Central Dauphin Sd School District
School District · Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
19
13 elem, 4 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,486
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
19
13 elem, 4 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,486
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
Evaluating Central Dauphin Sd?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Central Dauphin Sd as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Linglestown EL Sch
Harrisburg · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Central Dauphin Shs
Harrisburg · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
West Hanover EL Sch
Harrisburg · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Pennsylvania rank
#389 of 494
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below Pennsylvania avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,486
$2,654 vs Pennsylvania median
District size
12,543 students
Much larger than Pennsylvania median
The short answer
Central Dauphin Sd ranks #389 of 494 Pennsylvania districts by overall school rating. Central Dauphin Sd's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 19 schools. Its top-rated schools are Linglestown EL Sch (7.3/10), Central Dauphin Shs (7.2/10), and West Hanover EL Sch (7.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.3/10 despite 99% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 Central Dauphin Sd schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Central Dauphin Sd schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Central Dauphin Sd
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (19 of 19). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linglestown EL Sch | 7.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Central Dauphin Shs | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | West Hanover EL Sch | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Paxtonia EL Sch | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Mountain View EL Sch | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Middle Paxton EL Sch | 6.9 / 10 |
| 7 | North Side EL Sch | 5.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Rutherford EL Sch | 5.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Central Dauphin East Shs | 5.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Central Dauphin MS | 5.3 / 10 |
See all 19 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Central Dauphin Sd
Central Dauphin Sd is a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania school district serving 19 schools. The district educates 12,543 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.7:1. The district invests $15,486 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.6/10, Central Dauphin Sd demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Linglestown EL Sch, which has a composite score of 7.3/10.
In standardized testing, Central Dauphin Sd students show an average math proficiency of 50.1% and ELA proficiency of 59.0%.
The district includes 13 elementary schools , 4 middle schools , and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Central Dauphin Sd, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Central Dauphin Sd with test data.
Schools in Central Dauphin Sd
19 schools Elementary Schools 13
Middle Schools 4
High Schools 2
District Details
- State
- Pennsylvania
- City
- Harrisburg
- Total Enrollment
- 12,543
- Teachers (FTE)
- 854
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Central Dauphin Sd?
Central Dauphin Sd has 19 schools in total — 13 elementary, 4 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Central Dauphin Sd?
The average composite rating for Central Dauphin Sd is 5.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Central Dauphin Sd?
Central Dauphin Sd spends $15,486 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Central Dauphin Sd?
The average student-teacher ratio in Central Dauphin Sd is 14.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Central Dauphin Sd?
Linglestown EL Sch is the highest-rated school in Central Dauphin Sd with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What are the test scores in Central Dauphin Sd?
Across schools in Central Dauphin Sd with test data, the average math proficiency is 50.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 59.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Central Dauphin Sd compare to other districts in Pennsylvania?
Central Dauphin Sd has an average school rating of 5.6/10 across 19 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Pennsylvania by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 50.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 59.0%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in PA
Compare Central Dauphin Sd with neighboring districts in the state.
- Philadelphia City Sd (220)
- Pittsburgh Sd (56)
- Central Bucks Sd (23)
- Bethlehem Area Sd (22)
- Allentown City Sd (21)
- Lancaster Sd (19)
- Reading Sd (19)
- Chambersburg Area Sd (17)
- North Penn Sd (17)
- West Chester Area Sd (17)
- Downingtown Area Sd (16)
- Erie City Sd (15)
- Scranton Sd (15)
- Council Rock Sd (14)
- Pennsbury Sd (14)
- Upper Darby Sd (13)
- West Shore Sd (13)
- Harrisburg City Sd (12)
- Norristown Area Sd (12)
- Parkland Sd (12)
- Altoona Area Sd (11)
- Cumberland Valley Sd (11)
- Hazleton Area Sd (11)
- Lower Merion Sd (11)
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.
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