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HENNINGER FARM COVERED BRIDGEPhoto: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Washington Township · Upper Dauphin Area School District

Washington Township’s public schools score below 60% of Pennsylvania districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Washington 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 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
52%
▼ 3 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
36%
▼ 0 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.4K
▼ 6% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.9
PA 13.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
4
1,006 students on the public path
In brief

Washington Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1998 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of Washington Township’s, its schools beat 23%, lower than their 40% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 52% of tested students were proficient in reading and 36% in math, against 55% and 36% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania (the state reports Washington Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $20,442 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 5 the district’s path is Upper Dauphin Area MS, then Upper Dauphin Area HS. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Whistiling Pines Amish Parochial 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 Washington Township’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 40% of Pennsylvania school districts. Both inputs trail the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 40%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (1998)Better than 23%
Towns in Dauphin County (23)Better than 52%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 511 test results and a graduating class of 92 could put Washington Township anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Washington Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (492 in math, 530 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4Upper Dauphin Area El SchUpper Dauphin Area School DistrictB
5–8Upper Dauphin Area MSUpper Dauphin Area School DistrictC+
9–12Upper Dauphin Area HSUpper Dauphin Area School DistrictA+

Washington Township’s public schools are run by Upper Dauphin Area School District, which also serves Berrysburg, Elizabethville, Gratz and Jefferson 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.

Upper Dauphin Area School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,006 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 12.9 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$20,442PA $21,758 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading52%
State average 55.1% · 530 students tested
Math36%
State average 36.1% · 492 students tested

Washington Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Washington TownshipC+Upper Dauphin Area
Lykens—Upper Dauphin Area
JacksonC+Halifax Area
WiconiscoCWilliams Valley
Upper PaxtonC+Millersburg Area
Mifflin—Upper Dauphin Area

2 of the 5 neighbors share Upper Dauphin Area with Washington Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Washington 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 Washington Townshipby address
Upper Dauphin Area El Sch
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Lykens
B
373 students13:1Rate it →
Upper Dauphin Area MS
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Lykens
C+
302 students13:1Rate it →
Upper Dauphin Area HS
High · Grades 9–12 · Elizabethville
A+
331 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Whistiling Pines Amish Parochial School
Elementary · Grades 1–7 · Elizabethville
Private · Religious
14 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Washington Township’s schools

Are Washington Township’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Washington Township children attend score below 60% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 23%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Washington Township in?

Upper Dauphin Area School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,006 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Washington Township kids go to high school?

Upper Dauphin Area HS in Elizabethville, with 331 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Washington Township’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Upper Dauphin Area School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.

How much does Washington Township spend per student?

$20,442 in Upper Dauphin Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Washington Township?

Yes: Whistiling Pines Amish Parochial School (religious, grades 1–7, 14 students).

Parents talk

What Washington Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Washington 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.