Skip to main content
5.2avg / 10

Central Dauphin Sd School District

School District · Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Students: 12,543
Teachers (FTE): 854

Avg Rating

5.2

out of 10

Schools

19

13 elem, 4 mid, 2 high

Enrollment

12,543

Student-Teacher Ratio

14.7:1

How this district compares

Pennsylvania rank

#414 of 494

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-1.1

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 #414 of 494 Pennsylvania districts by overall school rating. Central Dauphin Sd's schools with real test data average 5.2/10 across 19 schools. Its top-rated schools are Chambers Hill EL Sch (7.7/10), West Hanover EL Sch (6.8/10), and Central Dauphin Shs (6.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds
Chambers Hill EL Sch

Rates 7.7/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Central Dauphin Sd schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
Rutherford EL Sch

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.

#SchoolRating
1Chambers Hill EL Sch7.7 / 10
2West Hanover EL Sch6.8 / 10
3Central Dauphin Shs6.3 / 10
4North Side EL Sch6.0 / 10
5Mountain View EL Sch6.0 / 10
6Paxtonia EL Sch5.9 / 10
7Linglestown EL Sch5.9 / 10
8Central Dauphin MS5.3 / 10
9Swatara MS5.3 / 10
10South Side EL Sch5.2 / 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. District-level spending was $15,486 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).

With an average rating of 5.2/10, Central Dauphin Sd demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Chambers Hill EL Sch, which has a composite score of 7.7/10.

In standardized testing, Central Dauphin Sd students show an average math proficiency of 47.4% and ELA proficiency of 56.0%.

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

Math Proficiency47.4%
School
State
Not reported
ELA Proficiency56.0%
School
State
Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Central Dauphin Sd with test data.

District Details

State
Pennsylvania
City
Harrisburg
Total Enrollment
12,543
Teachers (FTE)
854
District spending per student
$15,486NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
Child poverty rate
15.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
District directory 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 5.2/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the district spending per student in Central Dauphin Sd?

Central Dauphin Sd's district-level spending was $15,486 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.

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?

Chambers Hill EL Sch is the highest-rated school in Central Dauphin Sd with a composite score of 7.7/10.

What are the test scores in Central Dauphin Sd?

Across schools in Central Dauphin Sd with test data, the average math proficiency is 47.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 56.0%. 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 5.2/10 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
5.2/10
Math Proficiency
47.4%
ELA Proficiency
56.0%

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 rate

Other School Districts in PA

Compare Central Dauphin Sd with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in PA →

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.

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.