Best Schools in Allentown, Pennsylvania
45 schools · 26 Elementary · 7 Middle · 6 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Allentown?
Use this page to compare every school in Allentown by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Salisbury EL Sch
Elementary · Salisbury Township Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Parkway Manor Sch
Elementary · Parkland Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Cetronia Sch
Elementary · Parkland Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Allentown for 2026 are Salisbury EL Sch (8.7/10), Parkway Manor Sch (7.8/10), and Cetronia Sch (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 33 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
45
34 public · 11 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$230,167
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Schools
45
34 public · 11 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$230,167
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Rates 7.5/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Allentown schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Allentown schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Allentown
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 33 rated schools; 45 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salisbury EL Sch | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Parkway Manor Sch | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Cetronia Sch | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Parkland HS | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Lehigh Parkway EL Sch | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Kratzer Sch | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Salisbury MS | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Springhouse MS | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Salisbury Shs | 6.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Executive Education Academy Cs | 6.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.4/10
- Median household income
- $65,141
- Median home value
- $230,167
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 28%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 50%
26% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Allentown compares
Pennsylvania rank
#350 of 424
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.9
below Pennsylvania avg (6.3)
Median household income
$65k
82% of Pennsylvania median
Schools in this city
42
Allentown City SD runs 62% of Allentown's public schools
Allentown touches 8 districts, but Allentown City SD is the one most addresses actually attend.
Allentown City SD accounts for 21 of 34 public schools (62%). The other 7 districts hold the remaining 13.
Among 33 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.6 to 8.7 — the spread is inside Allentown, not a citywide average.
5 of the 34 public schools are charters (15%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Allentown City SD21 public · 62%
- Parkland SD5 public · 15%
- Salisbury Township SD3 public · 9%
- Arts Academy Cs1 public · 3%
- Arts Academy Elementary Cs1 public · 3%
About Schools in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown's public school landscape spans 34 ranked schools with an average score of 5.4 out of 10 — a figure that reflects significant variation across the city's districts. Performance ranges widely, and parents should look closely at individual schools rather than treating the city's options as uniform. Only 5 schools, or 15% of ranked public schools, score 7 or higher, which means strong options exist but require deliberate searching.
The top performer is Salisbury Elementary School, scoring 8.8 out of 10 — a standout result by any measure. It sits well above both the city average and the threshold that separates the top tier from the rest of Allentown's schools. Kratzer School follows at 8.0, and Parkway Manor School rounds out the upper elementary options at 7.6. At the middle school level, Salisbury Middle School scores 7.5, giving families in the Salisbury district a consistent performance track from elementary through middle grades. Cetronia School also clears the 7-point mark at 7.3, rounding out the five schools that qualify as high performers in this market.
Below the top tier, the majority of Allentown's public schools cluster around or below the 5.4 city average. That gap between the top 15% and the rest is meaningful. Families who have flexibility in where they live or enroll should weigh school scores carefully when making decisions — the difference between a 5.4 and an 8.8 is substantial in practical terms.
For parents researching Allentown, the practical takeaway is straightforward: concentrate your search on the Salisbury district if strong elementary and middle school performance is the priority. The district produces two of the top three scores in the city. If you're evaluating schools outside that cluster, use individual school ratings rather than city-wide averages as your benchmark. With 34 ranked public schools and a wide performance spread, Allentown rewards parents who research at the school level rather than relying on neighborhood assumptions.
Elementary Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 498 students · Kindergarten–4th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 551 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
| 3 | 483 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 268 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 |
| 5 | 524 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 6 | 684 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 |
| 7 | 764 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 |
| 8 | 806 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.8 |
| 9 | 697 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.7 |
| 10 | 621 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 |
Show all 26 elementary schools in Allentown
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 466 students · 5th–8th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 1,379 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 966 students · 6th–8th | 4.5 |
| 4 | 877 students · 6th–8th | 4.0 |
| 5 | 276 students · 5th–8th | 3.9 |
| 6 | 667 students · 6th–8th | 3.7 |
| 7 | 814 students · 6th–8th | 3.0 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,242 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | 545 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 411 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 4 | 2,984 students · 9th–12th | 3.3 | ||
| 5 | 1,857 students · 9th–12th | 3.0 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 627 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,431 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 2 | 909 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 626 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Lehigh Christian AcademyPrivate 313 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 46 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 12 students · 2nd–11th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania · 45 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$65,141
Median Home Value
$230,167
Median Rent
$1,385/mo
Population
176,993
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
50%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
17.0%
Community Profile
Allentown has a median household income of $65,141. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $230,167, with a median rent of $1,385/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.0%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Elementary
- 26
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 6
- Other
- 6
Resources
School Districts (8)
Roberto Clemente CS
1 school · 626 students
Arts Academy CS
1 school · 276 students
Executive Education Academy CS
1 school · 1,431 students
Arts Academy Elementary CS
1 school · 445 students
Lincoln Leadership Academy CS
1 school · 909 students
Allentown City SD
21 schools · 16,510 students
Parkland SD
12 schools · 9,974 students
Salisbury Township SD
3 schools · 1,509 students
Other Major Cities in Pennsylvania
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Allentown, Pennsylvania
How many schools are in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
Allentown has 45 schools, including 34 public and 11 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Allentown is 5.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked school in Allentown on MySchoolScout is Salisbury EL Sch with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked elementary school in Allentown on MySchoolScout is Salisbury EL Sch with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked middle school in Allentown on MySchoolScout is Salisbury MS with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked high school in Allentown on MySchoolScout is Parkland HS with a composite score of 7.7/10.
How many school districts serve Allentown, Pennsylvania?
Allentown is served by 8 school districts: Roberto Clemente Cs, Arts Academy Cs, Executive Education Academy Cs, Arts Academy Elementary Cs, Lincoln Leadership Academy Cs, Allentown City Sd, Parkland Sd, Salisbury Township Sd.
What is the education level in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
According to Census data, 28% of adults in Allentown have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
The median household income in Allentown is approximately $65,141 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
Yes, Allentown has 11 private schools alongside 34 public schools. The top-rated private school is Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Allentown is 13.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Allentown, Pennsylvania?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Pennsylvania Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.