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Mt Joy PA Post OfficePhoto: Smallbones · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Mount Joy Township · Elizabethtown Area School District, Donegal School District

Mount Joy Township’s public schools outscore 73% of Pennsylvania districts

Math proficiency in Mount Joy Township’s districts is 44%, above the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Mount Joy 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.

#382of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% 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
63%
▲ 8 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
44%
▲ 8 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95%
▲ 8 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.1K
▼ 17% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024 · Elizabethtown Area
Students per teacher
15.0
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
2
5,458 students on the public path
In brief

Mount Joy Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1443 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Mount Joy Township’s, its schools beat 65%, lower than their 73% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 63% and math 44% across both districts in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Elizabethtown Area spends $18,063 per student and Donegal $16,734, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Mount Calvary Christian School (private) is 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 Mount Joy Township’s grade

A− Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 73% of Pennsylvania school districts, #382 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 73%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1443)Better than 65%
Towns in Lancaster County (41)Better than 61%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,150 test results and a graduating class of 294 could put Mount Joy Township anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 91% of Mount Joy Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,021 in math, 3,280 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–23 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A
3–5Bear Creek SchoolElizabethtown Area School DistrictB+
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB−

Mount Joy Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Elizabethtown Area School District). From grade K, students attend the Donegal School District, shared with East Donegal, Marietta and Mount Joy. Its elementary school is in Mount Joy. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Mount Joy Township

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Elizabethtown Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 3,525 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 14.9 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$18,063PA $21,758 · FY2024
A−
Donegal School DistrictGrades K–12 · 4 schools · 2,739 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 15.2 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$16,734PA $21,758 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · K–12, Elizabethtown Area School District65%
State average 55.1% · 1837 students tested
Math · K–12, Elizabethtown Area School District49%
State average 36.1% · 1660 students tested
Reading · K–12, Donegal School District61%
State average 55.1% · 1443 students tested
Math · K–12, Donegal School District38%
State average 36.1% · 1361 students tested

Mount Joy Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Mount Joy TownshipB+Elizabethtown Area K–12 · Donegal K–12
RaphoBManheim Central
ConewagoB+Lower Dauphin
ElizabethtownA−Elizabethtown Area
LondonderryB+Lower Dauphin
Mount Joy (borough)BDonegal
West DonegalA−Elizabethtown Area
East DonegalBDonegal
South LondonderryAPalmyra Area

2 of the 8 neighbors share Elizabethtown Area with Mount Joy Township for grades K–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Mount Joy Township

9 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 Mount Joy Townshipby address
Bear Creek School
Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Elizabethtown
B+
750 students14:1Rate it →
Also serving Mount Joy Townshipin other towns
Donegal Primary School
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Mount Joy
559 students15:1Rate it →
East High Street El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Elizabethtown
A−
466 students14:1Rate it →
Bainbridge El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Bainbridge
A
219 students15:1Rate it →
Elizabethtown Area MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Elizabethtown
C+
827 students14:1Rate it →
Donegal JHS
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Mount Joy
C+
419 students14:1Rate it →
Elizabethtown Area SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Elizabethtown
B−
1,263 students17:1Rate it →
Donegal HS
High · Grades 9–12 · Mount Joy
B−
955 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Mount Calvary Christian School
Grades K–12 · Elizabethtown
Private · Religious
657 students11:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Lancaster County Career and Technology Center - Mt Joy).

Questions about Mount Joy Township’s schools

Are Mount Joy Township’s schools good?

By Pennsylvania’s own tests, yes: the public schools Mount Joy Township children attend outscore 73% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #382 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 65%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Mount Joy Township in?

Two districts: Elizabethtown Area School District runs grades K–12, and Donegal School District runs grades K–12, shared with East Donegal, Marietta and Mount Joy.

Where do Mount Joy Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Elizabethtown Area SHS and Donegal HS.

What is Mount Joy Township’s graduation rate?

95% of the class of 2023 in Elizabethtown Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Mount Joy Township spend per student?

$18,063 in Elizabethtown Area School District and $16,734 in Donegal School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Mount Joy Township?

Yes: Mount Calvary Christian School (religious, grades K–12, 657 students).

Parents talk

What Mount Joy Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Mount Joy 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.