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Steelton High SchoolSteelton High School · Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ. M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Swatara Township · Central Dauphin School District

Swatara Township’s public schools score below 61% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Swatara 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.

#781of 1,037 Pennsylvania townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% 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
32%
▼ 4 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▼ 0 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.3K
▼ 25% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.0
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
8
5,605 students on the public path
In brief

Swatara Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 2002 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Swatara Township’s, its schools beat 20%, lower than their 39% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 55% of tested students were proficient in reading and 32% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 94% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,282 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Four elementary schools, then one middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Catherine Laboure School (private) and The Samuel 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 Swatara Township’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 39% of Pennsylvania school districts, #781 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 39%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (2002)Better than 20%
Towns in Dauphin County (23)Better than 35%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 6,200 test results and a graduating class of 864 could put Swatara Township anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 94% of Swatara Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (6,112 in math, 6,289 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–54 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C
6–8Swatara MSCentral Dauphin School DistrictC−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to B

Swatara Township’s public schools are run by Central Dauphin School District, which also serves Dauphin, Lower Paxton, Middle Paxton and Paxtang 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.

Central Dauphin School DistrictGrades K–12 · 19 schools · 12,389 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 14.0 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$16,282PA $21,758 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading55%
State average 55.1% · 6289 students tested
Math32%
State average 36.1% · 6112 students tested

Swatara Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Swatara TownshipC+Central Dauphin
SteeltonD−Steelton-Highspire
FairviewBWest Shore
Lower SwataraCMiddletown Area
South HanoverB+Lower Dauphin
PaxtangC+Central Dauphin
Lower PaxtonC+Central Dauphin
New CumberlandBWest Shore
DerryADerry Township
HarrisburgD−Harrisburg City
HummelstownB+Lower Dauphin
SusquehannaC−Susquehanna Township

2 of the 11 neighbors share Central Dauphin with Swatara Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Swatara Township

10 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 Swatara Townshipby address
Rutherford El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Harrisburg
C
461 students15:1Rate it →
Tri-Community El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Steelton
C−
427 students12:1Rate it →
Lawnton El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Harrisburg
C
310 students13:1Rate it →
Chambers Hill El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Harrisburg
C
257 students10:1Rate it →
Swatara MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Steelton
C−
611 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Swatara Townshipin other towns
Central Dauphin SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Harrisburg
B
1,966 students15:1Rate it →
Central Dauphin East SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Harrisburg
C
1,573 students14:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Swatara Townshiprun by other districts or the state
Steelton-Highspire HS
High · Grades 7–12 · Steelton
D−
612 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Catherine Laboure School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Harrisburg
Private · Catholic
358 students13:1Rate it →
The Samuel School
Grades PK–12 · Harrisburg
Private · Religious
32 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Swatara Township’s schools

Are Swatara Township’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Swatara Township children attend score below 61% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #781 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 Swatara Township in?

Central Dauphin School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 12,389 students in 19 schools (2024–25).

Where do Swatara Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Central Dauphin SHS and Central Dauphin East SHS.

What is Swatara Township’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Central Dauphin School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Swatara Township spend per student?

$16,282 in Central Dauphin School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Swatara Township?

Yes: St. Catherine Laboure School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 358 students) and The Samuel School (religious, grades PK–12, 32 students).

Parents talk

What Swatara Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Swatara 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.