Best Schools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
67 schools · 38 Elementary · 9 Middle · 9 High · 11 Other
Choosing a school in Harrisburg?
Use this page to compare every school in Harrisburg 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.
Chambers Hill EL Sch
Elementary · Central Dauphin Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Premier Arts and Science Cs
Elementary · Premier Arts and Science Cs. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Capital Area School for the Arts Cs
High · Capital Area School for the Arts Cs. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Harrisburg for 2026 are Chambers Hill EL Sch (7.7/10), Premier Arts and Science Cs (7.4/10), and Capital Area School for the Arts Cs (7.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 39 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
67
40 public · 27 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$187,643
home value · ACS
Districts
11
serving the city
Schools
67
40 public · 27 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$187,643
home value · ACS
Districts
11
serving the city
Rates 7.7/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.9 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 Harrisburg schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Harrisburg schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Harrisburg
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 39 rated schools; 67 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chambers Hill EL Sch | 7.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Premier Arts and Science Cs | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Capital Area School for the Arts Cs | 7.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Dauphin County Technical School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | West Hanover EL Sch | 6.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Sylvan Heights Science Cs | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Central Dauphin Shs | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Harrisburg HS - Scitech Cmp | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Melrose Sch | 6.1 / 10 |
| 10 | North Side EL Sch | 6.0 / 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
- 5.5/10
- Median household income
- $68,148
- Median home value
- $187,643
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 35%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 48%
26% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Harrisburg compares
Pennsylvania rank
#337 of 424
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below Pennsylvania avg (6.3)
Median household income
$68k
86% of Pennsylvania median
Schools in this city
58
Education Snapshot
Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg's school landscape spans 64 schools across 11 districts, serving approximately 55,325 students in a city where the education profile reflects persistent economic headwinds. The MySchoolScout composite rating of 5.6/10 across 56 scored schools sits 11% below Pennsylvania's state average of 6.3/10 — a gap that tracks closely with the city's median household income of $71,087, which runs 15% below the state median of $83,223. The level mix skews elementary-heavy: 37 elementary schools versus 9 middle and 9 high schools, with 9 additional combined or alternative programs. Seven charter schools operate within the city, offering families alternatives to traditional district assignments across the 11-district service area. Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher stand at 32%, a figure parents often weigh when considering long-term peer context. The below-average composite scores make school-by-school comparison especially valuable here rather than relying on city-level averages.
11 districts draw attendance lines through Harrisburg
Harrisburg is not one school system. 11 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 40% of the public campuses.
Central Dauphin SD is the largest slice at 16 of 40 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Harrisburg address is choosing a district first.
Among 39 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.1 to 7.7 — the spread is inside Harrisburg, not a citywide average.
7 of the 40 public schools are charters (18%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Central Dauphin SD16 public · 40%
- Harrisburg City SD12 public · 30%
- Susquehanna Township SD4 public · 10%
- Capital Area School For the Arts Cs1 public · 3%
- Commonwealth Charter Academy Cs1 public · 3%
About Schools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg's public school landscape spans 40 ranked schools with an average score of 5.3 out of 10, placing most options in the middle tier. Performance varies considerably across the city, giving parents a wide range of outcomes to weigh depending on where they live or whether they consider charter alternatives. Only 6 schools — 15% of the ranked total — score 7 or above, so high-performing seats are limited and worth identifying early.
The strongest performer is Linglestown Elementary, rated 7.9 out of 10, the highest score in the city. Infinity Charter School (7.6) and Premier Arts and Science Charter School (7.5) round out the top three, both at the elementary level and both open-enrollment options that draw families from across district boundaries. Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School (7.3) stands out as the top-rated high school in the metro and serves students with interests in arts-focused academics. Paxtang Elementary (7.2) completes the top five. Four of the five leading schools are elementary programs, which means parents of older students face a narrower set of high-scoring options and should plan ahead for the middle and high school years.
The charter school presence is significant. Three of the five top-ranked schools are charters, giving families an alternative path to stronger academic environments regardless of home address. Charter enrollment typically involves an application and, in competitive programs, a lottery — parents should research deadlines well before the school year. District-assigned schools in the Harrisburg City School District tend to score below the city average, while schools in surrounding suburban districts like Central Dauphin contribute to the higher end of the range.
For parents comparing schools in Harrisburg, the practical priority is identifying which of the six 7-plus-rated schools are accessible — either through attendance zone or charter application — and acting on enrollment timelines early. The city average of 5.3 signals that school selection has a meaningful impact on the academic environment a child enters, making active research on MySchoolScout essential rather than optional.
Elementary Schools
38 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 248 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 |
| 2 | 163 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 7.4 |
| 3 | 579 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 209 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.4 |
| 5 | 605 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 |
| 6 | 705 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 7 | 378 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 8 | 460 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.9 |
| 9 | 677 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.9 |
| 10 | 676 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 |
Show all 38 elementary schools in Harrisburg
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 855 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 | ||
| 2 | 663 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 | ||
| 3 | 744 students · 6th–8th | 4.8 | ||
| 4 | 814 students · 6th–8th | 4.4 | ||
| 5 | 470 students · 6th–8th | 4.1 | ||
| 6 | 380 students · 5th–8th | 3.5 | ||
| 7 | 73 students · 5th–8th | 3.1 | ||
| 8 | 577 students · 6th–8th | 2.9 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 68 students · 5th–8th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 168 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | 1,175 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 1,998 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 4 | 323 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 5 | 774 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 6 | 1,596 students · 9th–12th | 4.3 | ||
| 7 | 1,333 students · 9th–12th | 2.8 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Bishop Mcdevitt High SchoolPrivate 752 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 6 students · 8th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 322 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 2 | 6,146 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.0 | ||
| 3 | 23,589 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.4 | ||
Private Schools8 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Harrisburg Christian SchoolPrivate 314 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 69 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Lighthouse Christian AcademyPrivate 44 students · Kindergarten–11th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | The Circle SchoolPrivate 46 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Covenant Christian AcademyPrivate 269 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | New Story SchoolsPrivate 33 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | 68 students · Kindergarten–11th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 other schools in Harrisburg
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania · 67 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 8 ZIP codes
Median Income
$68,148
Median Home Value
$187,643
Median Rent
$1,159/mo
Population
171,641
College Educated
35%
Homeownership
48%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Community Profile
Harrisburg has a median household income of $68,148. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $187,643, with a median rent of $1,159/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.9%. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Elementary
- 38
- Middle
- 9
- High
- 9
- Other
- 11
Resources
School Districts (11)
Sylvan Heights Science CS
1 school · 209 students
Premier Arts and Science CS
1 school · 163 students
Capital Area School for the Arts CS
1 school · 168 students
Reach Cyber CS
1 school · 6,146 students
Infinity CS
1 school · 256 students
Commonwealth Charter Academy CS
1 school · 23,590 students
Pennsylvania STEAM Academy CS
1 school · 279 students
Central Dauphin SD
19 schools · 12,543 students
Dauphin County Technical School
1 school · 1,175 students
Harrisburg City SD
12 schools · 6,395 students
Susquehanna Township SD
4 schools · 3,128 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 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
How many schools are in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
Harrisburg has 67 schools, including 40 public and 27 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Harrisburg is 5.5 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 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked school in Harrisburg on MySchoolScout is Chambers Hill EL Sch with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked elementary school in Harrisburg on MySchoolScout is Chambers Hill EL Sch with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked middle school in Harrisburg on MySchoolScout is Central Dauphin MS with a composite score of 5.3/10.
What is the best high school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked high school in Harrisburg on MySchoolScout is Capital Area School for the Arts Cs with a composite score of 7.3/10.
How many school districts serve Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
Harrisburg is served by 11 school districts: Sylvan Heights Science Cs, Premier Arts and Science Cs, Capital Area School for the Arts Cs, Reach Cyber Cs, Infinity Cs, Commonwealth Charter Academy Cs, Pennsylvania Steam Academy Cs, Central Dauphin Sd, Dauphin County Technical School, Harrisburg City Sd, Susquehanna Township Sd.
What is the education level in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
According to Census data, 35% of adults in Harrisburg have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
The median household income in Harrisburg is approximately $68,148 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
Yes, Harrisburg has 27 private schools alongside 40 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Margaret Mary School with a score of 8.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg, 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.