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B+
Schools in Penn Township · Big Spring School District

Penn Township’s public schools outscore 69% of Pennsylvania districts

45% 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.

#447of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% 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
45%
▲ 9 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.1K
▼ 12% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.4
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
2,344 students on the public path
In brief

Penn Township’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 62% and math 45% 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 $19,089 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Big Spring MS, then Big Spring HS. 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 Penn Township’s grade

A− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B+: better than 69% of Pennsylvania school districts, #447 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 69%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (2001)Better than 67%
Towns in Cumberland County (22)Better than 32%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,152 test results and a graduating class of 163 could put Penn Township anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 93% of Penn Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,124 in math, 1,180 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–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A
6–8Big Spring MSin NewvilleC+
9–12Big Spring HSin NewvilleC+

Penn Township’s public schools are run by Big Spring School District, which also serves Cooke, Lower Frankford, Lower Mifflin and Newville 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.

Big Spring School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 2,344 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 12.4 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$19,089PA $21,758 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading62%
State average 55.1% · 1180 students tested
Math45%
State average 36.1% · 1124 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 TownshipB+Big Spring
South NewtonB+Big Spring
West PennsboroB+Big Spring
Cooke—Big Spring
DickinsonB−Carlisle Area

3 of the 4 neighbors share Big Spring with Penn Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Penn Township

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 Penn Townshipin other towns
Newville El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Newville
B−
351 students12:1Rate it →
Oak Flat El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Newville
A
348 students11:1Rate it →
Mount Rock Elem Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Newville
B+
331 students13:1Rate it →
Big Spring MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Newville
C+
550 students12:1Rate it →
Big Spring HS
High · Grades 9–12 · Newville
C+
764 students14:1Rate 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 69% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #447 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 67%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Penn Township in?

Big Spring School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,344 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Penn Township kids go to high school?

Big Spring HS in Newville, with 764 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Penn Township’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Penn Township spend per student?

$19,089 in Big Spring School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

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.