C+
Central Dauphin School District
Public school districtGrades K–12Regional · 7 towns
Serves Lower Paxton, Swatara, West Hanover, Middle Paxton, Penbrook, Paxtang and Dauphin.
Students
12,389
Schools
19
Spent per student
$16,282
PA $21,758
Students per teacher
14:1
Debt
$120.7M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Central Dauphin School District
- School Grade C+: better than 41% of Pennsylvania districts
- Math proficiency 7 pts below the state
- Spends 25% less per student than the PA average
- 14 students per teacher
- Enrollment up 5% since 2020
- Debt of $120.7M, about $9,742 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Hershey.
6–8Hershey MSDerry Township School District
Test scores vs. PA
2020–21Math proficiency30%
State average 37.1%
Graduation rate (4-year)89%
State average 87.5%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$16,282 per student · 25% below PA
Spending
Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 33%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 69%State 25%Federal 6%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
11,797’20
12,136’21
12,393’22
12,446’23
12,389’24
Up 5% since 2020.
Students
White 41%Black 21%Asian 16%Hispanic 14%Two or more races 8%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
19 public schools.
North Side El Sch
B722 students17:1
Paxtonia El Sch
A−682 students16:1
South Side El Sch
C603 students13:1
West Hanover El Sch
A589 students15:1
Linglestown El Sch
A−475 students15:1
Rutherford El Sch
C461 students15:1
Tri-Community El Sch
C−427 students12:1
Phillips El Sch
C−393 students12:1
Mountain View El Sch
B373 students13:1
Lawnton El Sch
C+310 students13:1
Middle Paxton El Sch
A−289 students14:1
Paxtang El Sch
C281 students15:1
Chambers Hill El Sch
C+257 students10:1
Linglestown MS
C+841 students15:1
Central Dauphin MS
B834 students15:1
Central Dauphin East MS
C−702 students12:1
Swatara MS
C−611 students12:1
Central Dauphin SHS
B1,966 students15:1
Central Dauphin East SHS
C1,573 students14:1
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.