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St. Vladimir Church, Palmerton, PAPhoto: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0
B
Schools in Palmerton · Palmerton Area School District

Palmerton’s public schools outscore 57% of Pennsylvania districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Palmerton, 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.

≈could be anywhere from C+ to A−#592of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% 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
56%
▲ 1 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
38%
▲ 2 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.7K
▼ 18% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.4
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
1,288 students on the public path
In brief

Palmerton’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 56% and math 38% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,747 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 2 the district’s path is S S Palmer El Sch, then Palmerton Area JHS, then Palmerton Area HS. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. John Neumann Regional 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 Palmerton’s grade

B Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 57% of Pennsylvania school districts, #592 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 57%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1996)Better than 55%
C+A−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 860 test results and a graduating class of 102 could put Palmerton anywhere from C+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Palmerton’s students in the tested grades sat them (830 in math, 890 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–1Parkside Education CenterPalmerton Area School DistrictNo scores
2–6S S Palmer El SchPalmerton Area School DistrictB−
7–8Palmerton Area JHSPalmerton Area School DistrictC+
9–12Palmerton Area HSPalmerton Area School DistrictA

Palmerton’s public schools are run by Palmerton Area School District, which also serves Bowmanstown, Lower Towamensing and Towamensing. 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.

Palmerton Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 1,616 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 11.4 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$17,747PA $21,758 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading56%
State average 55.1% · 890 students tested
Math38%
State average 36.1% · 830 students tested

Palmerton vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PalmertonBPalmerton Area
Lower TowamensingBPalmerton Area
East PennB−Lehighton Area
Bowmanstown—Palmerton Area

2 of the 3 neighbors share Palmerton Area with Palmerton, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Palmerton

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).

District schools in Palmertonby address
Parkside Education Center
Elementary · Grades K–1
150 students12:1Rate it →
S S Palmer El Sch
Elementary · Grades 2–6
B−
399 students11:1Rate it →
Also serving Palmertonin other towns
Palmerton Area JHS
Middle · Grades 7–8
C+
261 students13:1Rate it →
Palmerton Area HS
High · Grades 9–12
A
478 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. John Neumann Regional School
Elementary · Grades 3–8
Private · Catholic
30 students5:1Rate it →

Questions about Palmerton’s schools

Are Palmerton’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Pennsylvania: the public schools Palmerton children attend outscore 57% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #592 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 55%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Palmerton in?

Palmerton Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 1,616 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Palmerton kids go to high school?

Palmerton Area HS, with 478 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Palmerton’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Palmerton Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Palmerton spend per student?

$17,747 in Palmerton Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Palmerton?

Yes: St. John Neumann Regional School (Catholic, grades 3–8, 30 students).

Parents talk

What Palmerton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Palmerton → 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.