Harrisburg City School District

1601 State Street
Harrisburg, PA 17103-1466
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
1/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Harrisburg City 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 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public preschools serving 1,605 students in Harrisburg City School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Pennsylvania.
Public Preschools in Harrisburg City School District have an average math proficiency score of 5% (versus the Pennsylvania public pre school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 10% (versus the 38% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 97% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Pennsylvania public preschool average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (PA)
# Schools
12 Schools
334 Schools
# Students
6,462 Students
148,264 Students
# Teachers
404 Teachers
11,370 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Harrisburg City School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 677 school districts in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 62% has decreased from 65% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (PA)
#651 out of 685 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

7%
38%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

16%
55%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

20%
57%
62%
87.5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
52.4%
23.3%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60
0.70

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
2%
3%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
46%
22%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
44%
24%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
3%
44%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
7%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $32,637 is higher than the state median of $26,978. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $28,743 is higher than the state median of $26,274. The school district spending/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
This School District
This State (PA)
Total Revenue
$211 MM
$44,930 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$186 MM
$43,758 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$32,637
$26,978

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$28,743
$26,274

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Harrisburg City School District Public Preschools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Benjamin Franklin School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 12%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1205 N 6th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 703-1200
Gr: PK-5 | 678 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #22.
Downey School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1313 Monroe St
Harrisburg, PA 17103
(717) 703-1240
Gr: PK-5 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #33.
Foose School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1301 Sycamore St
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(717) 703-1280
Gr: PK-5 | 522 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 98%

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 12 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 6,462 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 97%
  • : 62% (Btm 50% in PA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 7% (Btm 50%)
  • : 16% (Btm 50%)
  • : 20% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education

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