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WoodlandWoodland · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in St. Thomas Township · Tuscarora School District

St. Thomas Township’s public schools outscore 52% of Pennsylvania districts

The grade covers the public school district serving St. Thomas 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.

#638of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
55%
▼ 0 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
33%
▼ 3 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.0K
▼ 17% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.8
PA 13.4
Schools in town
2
1,553 students on the public path
In brief

St. Thomas Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 2032 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of St. Thomas Township’s, its schools beat 45%, lower than their 52% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 55% of tested students were proficient in reading and 33% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania (the state reports St. Thomas Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $18,043 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is James Buchanan MS, then James Buchanan HS. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Emmanuel Christian 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 St. Thomas Township’s grade

B− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 52% of Pennsylvania school districts, #638 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Graduation is above the Pennsylvania average; test scores are below it.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 52%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (2032)Better than 45%
Towns in Franklin County (15)Better than 60%
C+B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,145 test results and a graduating class of 193 could put St. Thomas Township anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of St. Thomas Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,064 in math, 1,226 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5St Thomas El SchTuscarora School DistrictC−
6–8James Buchanan MSin MercersburgC
9–12James Buchanan HSin MercersburgA

St. Thomas Township’s public schools are run by Tuscarora School District, which also serves Mercersburg, Montgomery, Peters and Warren. 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.

Tuscarora School DistrictGrades K–12 · 6 schools · 2,182 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 13.8 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$18,043PA $21,758 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading55%
State average 55.1% · 1226 students tested
Math33%
State average 36.1% · 1064 students tested

St. Thomas Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
St. Thomas TownshipB−Tuscarora
HamiltonC+Chambersburg Area
AntrimA−Greencastle-Antrim
MetalC+Fannett-Metal
PetersB−Tuscarora
LetterkennyC+Chambersburg Area

Every school in St. Thomas 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 St. Thomas Townshipby address
St Thomas El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Saint Thomas
C−
297 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving St. Thomas Townshipin other towns
James Buchanan MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Mercersburg
C
535 students13:1Rate it →
James Buchanan HS
High · Grades 9–12 · Mercersburg
A
721 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Emmanuel Christian School
Grades 1–9 · Chambersburg
Private · Religious
19 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about St. Thomas Township’s schools

Are St. Thomas Township’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Pennsylvania: the public schools St. Thomas Township children attend outscore 52% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #638 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 45%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is St. Thomas Township in?

Tuscarora School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,182 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do St. Thomas Township kids go to high school?

James Buchanan HS in Mercersburg, with 721 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is St. Thomas Township’s graduation rate?

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

How much does St. Thomas Township spend per student?

$18,043 in Tuscarora School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in St. Thomas Township?

Yes: Emmanuel Christian School (religious, grades 1–9, 19 students).

Parents talk

What St. Thomas Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near St. Thomas 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.