These were ranked 2024’s best public elementary schools in Pennsylvania. See full list
Public elementary schools across Pennsylvania continue offering strong academics, teaching, diversity and more, according to new rankings and analysis from Niche, a website offering data on schools and colleges across the country.
Niche’s rankings are fueled by reviews and data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census, Civil Rights Data Collection and more. The Pittsburgh-headquartered school search platform ranks public elementary schools through the following major categories:
Academics grade, which is based on state assessment proficiency rates, district academics grades, student-to-teacher ratios and parent or student surveys on academics
Diversity grade, which is based on a student racial diversity index, parent or student survey covering culture and diversity and percentages of economic disadvantages and gender diversity
Teachers grade, which is based on academic grades, parent or student surveys on educators, teacher absenteeism, salary index, the portion of teachers in their first or second year of teaching, average salary and student-to-teacher ratios
In total, Niche breaks down its overall grades into the following segments:
Academics grade: 50%
Teachers grade: 20%
District overall Niche grade: 15%
Culture and diversity grade: 10%
Parent/student surveys on overall experience: 5%
Most of the top public elementary schools in Pennsylvania in 2024 are located near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, just as they were in Niche’s 2023 rankings.
In Centre County, eight elementary schools earned overall “A” grades: Corl Street, Radio Park, Ferguson Township, Spring Creek, Easterly Parkway, Park Forest, Gray’s Woods and Mount Nittany elementary schools. Howard Elementary School followed closely behind with the county’s only overall “A-” grade.
Each of the public elementary schools comprising Pennsylvania’s top statewide performers received “A+” overall grades, but their strengths and offerings vary. Here’s a brief look at how the Keystone State’s top 25 public elementary schools compare in 2024.
25. Wallingford Elementary School
Location: Wallingford, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B diversity
This Delaware County school offers a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio spread across roughly 552 students, Niche reports. Wallingford Elementary School’s students recently combined proficiency rates of 80% in math and 88% in reading.
24. Peebles Elementary School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers and B diversity
Out in Pittsburgh, this elementary school serves about 400 students with a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Approximately 67% of those students are at least proficient in math, while roughly 82% can say the same for reading, Niche says.
23. Markham Elementary School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and C+ diversity
Also in Pittsburgh, Markham Elementary School instructs nearly 300 students and offers a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent state test scores indicate at least 82% of those students are proficient in math, while about 92% are at least proficient in reading.
22. Fairview Elementary School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B- diversity
Continuing a streak of Pittsburgh-area schools, Fairview Elementary School checks in with a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio spread across roughly 375 students. Its student body produced proficiency rates of 92% in math and reading.
21. Belmont Hills Elementary School
Location: Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B+ diversity
Out near Philadelphia, this public elementary school offers an 8-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio across 346 students. Recent state test scores indicate about 72% of those students are at least proficient in math, while roughly 83% are at least proficient in reading.
20. Baker Elementary School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B- diversity
Back in the Pittsburgh area, this public elementary school boasts a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and a student body of 446 pupils. Baker Elementary School’s students recently produced proficiency rates of 82% and 87% in math and reading, respectively.
19. Hosack Elementary School
Location: Allison Park, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers and B diversity
This Pittsburgh-area elementary school has a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 351 students. Recent state testing produced a 67% proficiency rate for math, but an 87% proficiency rate for reading, Niche reports.
18. New Eagle Elementary School
Location: Wayne, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B+ diversity
Just outside Philadelphia, New Eagle Elementary School instructs 505 students and offers a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, Niche reports. Recent state test scores indicate at least 77% of those students are proficient in math, while around 92% are proficient in reading.
17. Eisenhower Elementary School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B diversity
This top-rated Pittsburgh school instructs 525 students between kindergarten and the fourth grade, offering a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Those students showed proficiency rates of 87% in math and 92% in reading, Niche’s report says.
16. Ingomar Elementary School
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B- diversity
Roughly 346 students call this school home, Niche reports. Ingomar Elementary School offers a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and recently saw its students achieve 74% proficiency in math and 85% in reading.
15. Gladwyne Elementary School
Location: Gladwyne, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A teachers and B+ diversity
Out in Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania, this elementary school instructs 541 students between kindergarten and the fourth grade. It offers a 10-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and recently saw its students produce proficiency rates of 80% and 89% in math and reading, respectively.
14. Valley Forge Elementary School
Location: Wayne, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and A- diversity
Ranked the third-best public elementary school in Chester County, this school offers a 16-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio among its 580 students in kindergarten through the fourth grade. Recent state test scores produced an 82% proficiency rate in math and a 92% proficiency rate in reading.
13. Penn Wynne School
Location: Wynnewood, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A teachers and A- diversity
This Philadelphia-area elementary school instructs 614 students in kindergarten through the fourth grade and offers an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Those students achieved proficiency rates of 79% in math and 86% in reading, Niche reports.
12. Hillside Elementary School
Location: Berwyn, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B+ diversity
This Chester County elementary school offers a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its student body of 440 students in kindergarten through the fourth grade. Recent state test scores found 82% of those students are at least proficient in math, while around 92% are at least proficient in reading.
11. Cynwyd Elementary School
Location: Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and A- diversity
This Philadelphia-area K-4 elementary school boasts an 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio across 428 students. Cynwyd Elementary School’s students produced proficiency rates of 81% and 87% in math and reading, respectively.
10. Devon Elementary School
Location: Devon, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and A- diversity
Ranked the top-rated public elementary school in Chester County, Devon Elementary School instructs 396 students between kindergarten and the fourth grade and offers a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The latest batch of state test scores indicates the school’s students produced proficiency rates of 77% in math and 92% in reading.
9. Wayne Elementary School
Location: Wayne, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A academics, A+ teachers and B+ diversity
This Philadelphia-area school offers a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio spread across its 542 students. Roughly 66% of Wayne Elementary School’s students are proficient in math, while 81% can say the same for reading.
8. Marshall Elementary School
Location: Wexford, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and A- diversity
Out near Pittsburgh, this elementary school instructs 756 students and offers a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent state test scores indicate those students achieved proficiency rates of 76% in math and around 85% in reading.
7. Merion Elementary School
Location: Merion Station, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and A- diversity
Back in Montgomery County, this public elementary school offers a 10-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio across its 447 students in kindergarten through the fourth grade. Those students produced proficiency rates of 84% and 89% in math and reading, respectively.
6. Penn Valley School
Location: Narberth, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and A- diversity
This Montgomery County K-4 elementary school instructs 514 students and boasts a 10-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. A recent batch of state test scores indicated roughly 78% of the school’s students are at least proficient in math, while about 86% can say the same for reading.
5. Radnor Elementary School
Location: Radnor, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B+ diversity
Back in the Philadelphia suburbs, this elementary school offers a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 571 students. The school’s student body recently achieved proficiency rates of about 75% in math and around 91% in reading.
4. Franklin Elementary School
Location: Sewickley, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and A- diversity
This Pittsburgh suburbs elementary school instructs 744 students and holds a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Recent state test scores indicate proficiency rates of roughly 82% and 92% in math and reading, respectively, for Franklin Elementary School’s students.
3. Bradford Woods Elementary School
Location: Bradford Woods, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B diversity
Ranked the top public elementary school in the Pittsburgh Area, Bradford Woods Elementary School offers a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 369 students. Roughly 88% of those students tested proficiently in math, while 92% can say the same for reading.
2. The Souderton Charter School Collaborative
Location: Souderton, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and A- diversity
This charter school in the Philadelphia suburbs boasts an 8-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for its 226 students in kindergarten through the eighth grade. According to state test scores, about 67% of those students are at least proficient in math, while up to 92% are at least proficient in reading.
1. Ithan Elementary School
Location: Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ teachers and B+ diversity
Once again claiming the top spot among Pennsylvania’s public elementary schools, Ithan Elementary School offers a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio spread across its 482 students. The latest batch of state test scores suggests about 77% of those students are at least proficient in math, while about 85% are at least proficient in reading.
You can browse through the top-ranked Pennsylvania elementary schools by visiting niche.com/k12/search/best-public-elementary-schools/s/pennsylvania.
