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Top School Districts in Pennsylvania Recognized in 2025 School Guide

Students demonstrating academic engagement in a Pennsylvania school district.

News Summary

The Pittsburgh Business Times has released its 2025 School Guide, highlighting Pennsylvania’s top public school districts based on standardized test scores. Fox Chapel Area School District leads the rankings for the second consecutive year, followed by Upper St. Clair and Lower Merion. Notably, districts in the Philadelphia area showcase strong educational performance, with several schools demonstrating fiscal responsibility while maintaining high academic standards.

Pennsylvania has seen impressive rankings in the recently released 2025 School Guide by the Pittsburgh Business Times, which evaluates public school districts based on standardized test scores from the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and Keystone Exams over the past three years.

The top-ranking school districts reflect a commitment to educational excellence, with the Fox Chapel Area School District in Allegheny County leading the pack for the second consecutive year. Following closely behind are the Upper St. Clair School District in second place, the Lower Merion School District, ranked third, and the Radnor Township School District, which secured the fourth position. Closing out the top five is the Peters Township School District.

A total of 25 school districts from the Philadelphia area feature prominently in the rankings, highlighting the region’s strong educational performance. Notably, the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District is listed as tenth, while other districts such as Springfield, New Hope-Solebury, and Haverford Township also made the list, ranking 14th, 15th, and 16th respectively. Wallingford-Swarthmore, Colonial, Rose Tree Media, and Wissahickon rounded out the top 25, landing at 17th, 22nd, 24th, and 25th places correspondingly.

Southwestern Pennsylvania schools have shown a dominant presence in the rankings, with Allegheny County boasting the most districts in the top 10 compared to other counties in the state. This accomplishment underscores the commitment to high educational standards and consistent student achievement within these districts.

While the rankings are based primarily on standardized test scores, they also aim to showcase districts that maintain a high quality of education for their students. The evaluation methodology highlights the results from the past three years, emphasizing sustained performance in academic achievement.

In addition to their high rankings this year, Lower Merion and Radnor have also shown fiscal responsibility. The Lower Merion school board is preparing to vote on a resolution that limits tax increases to the state’s Act 1 index of 4% for the 2025-2026 budget year. The Act 1 index serves as a mechanism to limit property tax increases, with different limits set for wealthier and lower-income districts. Similarly, Radnor Township passed a resolution last year to adhere to the same 4% tax increase limit, underlining their commitment to manage public resources responsibly while maintaining quality education.

Furthermore, educational accolades are not new to Radnor. A separate ranking by Niche noted the Radnor Township School District as the highest-ranking Pennsylvania school district nationally at No. 14. Other noteworthy mentions in the national listing included Tredyffrin-Easttown at No. 27, Lower Merion at No. 42, and Unionville-Chadds Ford at No. 97, illustrating that the local districts are competing well on a national level.

In summary, the 2025 School Guide has placed the Lower Merion and Radnor school districts among Pennsylvania’s elite, reaffirming their dedication to providing a high-quality education while sustaining fiscal responsibility through prudent tax management. The combined results from standardized testing and financial strategy reflect a robust educational landscape within Pennsylvania, particularly in the affluent areas around Philadelphia and Allegheny counties.