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B+
Schools in Penn Township · South Western School District

Penn Township’s public schools outscore 72% of Pennsylvania districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Penn Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 62% of students in Penn Township’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the Pennsylvania average (55%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Pennsylvania, not nationally.

#401of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% 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
37%
▲ 1 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
96%
▲ 8 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.4K
▼ 20% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.3
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
3,584 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 37% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 96% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,408 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Emory H Markle MS, then South Western SHS. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Joseph Catholic 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 Penn Township’s grade

B+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 72% of Pennsylvania school districts, #401 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Pennsylvania average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 72%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1874)Better than 69%
Towns in York County (35)Better than 69%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,252 test results and a graduating class of 349 could put Penn Township anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Penn Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,142 in math, 2,361 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–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B
6–8Emory H Markle MSSouth Western School DistrictC+
9–12South Western SHSSouth Western School DistrictA

Penn Township’s public schools are run by South Western School District, which also serves Manheim and West Manheim. 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.

South Western School DistrictGrades K–12 · 6 schools · 4,378 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 14.3 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$17,408PA $21,758 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading62%
State average 55.1% · 2361 students tested
Math37%
State average 36.1% · 2142 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+South Western
West ManheimB+South Western
HanoverB−Hanover Public
HeidelbergA−Spring Grove Area
BerwickB+Conewago Valley
ConewagoB+Conewago Valley

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).

District schools in Penn Townshipby address
Baresville El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Hanover
B
586 students15:1Rate it →
Park Hills El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Hanover
C+
572 students15:1Rate it →
Emory H Markle MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hanover
C+
1,046 students14:1Rate it →
South Western SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Hanover
A
1,380 students15:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Joseph Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Hanover
Private · Catholic
277 students17:1Rate 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 72% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #401 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 69%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Penn Township in?

South Western School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 4,378 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Penn Township kids go to high school?

South Western SHS in Hanover, with 1,380 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Penn Township’s graduation rate?

96% of the class of 2023 in South Western School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Penn Township spend per student?

$17,408 in South Western School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Penn Township?

Yes: St. Joseph Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 277 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.