brief

McDonald’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1937 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of McDonald’s, its schools beat 87%, higher than their 81% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 70% and math 38% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $20,417 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Fort Cherry JSHS. 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 McDonald’s grade

A− Test scores

A−: better than 81% of Pennsylvania school districts. Test scores are above the Pennsylvania average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 81%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1937)Better than 87%
B+AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 434 test results could put McDonald anywhere from B+ to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of McDonald’s students in the tested grades sat them (414 in math, 455 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–6Fort Cherry El Ctrin Mc DonaldB
7–12Fort Cherry JSHSin Mc DonaldB−

McDonald’s public schools are run by Fort Cherry School District, which also serves Midway, Mount Pleasant and Robinson. 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.

Fort Cherry School DistrictGrades K–12 · 2 schools · 912 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 12.2 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$20,417PA $21,758 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading70%
State average 55.1% · 455 students tested
Math38%
State average 36.1% · 414 students tested

McDonald vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
McDonaldA−Fort Cherry
RobinsonA−Fort Cherry
North FayetteA+West Allegheny
CecilACanon-McMillan
South FayetteA+South Fayette Township

Every school in McDonald

2 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 McDonaldin other towns
Fort Cherry El Ctr
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Mc Donald
B
455 students12:1Rate it →
Fort Cherry JSHS
High · Grades 7–12 · Mc Donald
B−
457 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about McDonald’s schools

Are McDonald’s schools good?

By Pennsylvania’s own tests, yes: the public schools McDonald children attend outscore 81% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 87%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is McDonald in?

Fort Cherry School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 912 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

How much does McDonald spend per student?

$20,417 in Fort Cherry School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What McDonald families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near McDonald → 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.