Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to West Hanover Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
C+
Schools in West Hanover Township · Central Dauphin School District

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

The grade covers the public school district serving West Hanover 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
3
5,543 students on the public path
In brief

West Hanover Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1761 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of West Hanover Township’s, its schools beat 18%, 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 ↓

One elementary school, then four middle and one high school

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

Choice beyond the district

Yellow Breeches Educational Center (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 West Hanover 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 (1761)Better than 18%
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 West Hanover Township anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 94% of West Hanover 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 West Hanover Township, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–5West Hanover El SchCentral Dauphin School DistrictA−
6–84 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to B−
9–12Central Dauphin SHSCentral Dauphin School DistrictB

West Hanover 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

West Hanover Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
West Hanover TownshipC+Central Dauphin
Lower PaxtonC+Central Dauphin
Middle PaxtonC+Central Dauphin
South HanoverB+Lower Dauphin

2 of the 3 neighbors share Central Dauphin with West Hanover Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in West Hanover Township

7 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 West Hanover Townshipby address
West Hanover El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Harrisburg
A−
589 students15:1Rate it →
Central Dauphin SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Harrisburg
B
1,966 students15:1Rate it →
Also serving West Hanover Townshipin other towns
Linglestown MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Harrisburg
C+
841 students15:1Rate it →
Central Dauphin MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Harrisburg
B−
834 students15:1Rate it →
Central Dauphin East MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Harrisburg
C−
702 students12:1Rate it →
Swatara MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Steelton
C−
611 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Yellow Breeches Educational Center
Grades 1–12 · Harrisburg
Private · Special education · All-girls
69 students2:1Rate it →

Questions about West Hanover Township’s schools

Are West Hanover Township’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools West Hanover 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 18%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is West Hanover Township in?

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

Where do West Hanover Township kids go to high school?

Central Dauphin SHS in Harrisburg, with 1,966 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is West Hanover 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 West Hanover 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 West Hanover Township?

Yes: Yellow Breeches Educational Center (special education · all-girls, grades 1–12, 69 students).

Parents talk

What West Hanover Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near West Hanover 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.