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Below Average

#2188 of 2,846 schools in PA

Central Dauphin East MS

Middle School · Central Dauphin Sd · Harrisburg, PA

A Central Dauphin Sd middle school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.

628 Rutherford Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17109

  • Math 15% vs PA 36% (2024)
  • Reading 44% vs PA 53% (2024)
  • 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.8Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.62 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.6Below Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency14.8% (2024 PSSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency43.6% (2024 PSSA)
Math vs. State Avg-23 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-9.9 pts
Overall Proficiency29% (2024 PSSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 PSSA)
vs. Expected-4.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile27th
Resources & Environment4.9Below Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.8:1
District spending per student$15,486
Chronic Absenteeism31.8%

Students at Central Dauphin East MS score 29% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 PSSA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.

Math Proficiency15%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
36%(2024 PSSA)
ELA Proficiency44%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
53%(2024 PSSA)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 36 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 29% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
63%
ELA
68%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
65%
2011
Math
55%
ELA
59%
2012
Math
55%
ELA
57%
2013
Math
57%
ELA
61%
2014
Math
18%
ELA
49%
2015
Math
17%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
19%
ELA
43%
2017
Math
22%
ELA
48%
2018
Math
24%
ELA
48%
2019
Math
24%
ELA
48%
2020*
Math
11%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
11%
ELA
42%
2022
Math
15%
ELA
49%
2024
Math
15%
ELA
44%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 36 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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

The neighborhood

Where Central Dauphin East MS sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 20Car-Dependent
  • Bike 23Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,761/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Harrisburg), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$70,618

Median home value

$203,200

Median rent

$1,234/mo

College educated

29.3%

Homeownership

52.8%

Poverty rate

10.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 17109; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Central Dauphin MSEnrollment path unverified5.36–81.0 mi855Compare →
Reach Cyber CsCharter · enrollment unverified5.4K–121.4 mi6,146Compare →
Susquehanna Twp MSEnrollment path unverified2.36–82.1 mi744Compare →
The Samuel SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot ratedPK–122.9 mi20Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Central Dauphin Sd

Schools in district
19
Rank in district
#12 of 19
District spending per student
$15,486NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
15.1%Census SAIPE · 2024

Central Dauphin East MS is listed in Central Dauphin SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Central Dauphin East MS

Central Dauphin East MS is a public middle school in Harrisburg, PA, part of Central Dauphin Sd, serving approximately 663 students in grades 6th-8th with a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #2,188 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Central Dauphin East MS

What grades does Central Dauphin East MS serve?

Central Dauphin East MS serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Central Dauphin East MS?

Central Dauphin East MS has an enrollment of approximately 663 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Dauphin East MS?

The student-teacher ratio at Central Dauphin East MS is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Central Dauphin East MS rank in PA?

Central Dauphin East MS ranks #2,188 of 2,846 schools in PA.

What is Central Dauphin East MS's MySchoolScout rating?

Central Dauphin East MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Central Dauphin East MS?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Central Dauphin East MS has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Central Dauphin East MS a charter school?

No, Central Dauphin East MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Central Dauphin East MS a Title I school?

No, Central Dauphin East MS is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Central Dauphin East MS?

100.0% of students at Central Dauphin East MS qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
663
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
56
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Dauphin County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.8%
Area population (ZIP 17109)
27,422
Area average commute
20.6 min
Area median age
35.3
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 17109; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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