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Parkesburg National BankParkesburg National Bank · Photo: Smallbones · Public domain
C+
Schools in Parkesburg · Octorara Area School District

Parkesburg’s public schools score below 62% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

In Parkesburg, 29% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Parkesburg, 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.

#804of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 90% 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
57%
▲ 2 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
29%
▼ 7 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$23.2K
▲ 7% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.0
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,689 students on the public path
In brief

Parkesburg’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 2039 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Parkesburg’s, its schools beat 20%, lower than their 38% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 57% and math 29% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $23,207 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

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

From grade 3 the district’s path is Octorara El Sch, then Octorara Area MS, then Octorara Area JSHS. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. 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 Parkesburg’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 38% of Pennsylvania school districts, #804 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 38%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (2039)Better than 20%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 989 test results and a graduating class of 185 could put Parkesburg anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 90% of Parkesburg’s students in the tested grades sat them (975 in math, 1,003 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–2Octorara Primary LCin AtglenNo scores
3–4Octorara El Schin AtglenB
7–8Octorara Area MSin AtglenNo scores
9–12Octorara Area JSHSin AtglenC

Parkesburg’s public schools are run by Octorara Area School District, which also serves Atglen, Christiana, Highland and Londonderry and others. 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.

Octorara Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 1,968 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 12.0 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$23,207PA $21,758 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading57%
State average 55.1% · 1003 students tested
Math29%
State average 36.1% · 975 students tested

Parkesburg vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ParkesburgC+Octorara Area
SadsburyC−Coatesville Area
West SadsburyC+Octorara Area
HighlandC+Octorara Area

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

Every school in Parkesburg

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).

Also serving Parkesburgin other towns
Octorara Primary LC
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Atglen
412 students12:1Rate it →
Octorara El Sch
Elementary · Grades 3–4 · Atglen
B
270 students10:1Rate it →
Octorara Area MS
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Atglen
304 students11:1Rate it →
Octorara Area JSHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Atglen
C
703 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Parkesburg’s schools

Are Parkesburg’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Parkesburg children attend score below 62% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #804 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 20%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Parkesburg in?

Octorara Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 1,968 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Parkesburg kids go to high school?

Octorara Area JSHS in Atglen, with 703 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Parkesburg’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Parkesburg spend per student?

$23,207 in Octorara Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Parkesburg families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Parkesburg → 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.