Excellent
#243 of 2,846 schools in PA
Top 9% in state
Hershey MS
Middle School · Derry Township Sd · Hershey, PA
A Derry Township Sd middle school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
500 Homestead Rd PO Box 898, Hershey, PA 17033
- Math 57% vs PA 36% (2024)
- Reading 82% vs PA 53% (2024)
- 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Hershey MS score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2020, to 69% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 84% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
30.2%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Hershey 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 18Car-Dependent
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
Powered by
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$75,093
Median home value
$340,900
Median rent
$1,311/mo
College educated
46.3%
Homeownership
53.5%
Poverty rate
11.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 17033; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milton Hershey SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.1private | PK–12 | 0.6 mi | 2,002 | Compare → |
| Hershey Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | PK–11 | 1.8 mi | 81 | Compare → |
| Palmyra Area MSEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 817 | Compare → |
| Lower Dauphin MSEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | 6–8 | 3.2 mi | 841 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Derry Township Sd
- Schools in district
- 5
- Rank in district
- #4 of 5
- District spending per student
- $19,646NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 5.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Hershey MS is listed in Derry Township SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Hershey MS
Hershey MS is a public middle school in Hershey, PA, part of Derry Township Sd, serving approximately 741 students in grades 6th-8th with a 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #243 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Hershey MS
What grades does Hershey MS serve?
Hershey MS serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Hershey MS?
Hershey MS has an enrollment of approximately 741 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hershey MS?
The student-teacher ratio at Hershey MS is 11.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Hershey MS rank in PA?
Hershey MS ranks #243 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Hershey MS's MySchoolScout rating?
Hershey MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 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 Hershey MS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Hershey MS has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Hershey MS a charter school?
No, Hershey MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Hershey MS a Title I school?
No, Hershey MS is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hershey MS?
30.2% of students at Hershey 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
- 741
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 65
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Dauphin County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 12.6%
- Phone
- (717) 531-2222
- Area population (ZIP 17033)
- 17,009
- Area average commute
- 18.5 min
- Area median age
- 41.7
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 17033; 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
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