Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Mount Joy

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Mt Joy PA Post OfficePhoto: Smallbones · CC BY-SA 3.0
B
Schools in Mount Joy · Donegal School District

Mount Joy’s public schools outscore 59% of Pennsylvania districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Mount Joy, 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.

#564of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 92% 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
61%
▲ 6 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
38%
▲ 2 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 4 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.7K
▼ 23% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.2
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
2,739 students on the public path
In brief

Mount Joy’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1727 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Mount Joy’s, its schools beat 49%, lower than their 59% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 61% and math 38% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,734 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Donegal Intermediate School, then Donegal JHS, then Donegal HS. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

The Janus 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’s grade

B Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 59% of Pennsylvania school districts, #564 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 59%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1727)Better than 49%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,402 test results and a graduating class of 231 could put Mount Joy anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of Mount Joy’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,361 in math, 1,443 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–2Donegal Primary SchoolDonegal School DistrictNo scores
3–6Donegal Intermediate Schoolin MariettaB−
7–8Donegal JHSDonegal School DistrictC+
9–12Donegal HSDonegal School DistrictB−

Mount Joy’s public schools are run by Donegal School District, which also serves East Donegal, Marietta and Mount Joy. 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.

Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading61%
State average 55.1% · 1443 students tested
Math38%
State average 36.1% · 1361 students tested

Mount Joy vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Mount JoyBDonegal
RaphoBManheim Central
East DonegalBDonegal
Mount Joy TownshipB+Elizabethtown Area K–12 · Donegal K–12

2 of the 3 neighbors share Donegal with Mount Joy, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Mount Joy

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 Mount Joyin other towns
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade

Questions about Mount Joy’s schools

Are Mount Joy’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Pennsylvania: the public schools Mount Joy children attend outscore 59% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #564 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 49%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Mount Joy in?

Donegal School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,739 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Mount Joy kids go to high school?

Donegal HS, with 955 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Mount Joy’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Donegal School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Mount Joy spend per student?

$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?

Yes: The Janus School (special education, grades 1–12, 74 students).

Parents talk

What Mount Joy families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Mount Joy → 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.