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War Memorial West Penn Twp, Schuylkill County PAPhoto: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in West Penn Township · Tamaqua Area School District

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

Math proficiency in West Penn Township’s districts is 29%, below the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving West Penn 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 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
45%
▼ 10 pts vs PA 55%
2021–22
Math proficiency
29%
▼ 7 pts vs PA 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs PA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.8K
▼ 27% vs PA $21.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.6
PA 13.4 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
1,351 students on the public path
In brief

West Penn Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 2025 Pennsylvania towns with household incomes within a quarter of West Penn Township’s, its schools beat 23%, lower than their 39% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 45% of tested students were proficient in reading and 29% 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 West Penn Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,833 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 Tamaqua Area MS, then Tamaqua Area SHS. See the path ↓

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 Penn Township’s grade

C Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 39% of Pennsylvania school districts, #781 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Graduation is above the Pennsylvania average; test scores are below it.

Pennsylvania school districts we grade (688)Better than 39%
Lower resultsHigher results
Pennsylvania towns with similar household incomes (2025)Better than 23%
Towns in Schuylkill County (36)Better than 42%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 943 test results and a graduating class of 155 could put West Penn Township anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of West Penn Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (963 in math, 923 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5West Penn Twp El SchTamaqua Area School DistrictB
6–8Tamaqua Area MSin TamaquaC
9–12Tamaqua Area SHSin TamaquaB+

West Penn Township’s public schools are run by Tamaqua Area School District, which also serves Rush, Schuylkill, Tamaqua and Walker. 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.

Tamaqua Area School DistrictGrades K–12 · 4 schools · 2,048 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 14.6 per teacher (PA 13.4)
$15,833PA $21,758 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading45%
State average 55.1% · 923 students tested
Math29%
State average 36.1% · 963 students tested

West Penn Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
West Penn TownshipC+Tamaqua Area
WalkerC+Tamaqua Area
LynnA−Northwestern Lehigh
East PennB−Lehighton Area
East BrunswickB+Blue Mountain
MahoningB−Lehighton Area
TamaquaC+Tamaqua Area
HeidelbergA−Northwestern Lehigh

2 of the 7 neighbors share Tamaqua Area with West Penn Township, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in West Penn Township

3 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 Penn Townshipby address
West Penn Twp El Sch
Elementary · Grades K–5 · New Ringgold
B
250 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving West Penn Townshipin other towns
Tamaqua Area MS
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Tamaqua
C
488 students14:1Rate it →
Tamaqua Area SHS
High · Grades 9–12 · Tamaqua
B+
613 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about West Penn Township’s schools

Are West Penn Township’s schools good?

On Pennsylvania’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools West Penn 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 23%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is West Penn Township in?

Tamaqua Area School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,048 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do West Penn Township kids go to high school?

Tamaqua Area SHS in Tamaqua, with 613 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is West Penn Township’s graduation rate?

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

How much does West Penn Township spend per student?

$15,833 in Tamaqua Area School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What West Penn Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near West 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.