Best Schools in West Chester, Pennsylvania
31 schools · 17 Elementary · 3 Middle · 6 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in West Chester?
Use this page to compare every school in West Chester 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.
Greystone EL Sch
Elementary · West Chester Area Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Sarah W Starkweather EL Sch
Elementary · West Chester Area Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Glen Acres EL Sch
Elementary · West Chester Area Sd. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in West Chester for 2026 are Greystone EL Sch (8.3/10), Sarah W Starkweather EL Sch (8.2/10), and Glen Acres EL Sch (8.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 19 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
31
19 public · 12 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$536,400
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
31
19 public · 12 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$536,400
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.2/10 despite 20% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 West Chester schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among West Chester schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in West Chester
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 19 rated schools; 31 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greystone EL Sch | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Sarah W Starkweather EL Sch | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Glen Acres EL Sch | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | West Chester East HS | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Westtown-Thornbury EL Sch | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | West Chester Bayard Rustin HS | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | E N Peirce MS | 7.3 / 10 |
| 8 | West Chester Henderson HS | 7.2 / 10 |
| 9 | East Goshen EL Sch | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | East Bradford EL Sch | 6.9 / 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
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $124,518
- Median home value
- $536,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 64%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 72%
50% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How West Chester compares
Pennsylvania rank
#151 of 424
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Pennsylvania avg (6.3)
Median household income
$125k
157% of Pennsylvania median
Schools in this city
30
West Chester Area SD runs 84% of West Chester's public schools
West Chester touches 4 districts, but West Chester Area SD is the one most addresses actually attend.
West Chester Area SD accounts for 16 of 19 public schools (84%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 19 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.3 to 8.3 — the spread is inside West Chester, not a citywide average.
- West Chester Area SD16 public · 84%
- 21st Century Cyber Cs1 public · 5%
- Pennsylvania Leadership Cs1 public · 5%
- Unionville-Chadds Ford SD1 public · 5%
About Schools in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania puts 19 ranked public schools within reach of families, and the numbers tell a strong story. The city's schools average 7.3 out of 10, with 12 of those 19 schools — 63% of the field — clearing the 7-out-of-10 threshold. That kind of consistency across the landscape is rare and matters more to most families than a single marquee school at the top.
Elementary options are where West Chester's strength concentrates. East Bradford Elementary and East Goshen Elementary each score 9.1 out of 10, the highest marks in the city. Mary C. Howse Elementary follows at 8.9, Pocopson Elementary at 8.7, and Fern Hill Elementary at 8.5. Five elementary schools scoring 8.5 or above is a deep bench — parents evaluating this city have genuine choices among top-tier options rather than chasing a single oversubscribed school.
The 7.3 city average carries real weight in context. Most metro areas contain a few high-performing outliers that pull up a mediocre average. West Chester's floor is higher: with 63% of schools above 7, the distribution is broad rather than top-heavy. Families who can't access the highest-ranked elementaries through enrollment zones are unlikely to fall far.
For practical research, parents should map their home address against attendance boundaries early. With East Bradford and East Goshen both scoring 9.1, boundary placement determines whether a family lands in a top-tier school or steps down to a still-strong 7-range option. The city's elementary pipeline is the standout asset — if your children are elementary age, West Chester belongs near the top of your list. Middle and high school options merit individual investigation, as the 19-school average reflects a mix that includes a wider range beyond the elementary tier. Dig into scores for each level that matches your child's grade before drawing conclusions from the city-wide average alone.
Elementary Schools
17 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 543 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 575 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 474 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 4 | 550 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 |
| 5 | 514 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 6 | 455 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 7 | 410 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 8 | 498 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 |
| 9 | 448 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.5 |
| 10 | 474 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 |
Show all 17 elementary schools in West Chester
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,005 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 798 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 3 | 892 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,246 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 1,189 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 1,465 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 4 | 1,103 students · 6th–12th | 3.3 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Concept SchoolPrivate 31 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 25 students · 6th–11th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,173 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.0 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Westtown SchoolPrivate 676 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 120 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 76 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Laurel Springs SchoolPrivate 4,325 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in West Chester
West Chester, Pennsylvania · 31 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$124,518
Median Home Value
$536,400
Median Rent
$1,804/mo
Population
103,128
College Educated
64%
Homeownership
72%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Community Profile
West Chester has a median household income of $124,518. It is a well-educated community where 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $536,400, with a median rent of $1,804/month. The local poverty rate of 6.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Elementary
- 17
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 6
- Other
- 5
Resources
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 West Chester, Pennsylvania
How many schools are in West Chester, Pennsylvania?
West Chester has 31 schools, including 19 public and 12 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in West Chester, Pennsylvania?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in West Chester is 6.7 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 West Chester, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked school in West Chester on MySchoolScout is Greystone EL Sch with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in West Chester, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked elementary school in West Chester on MySchoolScout is Greystone EL Sch with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in West Chester, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked middle school in West Chester on MySchoolScout is E N Peirce MS with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best high school in West Chester, Pennsylvania?
The top-ranked high school in West Chester on MySchoolScout is West Chester East HS with a composite score of 7.8/10.
How many school districts serve West Chester, Pennsylvania?
West Chester is served by 4 school districts: 21st Century Cyber Cs, Pennsylvania Leadership Cs, Unionville-Chadds Ford Sd, West Chester Area Sd.
What is the education level in West Chester, Pennsylvania?
According to Census data, 64% of adults in West Chester have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in West Chester, Pennsylvania?
The median household income in West Chester is approximately $124,518 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in West Chester, Pennsylvania?
Yes, West Chester has 12 private schools alongside 19 public schools. The top-rated private school is Westtown School with a score of 8.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in West Chester, Pennsylvania?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in West Chester is 12.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in West Chester, 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.