Lancaster School District

251 S Prince St
Lancaster, PA 17603
(District boundaries shown in map)
2/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Lancaster School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 13 public preschools serving 5,107 students in Lancaster School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Pennsylvania.
Public Preschools in Lancaster School District have an average math proficiency score of 19% (versus the Pennsylvania public pre school average of 24%), and reading proficiency score of 29% (versus the 38% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 87% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Pennsylvania public preschool average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (PA)
# Schools
19 Schools
328 Schools
# Students
9,964 Students
147,214 Students
# Teachers
844 Teachers
11,259 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

District Rank

Lancaster School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 675 school districts in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 74% has decreased from 84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (PA)
#574 out of 684 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Lancaster   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
14%
36%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Lancaster   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
28%
55%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Lancaster   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
33%
57%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Lancaster   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
74%
87%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Lancaster   School District and public school graduation rate of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.59
0.70
# American Indian Students
4 Students
267 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
372 Students
4,636 Students
% Asian Students
4%
3%
# Hispanic Students
6,038 Students
31,371 Students
% Hispanic Students
61%
21%
# Black Students
1,634 Students
35,365 Students
% Black Students
16%
24%
# White Students
1,282 Students
65,860 Students
% White Students
13%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
108 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
632 Students
9,607 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
7%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
317
8,317
# Students in K Grade:
770
24,393
# Students in 1st Grade:
715
20,742
# Students in 2nd Grade:
819
21,144
# Students in 3rd Grade:
757
18,141
# Students in 4th Grade:
753
18,415
# Students in 5th Grade:
763
14,862
# Students in 6th Grade:
706
6,743
# Students in 7th Grade:
748
4,529
# Students in 8th Grade:
701
4,525
# Students in 9th Grade:
899
1,699
# Students in 10th Grade:
771
1,361
# Students in 11th Grade:
709
1,242
# Students in 12th Grade:
536
1,101
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $24,175 is higher than the state median of $23,696. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $25,560 is higher than the state median of $23,119. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (PA)
Total Revenue
$241 MM
$39,541 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Lancaster   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$255 MM
$38,578 MM
This chart displays total spending of Lancaster   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$24,175
$23,696
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Lancaster   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$25,560
$23,119
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Lancaster   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Lancaster School District Public Preschools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Ross Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
840 N Queen St
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 291-6268
Grades: PK-5
| 264 students
Rank: #22.
Wharton Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
705 N Mary St
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 291-6281
Grades: PK-5
| 333 students
Rank: #33.
Wickersham Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
401 N Reservoir St
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 291-6291
Grades: PK-5
| 397 students
Rank: #44.
Smith-wade-el Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
910 Hamilton Park Drive
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 291-6151
Grades: PK-5
| 409 students
Rank: #55.
Burrowes Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1001 E Orange St
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 291-6159
Grades: PK-5
| 318 students
Rank: #66.
Martin School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2000 Wabank Rd
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 291-6193
Grades: PK-8
| 650 students
Rank: #77.
King Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
466 Rockland St
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 291-6178
Grades: PK-5
| 403 students
Rank: #88.
Price Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
615 Fairview Ave
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 291-6252
Grades: PK-5
| 356 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Hamilton Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 Wabank Rd
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 291-6166
Grades: PK-5
| 335 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Lafayette Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1000 Fremont St
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 291-6183
Grades: PK-5
| 446 students
Rank: #1111.
Fulton Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
225 W Orange St
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 291-6110
Grades: PK-5
| 272 students
Rank: #1212.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
545 S Ann St
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 291-6275
Grades: PK-5
| 478 students
Rank: #1313.
Carter And Macrae Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
251 S Prince St
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 396-6842
Grades: PK-5
| 446 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 19 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 9,964 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 87%
  • : 74% (Btm 50% in PA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 14% (Btm 50%)
  • : 28% (Btm 50%)
  • : 33% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education

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