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Schools in Penn Township · Penns Valley Area School District

Penn Township’s public schools outscore 79% of Pennsylvania districts

54% of students in Penn Township’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Penn 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
62%
▲ 7 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
54%
▲ 18 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.9K
▼ 13% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.4
PA 13.4
Schools in town
4
980 students on the public path
In brief

Penn Township’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1997 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Penn Township’s, its schools beat 84%, higher than their 79% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 62% and math 54% 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 $18,947 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 Penns Valley Area JSHS. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Shady Meadow School (private) and Woodside Amish School (private) are 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 Penn Township’s grade

A Test scoresC+ Graduation

A−: better than 79% of Pennsylvania school districts. 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 79%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1997)Better than 84%
Towns in Centre County (25)Better than 60%
BAA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 690 test results and a graduating class of 104 could put Penn Township anywhere from B to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Penn Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (685 in math, 696 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–6Penns Valley Area El and Intrmd SchPenns Valley Area School DistrictB+
7–12Penns Valley Area JSHSPenns Valley Area School DistrictB−

Penn Township’s public schools are run by Penns Valley Area School District, which also serves Centre Hall, Gregg, Haines and Miles 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.

Penns Valley Area School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,271 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 13.4 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$18,947PA $21,758 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading62%
State average 55.1% · 696 students tested
Math54%
State average 36.1% · 685 students tested

Penn Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Penn TownshipA−Penns Valley Area
Millheim—Penns Valley Area
GreggA−Penns Valley Area
MilesA−Penns Valley Area
HainesA−Penns Valley Area

All 4 neighbors share Penns Valley Area with Penn Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Penn Township

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).

District schools in Penn Townshipby address
Penns Valley Area El and Intrmd Sch
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Spring Mills
B+
348 students13:1Rate it →
Penns Valley Area JSHS
High · Grades 7–12 · Spring Mills
B−
632 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Shady Meadow School
Elementary · Grades 1–8 · Spring Mills
Private · Religious
24 students24:1Rate it →
Woodside Amish School
Elementary · Grades 1–8 · Spring Mills
Private · Religious
22 students22:1Rate it →

Questions about Penn Township’s schools

Are Penn Township’s schools good?

By Pennsylvania’s own tests, yes: the public schools Penn Township children attend outscore 79% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 84%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Penn Township in?

Penns Valley Area School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,271 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

What is Penn Township’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Penn Township spend per student?

$18,947 in Penns Valley Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Penn Township?

Yes: Shady Meadow School (religious, grades 1–8, 24 students) and Woodside Amish School (religious, grades 1–8, 22 students).

Parents talk

What Penn Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Penn 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.